How About A Pickens/Gore/MoveOn Alliance?
I've posted this elsewhere, too. But I think it's worth repeating. Earlier today, I received an email from the folks at MoveOn.org calling attention to Al Gore's vision for America to produce "100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years."
Gore, like T. Boone Pickens, points to our disproportionate dependence on carbon-based fuels as the common thread linking our economic, environmental and national security crises. He notes that "enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to...meet 100 percent of US electricity demand," and also emphasizes the value of harnessing energy in our solar corridor.
It would seem that Pickens and Gore have a common position on energy. And it's a position that isn't gaining enough traction in the media. MoveOn lamented that Gore's speech was mostly ignored and pleaded with members to help spread the word.
I cannot help but think: Why not work together?
Both camps have interests that are fundamentally the same. Pickens and Gore want an energy policy that achieves a significant reduction in our reliance on foreign oil while moving us solidly in the direction of clean and renewable power. If this is to become something of a national mission, it would certainly help for the Pickens Plan to have wide-ranging bipartisan support. What better way to establish this than an alliance with Al Gore and MoveOn?
Moreover, there's the additional benefit of gaining access to MoveOn's substantial mailing list.
Just a thought.
Gore, like T. Boone Pickens, points to our disproportionate dependence on carbon-based fuels as the common thread linking our economic, environmental and national security crises. He notes that "enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to...meet 100 percent of US electricity demand," and also emphasizes the value of harnessing energy in our solar corridor.
It would seem that Pickens and Gore have a common position on energy. And it's a position that isn't gaining enough traction in the media. MoveOn lamented that Gore's speech was mostly ignored and pleaded with members to help spread the word.
I cannot help but think: Why not work together?
Both camps have interests that are fundamentally the same. Pickens and Gore want an energy policy that achieves a significant reduction in our reliance on foreign oil while moving us solidly in the direction of clean and renewable power. If this is to become something of a national mission, it would certainly help for the Pickens Plan to have wide-ranging bipartisan support. What better way to establish this than an alliance with Al Gore and MoveOn?
Moreover, there's the additional benefit of gaining access to MoveOn's substantial mailing list.
Just a thought.
Tags: Activism, Alliances, Bipartisan, Pickens, Plan
Views: 1
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Leon D'Souza on -
The notion that transformative technologies aren't available is simply incorrect. Despite its habitual complacency, even the federal government has been at work in the area of alternative energy sources. The Department of Energy has done some pretty impressive work through its National Renewable Energy Laboratory. And public universities, such as Appalachian State in North Carolina, are working aggressively to promote the adoption of wind power as a clean and independent source of electricity.
As to your whine about what happens when the wind does not blow, nil desperandum, comrade; you're not the first to wonder these things. Scientists have been studying this stuff for many years now, and believe it or not, they have answers to your most persnickety questions. They aren't simple answers, but the problems aren't intractable either. For instance, there has been some work done to develop wind power prediction tools to prepare bids for the spot market. Reliability and its impact on grid costs will remain factors; however, what you must remember is that we're talking about reducing the consumption of carbon-based fuels, not eliminating them altogether.
I realize Pickens and Gore differ in the scale of their proposals for energy alternatives, with Pickens having the more realizable plan. But both men have a common vision of a future built on renewable energy. And to the extent that Gore has his fans in Washington, just as Pickens has his, the two could forge a mutually advantageous and politically symbolic alliance.
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Permalink Reply by Ronald Haslam on -
Leon,
You keep trying to ignore the fact that we don't trust Gore. His credibility is gone and such a reputation need not try to hook its star to Mr. pickens and this movement. Have him tell his lies on another station. Understand that you can sing the K** byaa music all you want but he is not trustworthy.!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Leon D'Souza on
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Ronald,
I'm not ignoring anything. I'm merely exhorting you to set aside the schoolyard bickering. There should be no place for parochial posturing in any of this.
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Permalink Reply by Ed Husbands on -
LOL !! Do you mean a hemorroid?
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Permalink Reply by Darlena Frick on -
Leon, I’m afraid I didn’t take my own advice yesterday when I replied to your Discussion. I have said that we should think outside the box and I didn’t. Maybe it would be a good thing if Mr Pickens and Mr Gore sat down and talked. Mr Gore has studied Global Warming more than most and Mr Pickens has the Business Suave and money necessary to get the job done. By bring these great men together may some new and exciting ideas may emerge.
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Permalink Reply by Leon D'Souza on
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Darlena,
That's all I'm asking! Thank you for that refreshing about face! Do you know what we might do to raise this to the attention of someone who has Boone's ear?
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Permalink Reply by Leon D'Souza on
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To the comment about abysmal Congressional approval ratings, whether you like it or not, legislative business in this country is conducted through institutions that have a certain Constitutional legitimacy. No other institution can play a role in enacting federal laws. Just as the President has a Constitutionally-mandated job to do, regardless of popular opinion, Congress has a function to perform in our system of government.
Political institutions are run by politicians. So to suggest we can avoid enlisting politicians in this effort is just plain silly.
I disagree strongly with the notion that we ought to let petty personality conflicts get in the way of something that concerns our long-term political and economic sovereignty.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Basore on -
I see nothing in the way of having Al Gore or MoveOn sign up to support the Picken's Plan. But that really isn't what you are asking for is it?
Al and MoveOn have their own agenda, and neither one has ANYTHING to do with energy independence.
Perhaps your recruiting efforts for Al and MoveOn might be more productive elsewhere.
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Permalink Reply by Leon D'Souza on
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I'm not exactly sure what nefarious purpose I might truly be concealing, Bill. Perhaps you might read my mind and enlighten us both.
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Permalink Reply by Leon D'Souza on
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Your posts are starting to lend a certain credibility to your moniker, my cantankerous friend.
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Permalink Reply by Tim Gamble on -
Mr. Pickens is making a big deal out of doing his plan in as non-partisan a way as possible. I've heard him in several interviews say that he is "staying out of politics on this one." Since MoveOn is an extremely political/partisan organization, it makes little sense of Mr. Pickens to try to team up with them.
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