Let me luxuriate in the feeling of feeling played, of feeling used. The sullied feeling is just such a joyous thing to have.
Many excoriated me (in multiple venues, private and public) for not being 'political' enough since I was not joyously celebrating the Energy Bill that passed from the House and was tarnishing my praise for the political courage and strength of action by pointing to the Energy Bill's flaws.
And, well, perhaps sadly, I watched my language a little bit and 'pimped' support for this bill that might have been 'strong' in political terms but was simply inadequate in face of the very real challenges before this nation and the globe (Peak Oil, Global Warming, Etc ...)
Hmmm ...
The Energy Bill has been stripped of even its weakened renewable electricity standards (RES-- okay, geeky issue, but extremely important for helping to foster an Energy Smart future). The end of atrocious tax subsidy loopholes for the fossil-fuel base? Also gone. Support for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency? Stripped out since the funding isn't there any more.
The legislation still contains a landmark increase in fuel-economy standards for vehicles and a huge boost for alternative fuels. But a $13 billion tax increase on oil companies and a requirement that utilities nationwide produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources were left on the floor to secure Republican votes for the package.
The tax measure and the renewable electricity mandate were included in an energy bill that easily passed the House last week. But industry lobbyists focused their attention on Republican members of the Senate and on the White House, which repeatedly threatened to veto the bill if the offending sections were not removed.
And, the Omnibus Bill, while we weren't watching, is stuffed with funding for "old" energy to the tune of 4-1 against anything for an Energy Smart future.
Separately, Congress reached a tentative agreement on a major energy package that it plans to enact outside the energy bill, according to a Senate Democratic staff member. The agreement, to be included in a broad government spending bill, would authorize the Energy Department to guarantee loans for various energy projects, making financing far easier.
The agreement would guarantee loans of up to $25 billion for new nuclear plants and $2 billion for a uranium enrichment plant, something those industries had been avidly seeking. It would also provide guarantees of up to $10 billion for renewable energy projects, $10 billion for plants to turn coal into liquid vehicle fuel and $2 billion to turn coal into natural gas.
And, while we were distracted,, the Farm Bill passed out of the Senate Friday continues a trifecta of bad moves when it comes to energy. Now, to be clear, the Farm Bill looks like it will have some positive elements when it comes to clean farm energy (even though, again, far too much attention to biofuels and not nearly enough on helping farms become more energy efficient (and use renewable energy, such as solar hot water for dairy farmers hot water requirements) and helping farmers exploit a new crop: wind). On the other hand: Can anyone explain with a straight face why the Farm Bill tax title should include $330 million of fossil-fuel tax credits for coal-to-liquids, compressed natural gas and other non-biomass fuels used in cars and trucks. That credit has virtually nothing to do with agriculture!
Hmmm ...
Okay, am I allowed to criticize yet?
Or, am I supposed to be dancing on the streets, patting the Democratic Party leadership on the back for getting a rather weak increase in CAFE standards into the Energy bill and onto the President's desk?
Let us be clear, the key problem is not
in the Democratic Party, no matter the frustrations that this week's events create. What Democratic Party leaders push Sound Science, rate highly on the Inhofe Scale in doubting Global Warming's realities, and otherwise consistently reject the concept that reality should have an influece on policy making?
No, we should be clear. There is a reckless minority endangering America's Future. However we judge it, across multiple policy arenas, the Roadblock Republicans and Mr 26% are engaged in Reckless Endangerment of our common prospects. Financial policy, military readiness, education, science and technology ... The list is near limitless. In my arena of special focus, Energy and Global Warming, this has been a particularly distressing week.
In Bali, the United States was isolated, with global leaders publically and privately excoriating U.S. policy and China receiving praise for its flexibility and willingness to talk seriously about new paths forward. From the youngest to the oldest, from the poorest to the richest representatives, near unanimity existed in anger and frustration with the United States' roadblock on real progress.
In Congress, the "Energy Independence and Security Act", went from a problemmatic bill that had measures that would help us forward to becoming something that merits not much more credit than 'better than the 2005 bill'. Political Reality at odds with Reality Reality. The Omnibus Bill looks to contain substantially problemmatic elements as does the Farm Bill.
Time for reflection
Excuse me while I need to go scrub myself in the shower.
And, excuse me for a moment of reflection as I seek to exoliate my soul after a week's soiling.