We should all do our best to make this world a better place. 

I’m disappointed that none of our presidential candidates are addressing the really big issue of our dependence on oil in a meaningful way.  Because of that dependence other countries and the terrorist-producing areas of the world are getting richer while we are getting poorer.  Our U.S. dollar falls year after year and we go further and further in debt.  That is not the America that we are all so proud of and have such high hopes for, the one we want our children and grandchildren to inherit, the one that is to be a leader in making the world a better place for all.  Where are the plans from our leaders?

 This problem obviously must be addressed sooner or later.  If we don’t address it proactively the price of oil will continue to rise as it becomes clear that there is only a limited amount of oil.  At the same time there is a virtually unlimited growing demand for more energy around the world which will deplete the reserves of this valuable commodity even faster.

Yet there is a relatively easy way to solve this problem and that is through creating the right incentives.  Here is my proposal:

Establish a long-term strategic energy incentive plan that steadily raises the taxes on gasoline consumption in a predictable way and give that money as incentives for the most energy efficient methods of transportation and heating. 

For example we could pass a law that automatically raises the gasoline tax in the first year by 10 cents per gallon and the next year by 20 cents and the next by 30 cents per gallon, etc.  After the first 10 years, a reasonable period for people and the economy to adjust, it could automatically go up by an inflation adjusted 20 cents per gallon (or more) per year until we have certified complete energy independence.  At that rate in 20 years the additional tax on gasoline would be $3 per gallon, in 30 years the tax would be $5 per gallon, 40 years it would be $7 per gallon.  The incentives to buy the most energy efficient vehicles would be large immediately and would continue to grow until they stabilized as the gasoline usage slowed.  It is highly likely that with these predictable incentives this country would be energy independent within 20 to 30 years without major disruptions.

If the most efficient vehicles turned out to be electric there would be strong incentives to build safe and clean nuclear power plants within the U.S.   We would be providing the necessary demand and money to convert our economy off of oil one way or the other.  We would be creating major incentives for research and U.S. based construction and manufacturing. 

We should make exceptions for our big truckers and airlines that are essential to our transportation and distribution systems.  There would probably have to be special exceptions for small businesses but no more of this providing incentives that are used by the auto makers and the consumers to drive bigger more wasteful and pollution producing vehicles under the rules designed for businesses.

Let’s take action.  Let’s be proactive.  Let’s have a plan that will guarantee our success!  Give me your feedback please.

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