E85 and Hybrid Cars: Hollywood, Democrats and Republicans
I just finished replying to a CNN Commentary by Robert Redford on Kicking the Oil Habit. Lately, the idea of kicking the oil habit has become a hot topic, but there is growing partisan spin using this platform for political gain. I find this unacceptable. Ultimately, both parties have enabled America's oil addiction, and most Americans have happily helped. Lately the favorite buzzword of many politicians has become E85 or ethanol. Yet, far too many scientists note that ethanol will never end America's oil addiction, nor even foreign oil dependency, if we don't move towards significantly more fuel efficient vehicles, such as hybrid cars. Yet, it seems that not only are politicians misguided, but even cultural leaders, such as Robert Redford, whom are too focused on partisanship, rather than real leadership and solutions for such a serious issue. (Full Story)Labels: E85, Ethanol, Foreign Oil Dependency, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
10:16 AM
1 Comments:
My e-mail to CNN.
I could almost agree with Mr. Redford, if his motives were not so obviously politically motivated. How many 'organizations' does Mr. Redford cite which are exclusively Democrat-promoting organizations, such as MoveOn?
Has not Pres. Bush called for ethanol, hybrid cars, and even plug-in hybrid cars?
Certainly Republicans have a historical tie to big oil, but Democrats have a historical tie to Detroit and protecting its gas-guzzling SUV building autoworkers. Moreover, when enough labor Democrats ALWAYS join Republicans to vote against CAFE, as they did less than a year ago, do we only blame Republicans? When Democrat-voting soccer moms, for example, purchase 15 mpg gas guzzlers to 'protect' their children, can you really blame only Republicans, government or even the auto industry?
Give me a break Mr. Redford.
The battle for oil independence cannot be a battle between the left and the right, nor can it be a battle between corporations and citizens, it is a battle in which each and every American must take a part, must do their part. No one forces Americans to buy gas-guzzlers, and at some point Americans must accept the consequences of their gas-guzzling, rather than just blaming everyone else.
Inevitably, neither Democrats nor Republicans are going to save Americans from foreign oil dependency. American citizens need to save themselves, and American citizens deserve just as much blame as our politicians and our corporations.
You deserve blame, Mr. Redford. You mention the goal of having oil companies add ethanol to half of all pumps in America. Please. E85 is a joke if it doesn’t coincide with significantly more fuel efficient automobiles, such as hybrid cars. If it is just flex-fuel Hummers and Tahoes filling up with ethanol, E85 will have little effect, if any, ending foreign oil dependency. Let’s get real, Mr. Redford.
Certainly, we need more leadership from our politicians - on BOTH sides of the aisle - as well as from our corporations and grassroots organizations can help. We also need more responsibility from Americans. Finally, we need better leadership from our elite cultural leaders in Hollywood. Cover your mansions with solar panels, drive only the most fuel-efficient vehicles, and invest your collective billions in the businesses and the researchers that are developing these new technologies, rather than politicians.
Leaders don’t have to be politicians, and too many lobbyist-controlled politicians are definitely not leaders.
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