Thursday, September 24, 2009
Clean energy act
needs to pass
When faced with a lengthy to-do list, it is prudent to tackle the most time-sensitive issues first. And so it is with our nation.
Although problems such as health care, immigration and foreign relations pose a challenge to our leaders, a very pressing issue deserves attention. Immediate attention. The issue I refer to is none other than that of global warming.
There is a relationship between our quality of life and the environment. Enjoyment of life, and to a greater extent survival, hinge on the health of the environment. We can't allow progress and prosperity to be held back by our addiction to fossil fuels. True prosperity, true security will arise when our resources are managed in a sustainable manner. As indicated by the collapse of many species, our natural resources are currently quite ill-maintained. Our only recourse is to take immediate and decisive action to reverse climate change.
Climate experts agree that we need to reduce heat trapping pollutants 80 percent by 2050. This is achievable if government, industry and citizens work together. We can all benefit with the emergence of new clean energy industries such as wind and solar and by reducing our energy usage with the application of common-sense energy efficiency measures. Numerous studies have demonstrated that these efforts will boost our economy, create jobs and hold down the cost of our energy bills.
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released a study earlier this month that says improving the energy efficiency provisions of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES - H.R. 2454) could save Missouri consumers $265 per household by 2020 and $736 by 2030 while providing a net annual consumer savings to Missouri's economy of $687 million and $1.9 billion respectively.
Real climate action entailing sharp reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, ecosystem preservation and the promotion of clean renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy is absolutely necessary. I call upon you to urge your senators to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act in order to safeguard our nation's energy future, for your benefit and that of your children.
Hannah Looney
St. Joseph
Saudi Arabia smiles
on this new car
One auto company now has an engine that develops 365 horsepower, not for an Indy racing car or an 18-wheeler or an off-the-road earth-mover, but for a four-door sedan.
TV ads show this car passing all others at high speed. Does the world really need this sedan with 365 horsepower? Other companies will soon follow.
Ventures like this will guarantee our dependence on foreign oil forever.
Jim McCord
St. Joseph
Share Your Thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. We do not review every post or respond to every removal suggestion. Comments that threaten someone or degrade them on the basis of gender, race, class, national origin, religion or disability will be removed. Comments containing abusive, vulgar or sexually-oriented language will be removed. Comments that spread rumors or lies will be removed. Please discuss only what has been factually proven. Comments posted in all caps will be removed. Stay on topic! Brief quotes are okay as long as the source is given. Blatant cutting and pasting is not acceptable. Comments must be kept under 250 words or less. Stjoenews.net moderators also reserve the right to remove comments for any reason they deem worthy. Click here for our full user agreement.
nana012444 says...
Mr. McCord, having spent 20 years of my young life as a proud American living in Saudi Arabia, I can tell you emphatically that the automobile was NOT developed for the average American John Q. Public. The car was specifically developed for those in the Mid-East who still live by the 'commandment' of Mo'hd. Their belief is that Allah will always protect them, no matter how dangerously they live. These cars will only be affordable by the populous of the Middle East and since they have the room to drive exceedingly fast, with clear abandonment . . .
I have a sign I rescued while there, and it states: "A FATAL accident MAY cost you your life."
September 24, 2009 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Paladin says...
Driving in Saudi Arabia is some of the scariest driving I've EVER done. These fools. I've seen cars packed to the hilt with children doing things that would make most stunt car drivers nervous.
They don't stay in lanes. It's is not uncommon to see 2 cars in the same lane or a car driving down the center line. I don't know why they even paint lines - must be for foreigners. They shoulder - THAT'S A LANE. The Allah Lane. At least to them.
The most hilarious thing (and this may have changed - it's been years) were the cop cars. These things were pieces of crap. There was no way they were going to catch any of the Mercedes flying down the highway. I'm suprised if their cars even got over 60.
September 24, 2009 at 8:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
77cod says...
Ms. Looney
Ironic name. Anyway the Clean Energy "tax" (and that is what it is) is not realistic and not needed as written. You cannot tax people to reduce use and the tax will run costs of energy and hurt businesses as they deal with the added costs and at the end of the day run our economy. This a nut case bill and a tree hugger objective with not regard for people and our country at large. If you want to be "green" fine stop driving, stop using any of our energy and go live in a cave. I know the white house and you clowns want all the attention on the health issues so you slip this by through the nut house congress. But be warned we are all not as stupid and you greenies think. P.S. Get a life !
September 24, 2009 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rk92559 says...
What next? When people car pool to save gas, are they going to show up and collect 5 bucks from everyone to help fund more studies on the effects of cows farting? Just cannot get on board with taxing people when they use less energy. I am all for Wind and solar and alternitive fuels (should have been done in the 70's) but all the stimulus give aways should help fund it. And the companies that offer them will get paid. They don't need to tax the people that are already taxed for using energy for using less energy. Even typing that is ridiculous. A dollar already gets taxed so many times , I am suprised anyone has anything left.
September 24, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JoeFreedom says...
Hannah Looney failed to mention the following in her letter -- and I really hope she and her leftist friends read this:
1. If you took every vehicle off of the road and closed every coal-fired plant - you would still fall 50% short of CO2 reduction mandates.
2. India, China, Russia and the emerging nations will not follow cap-and-trade.
3. Secretary of Energy Chu says that Obama's plan will not work.
4. EPA Head Jackson says that Obama's plan will not work.
5. The plan will give credits to India, China, and Mexico to sell back to USA companies (transfer of USA $ overseas).
6. Congress will increase the cost of imports from companies not Obama plan compliant (illegal and costly to you).
7. NASA recently released a report stating that the Sun causes global warming.
8. The EPA recently issued a report stating that CO2 does not cause global warming and that temperatures are falling.
How shameful it is for global warming folks to use such scare tactics to get support for their misguided agenda. The sad thing is, a lot of misinformed people are buying into it. Why can't big government bureaucrats just stop trying to micromanage everything in our lives???
September 24, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Eric says...
Great points, Joe! I would add that Florida-based radio talk show host Todd Schnitt has compiled a total of 434 (and counting!) web links that thoroughly debunk the idea of man-made global warming. Check them all out at http://www.schnittshow.com/pages/glob....
September 24, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
Seems even the left-wing enviro-loonies can read a thermometer, at least their leading pseudo-scientific proponents, and have noticed the Earth has actually been COOLING the past few years and polar bears are no longer floating past the Golden Gate on ice floes. In view of this disturbing fact, the accepted term is now "global climate change." This covers any weather circumstance which may or may not occur with a degree of predictability.
September 24, 2009 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dalearch says...
Here's a Penn & Teller episode on environmental wackos. It's pretty funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi3erd...
September 24, 2009 at 8:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dalearch says...
The above is only a snippet of the episode. You can Google "Penn & Teller global warming" and find the entire episode online.
September 24, 2009 at 8:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )