The Energy Solution That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Gas Rationing

[marmar]

from HuffPost, via AlterNet:


The Energy Solution That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Gas Rationing

By Raymond J. Learsy, HuffingtonPost.com. Posted July 23, 2007.



Is a gas rationing a viable solution to the energy crisis?

Quite incredibly, over a span of two weeks during the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Aspen Energy Conference, wherein the themes of global warming and oil dependency were discussed again and again in various forums by formidable personages of government, the press, industry, think tanks and environmental groups, the issue this post focuses on was not brought up by a single panelist.

Speakers of exceptional standing, achievement and competence -- President Clinton, John Doerr, Thomas L. Friedman, and panelists such as Gary Hart spoke eloquently on the dangers of energy dependence and most especially and passionately on the existential crisis of encroaching climate change.

Yet here again the issue was not brought up. It was as though it has simply left the field of dialogue, or perhaps been pushed away. As William W. Hogan, Professor at the JFK School at Harvard, said during the Energy Policy Forum, talking in general terms, "People are very creative in avoiding the only thing that works."

In session after session the growing risks confronting us became abundantly clear in lectures and seminars at the Aspen Institute which I attended. These included the likes of "National Security Consequences of US Oil Dependency," "Power Poverty and Progress: How Energy Effects Economic Development and Global Stability," "Nuclear Proliferation: Armageddon of Balance of Power," "Green is the New Red, White and Blue: Lecture by Tom Friedman," "An Agricultural Revolution: Climate, Energy and the Future of Food In an Overpopulated World," "The Face of Terrorism: Global Movement or Global Network."

It became apparent to everyone in attendance at these and other sessions like those touching on China's explosive growth and growing CO2 emissions, titled "China: Emerging Superpower" that the dangers are real, they are enormous, and they are here today. That the time to act was yesterday and that today is already late in the game. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/environment/57501/

[razzleberry]

1. better solution --> ration tickets for air travel

lets face reality,
90 percent of air travel is frivolous

[LiberalEsto]

2. Sideline the Hummers & SUVs

I would love to see the owners of these pigmobiles forced to face the consequences of their gas-guzzling selfishness.

But of course if we had rationing, they will whine that they need more gas because their vehicles burn more gas.

[Strelnikov_]

3. Another alien concept - Conservation

Over the ages, in the wake of great calamities, people often cast aside simple common sense, seeking solace, stability and meaning in elaborate false idols.

Today is no different.

Petrotheism: The Quest For Fuel


http://www.markfiore.com/animation/petro.html

[phantom power]

4. Not again. Aliens invent all the good stuff. Transistors, antigravity...

It's not right.

[phantom power]

5. Nobody is ever going to voluntarily ration energy. However...

it will be rationed for us soon enough by the unfolding of cause and effect. We really, really should be thinking about how to arrange for as much (non-fossil) energy as possible, as soon as possible. We'll be lucky to squeak by.