You have a great point on leadership, abowles. One of my recurring themes is things happen, esp in a democracy because the general public allows it.

Look at some of our leaders. FDR had a mandate to legislate the New Deal, LBJ Civil Rights legislation in the wake (pardon the pun) of JFK, Reagan had support of limited government in the 1980's.

Now look at our energy policy. Gerald Ford got CAFE standard in 1975 - gutsy for a Michigan Republican, but it was when the 1973 Oil Embargo was still fresh on the nation's mind. Only three years later, Jimmy Carter's "Moral Equivalent of War" energy speech was a non-starter - the public just was not interested. I usually disagreed with Jimmy Carter, but he was right-on in this case.

My gut feelings is there are plenty of Republicans that could have been in the White House now that would have had a more serious energy policy than this one. Again, I would not isolate the blame game on the Bush administration and the oil companies. Be sure to include a sizable amount of the driving public that insist on driving sub-20mpg vehicles that far exceeds their needs.

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

Thanks Delta Flyer: It's not an original thought by any means. I just finished "The World is Flat" (Thomas Freidman). I concur with his idea that energy independence and leadership in the coming technologies is a matter of US National Security and should be primary, whatever your political persuasion.

Regardless of whether a COMPLETE energy policy is ever implemented, I am continuing down my own path with this and doing what one person can do, just as many of us who have bought hybrids are. Of course, its a multi-faceted problem with multi-faceted solutions. For me that means also driving slower, turning off lights when not in use, and keeping the thermostat lower in winter and higher in summer. One thing is certain. This will continue to be at the forefront of my mind during daily life and when voting.

Alden Bowles
2005 Toyota Prius II HSD