Past and Present: 'Malaise' and the Energy Crisis
Jimmy Carter's speech is remembered for something he never said—we should recall what he did say
Reader Comments
energy crises
who is responsible for this matter.whats our responsibility for that
i want to read a best eassy about energy criseswhats
whats solution of energy crises
i want to read a best eassy about energy criseswhats
whats solution of energy crises
i want to read a best eassy about energy criseswhats
whats solution of energy crises
@WCH:
What are you smoking? No country in the world produces cars capable of reaching 60 or 70 mpg, at least not what one would define as a "car".
In fact, the only cars worldwide that are more efficient than the ones we drive are not street legal. MIT, of beautiful America (God's favorite) has designed the most fuel efficient vehicle in the world. Americans can buy anything they want.
Just as Europeans and Asians were driving cars that got 30mpg in the 70's when American's (God's people) got 10, it's not that we don't have the option, we simply don't have the need.
The Volkswagen TDI (Turbo Direct Injection diesel) gets a solid 48 mpg, and is still a fast, fun car to drive - only costs about as much as a comparable US vehicle. Anyone here can buy one.
Americans don't give a damn about gas prices because even at $4 a gallon, that's half of what most of the world pays. We don't care about independence because right here, right now, we have access to fuel on the cheap. Prattle on about the brilliant Europeans. If they were paying $2 for a gallon of gas, no one would be driving Ciroen. They'd have the same fat assed SUV Americans drive.
We will pay for our indulgence, and you will get your ill gained sense of personal superiority - see how far down the road it gets you.
fuel efficient cars, nuclear power, mass tranist, betrayal
Only the US citizen is unable to purchase today a car that gets 60, 70, even more mpg. All other countries can, but not the US. Why is this? Pretty fishy isn't it? Follow the money. Frenchmen, Germans, Englishmen, Canadians can buy these cars, but not you. You can't even drive them here if you buy them elsewhere. So who is the DOT looking out for? Not you. We ought to at least have the choice. But we can still buy a 10mpg SUV if we want.
France has the cheapest electricity in the developed world. 90% from nuclear. Waste? It is all recycled into new nuclear fuel. This also provides the cleanest air of any industrialized nation, and the power to run the fastest and most extensive public transit system in the world. TGVs and the Metro make The USA look like a third world country in this regard. Radiation damage and pollution? Hasn't occurred. Ever. But the radioactive isotopes from coal fired plants we use, to say nothing of the millions of tons of CO2, damage the environment in countless ways. And cost more to boot. Oh yes, Frenchmen also have 100 mpg cars if they want to buy them.
But her in the US? We phase out alternative energy tax incentives while continuing to give billions of tax incentives to oil companies while those companies are already making money so fast they cannot control it. Alice in Wonderland had nothing on this craziness.
So who has their head stuck in another part of their anatomy? Looks like us. Our response to those who tell us the truth? Derision. Like we treated Mr. Carter, then dumped him for a flag draped dreamer in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Then we compounded it by electing an AWOL spoiled rich kid overgrown frat boy with a frustrated mean streak and an inferiority complex and not too much intellect. But he could be steered easily by the power elite, and was. Sheesh. Trillions of dollars of your money drained into the pockets of the Power Elite via the Bank of Pentagon and other government venues. But at least we have gained the derision of the rest of the world in the process.
Welcome to the Fascist States of America. If you think they are going to stop screwing you to the wall without a fight, you are mistaken. You and better take your government back before it is too late. History suggests there is little hope that Americans will wake up.
Thankfully there are a few people besides Mr. Carter trying to tell you the truth. Ron Paul. Andrew Bacevich. Bill Moyers. Jim Leach. Chuck Hagel. Dwight Eisenhower. Theodore Roosevelt. (Note how many are Republicans?) Many others. Listen to them. Then vote every last "republicrat" member of the power elite out of office. That is the only way. We show little indication of doing much along those lines.
Cheers all.
Carter Hit A Home Run!
And his political enemies (that other party), the free press, the pundits and the "don't worry--be happy" American public chose not to listen, think or read his July 15, 1979 speech.
And this discussion (analysist's analysis always begins with anal) explaining in the writer's opinion what president Carter said in that speech is exactly what is wrong with what passes as "free press reporting".
Just read the actual transcript of the actual speech.
It will save a lot of reading about what people want you to think he said by some writer 30 years later (How old was the writer when the speech was made and what was he doing then?)
Just google Jimmy Carter's televised July 15, 1979 speech and read the actual speech.
Had his plan been enacted we would be totally independent of imported oil today just as Brazil is that did what he said.
Yes, Brazil is not the same as the USA.
The USA should be able to do what Brazil did better and faster! But the longer we wait to start, the harder it is and will be.
Carter's Many Alternate Energy Programs
Poor Execution's assertion is wrong. As a Physics graduate (1977), I worked at a US DOE/Sandia Lab's funded Solar Project conceived under the Carter Administration--one of many aggressive alternate energy programs under way. As Reagan came to power (good acting, while trading arms for hostages, promising tax cuts, and going backwards) these programs were dismantled and research shredded. The world's largest solar industrial cogeneration project--were I worked--went on the scrap heap by the end of the '80s, along with coal gasification, shale oil research, etc. (Newt Gingrich, by the way, spoke at the dedication of my facility, Shenandoah, GA, in the early 80s, as solar and alternatives were the ticket for camera time then. Now, he's regressed to his 'shilling for drilling' act.)
Carter was a nuclear physicist, and he understood Admiral Rickover's 1957 cautionary speech about energy. Reagan, and the Bushes were/are oil industry operatives--stuck in old ways of doing things. Had Carter's programs for energy independence been supported, and not branded as going back to caves and candles, as Reagan declared, we'd in the running with Germany, China, Japan, NL, and the forward-thinking world that understands energy and economics.
Bush's America is the loser here--8 critical years lost in energy development, and a policy of always undermining science and reason as a basis for policy. The only thing they understood was the Carter Doctrine, that the US would use military force to keep Middle East oil coming our way. As China is fast becoming the worlds largest manufacturer of energy products and technology, the world will see more and more adoption of alternate energy and efficiency--but it won't better life in America.
Carter's and Rickover's speeches are on the Web--they still offer a valid road map for change.
doc of IL is a loser (or maybe just a liar)
It was Nixon who mandated the 55 mph speed limit.
"A uniform 55 mph (90 km/h) speed limit was signed by President Nixon on January 2, 1974, effective 60 days later" - Wikipedia
And it has been shown that Obama is right about how much gas tire inflation and engine tune-ups would save.
Conservation is the easiest, most important way to deal with high gas prices and impending energy shortages. Just look at how the prices of oil & gas have dropped since Americans cut back on driving and driving gas guzzlers in particular.
Poor Execution
Carter and government's mandates for 55mph speed limit and 85mph speedometers on cars that could travel at much higher speeds were certainly not the answer. Much as Obama's inflate your tires and get a tune up suggestion.
I was there and remember watching this speech live on television. I don't recall anything important in alternative energy. It was all about conservation only.
Fact is, USA population has grown significantly since 1976-1980. It is projected to grow another 75M in the next 30 years. Driving slower or inflating tires won't make a difference from that perspective. We need more oil production locally as well as more renewable energy. I think this excludes ethanol. The cost to grow and refine farm products into energy is prohibative. Consider this fact, that we are using up our limited ground water to irrigate crops. This is even more precious than oil, and should be only used to grow food. Nobody seems to talk about that.
As you said, Jimmy had a moment to do something very significant but he chose to take short term measures that were not sustainable. He failed to put into place a atrategy that would make a difference, a time horizon, or a way to measure progress or failure to improme.
Jimmy was a loser, sorry. He was in charge at a pivital point but didn't make anything important happen.
