Politics, Energy, and Disappointment

For better or for worse, I'm a "glass half full" kinda guy. Call it blessing or curse that I do my best to find the positive in any situation. And I wear those rose-colored glasses when looking at the candidates for the next President of the United States of America. I'll find the positive in both candidates, and harshly criticize the negative. In the coming weeks, each of us will analyze a candidate's stance on economics, health care, taxes, foreign policy, etc and prioritize our opinions based on what is most valuable to the individual. Each of us will find faults and praises in each candidate's stance. But there is one area where I'm left with an empty feeling...on both sides of the aisle. Energy.

It's a touchy subject for all. The high cost of a barrel of oil and the translated gallon of gas reaches into the pockets of all Americans. Let me be clear -- high oil prices suck. We can all agree on that. What bothers me personally is not the cost of gas, but our politicians reaction (In all honestly, there is a part of me that is glad oil become so expensive because it forced our government to put some credence in energy independence, but that's a story for another day). Both John McCain and Barack Obama have spent their time and dollars to tell you how bad oil prices are, and who is to blame for it. They both understand my "pain at the pump." I'm not interested in who's to blame. I don't care that Exxon Mobil made $40 billion dollars last year. I want solutions, and neither candidate has blown my socks off.

Maybe I'm naive, but I think both of our candidates have missed a tremendous opportunity to explain to our country how alternative energy production could be the next great American industry. Maybe they'll get more votes by telling Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana that they know how to get our manufacturing jobs back. Those jobs are gone. But the fact remains that there is a tremendous need not only in America, but globally, for a clean, efficient, affordable and renewable energy source.

Why has John McCain not talked to Ohio and Michigan about the opportunity of water current energy production in the Great Lakes? Why has Barack Obama not talked to Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico about the jobs to be created by wind energy? And West Virginia coal? And Alaska natural gas? And California solar? Why has the man who will be our country's next leader not sparked the entrepreneurial spirit in our country to be on the forefront of a renewable energy resource to be used by the entire world? Where's the hope? Where's the change? Where's the leadership?

I'm left wanting. I'm left wanting for a candidate who on November 5th will make me feel like the next four years are a tremendous opportunity for a country that led the industrial revolution, ended the holocaust and stopped the spread of communism. I'm left wanting for a President who will make me proud of my neighbor who is striving for a better life instead of chastising him for his successes. I'm left wanting for a leader. I fail to believe that our country can do nothing better than complain about our challenges and find fault in others. I'm left wanting.

But what do I know?

kt

8/31/08