In defense of energy

[texaslawchick]

I never really thought I'd be writing a post like this one, as I'm not particularly conservative in any way shape or form, but I keep on seeing articles like this one, by Matthew Yglesias at Think Progress. This isn't to particularly harp on Matt, but his is the most recent post of many that I've seen like this. Time and again I’m struck by the

Comments

here via momwolf's f-list

[fallconsmate]

i hear ya. TheEngineer designs jack-up rigs. specifically he designs the part that actually lifts the rig into place. and while this rig was NOT one of his, nor of the company he is with now, he's dealing with having the people he needs to consult with at another company being SO busy putting out fires (as it were) that they cant sit with him for a couple hours to get HIS fires put out (on other situations).

its rough. and yes, he and i have had plenty of discussions on this before and after the OTC meetings, and his main question is "if they had the proper equipment in place, why did that rig blow? the cut off valves are supposed to CLOSE in case they fail, the hydraulics in place hold the things open and not closed. power fail, hydraulics failure, they are supposed to CLOSE."

[mskauri]

Until true energy alternatives are developed, we all have to face the reality that our way of life necessitates the exploration and production of fossil fuels. And whether that happens on our own coastlines and lands or those that are far away, we collectively bear the responsibility and fault for the demage done to the planet.

I couldn't agree more. We ALL have a stake in this, so we ALL have responsibility to fix it. Not just the red/blue states. Not just the UNITED States. All of us. And every little bit helps...

I took the train

[lord_of_entropy]

But at least one of the others did ride off on his bike. He was also as cutely German as you could hope for, which segues into my point- our politico-economic status quo didn't just happened but is a result of active planning.

Lots of money & political work has gone into maintaining & promoting fossil fuels, from voting down people who wanted to address foreign oil or boosting solar power to working the courts to prevent stronger emission standards to propaganda about how OMG SOCIALISM if governments seriously underwrite alternative energy research & methods.

Of course Houston has benefited, precisely like Boeing makes sure Congressional districts in every state benefit. Hell, I've specifically counseled people I love to move to Houston because we "have the devil's money."

That doesn't make it right anymore then it makes Ike's military-industrial-congressional complex right. Personal hypocrisy doesn't make the argument false any more then any other logical fallacy would make it false.

[pegster]

this part of your post made me nod my head vigorously:

"The Sierra Club protestors who went to the Offshore Technology Conference last week had to get there somehow, and unless they walked or rode bikes, fossil fuels were involved in getting there. Unless you're camping in a canvas tent for a week, using no plastics, no synthetic materials, it's nearly impossible to live in this country for a prolonged period of time without fossil fuels."

the part of the equation that always gets lost is that until the environmentally-friendly options in life are made cheaper, better and easier than flicking a switch or taking out the regular trash, nothing will change.

celebrities pontificating about a green environment still employ private jets and gas-guzzling tour buses to get from here to there. yes, their schedules are intensely complicated, but the concept of talking the talk and walking the walk seems to not be part of their reality