Truth, baby, truth!: It's time to break the American addiction to oil

[marmar]

from Grist's Gristmill blog:



Truth, baby, truth!
It's time to break the American addiction to oil
Posted by Joseph Romm (Guest Contributor) at 5:05 PM on 09 Sep 2008


This post is by ClimateProgress guest blogger Bill Becker, executive director of the Presidential Climate Action Project.

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When George Bush declared that the United States is addicted to oil, it may have been the most insightful moment of his presidency. It is a cruel but apt analogy, and that's why the big push for more domestic oil production is so disturbing.

John McCain has created the "Drill Here, Drill Now" mantra, as though he wants to sink a well wherever he's standing at the moment. When vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin gave her coming-out address at the Republican National Convention, the crowd started changing "Drill, Baby, Drill." McCain's selection of Palin was a concession to conservatives in many ways, including those who think climate change is liberal mythology and fossil energy is the fuel of the future.

But what would life be like for an America still addicted to oil?

The nature of addiction is that the drug is in control. It trumps morality, judgment, and common sense. Under its influence, good people commit crimes to get their next fix. If they exhaust one vein, they search for another. And another. Eventually, they hit bottom. When they do, they face a stark choice: withdraw or die.

So it is with our addiction to oil. Our dependence has compromised our morality, our security, our economy. We sacrifice our sons and daughters to maintain our supply. We occupy Islamic holy lands and give terrorists a recruiting tool. We are forced to stand by as despots, aggrandized by their oil supplies, gain power. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/9/9/101654/7785