Just do it, and get out of the way.

I am really excited about the Pickens plan. Can you tell? I think his plan can actually work. Here is a funny quote from an interview this week.
"If only we had a Congress and president who, instead of chasing crazy schemes like offshore drilling and releasing oil from our strategic reserve, just sat down with Boone and Shai and asked one question: “What laws do we need to enact to foster 1,000 more like you?” Then just do it, and get out of the way. "
Shai is an Israeli electric car maker who was also interviewed. I like him! He has a unique company that has, (or will have,) electric cars available like cell phones - except you buy miles a month rather than minutes. I don't exactly get it. But it sounds promising. If you would like to read the whole article click: here.

My take on the Pickens Plan

The previous two posts are about a plan to lower our use of foreign oil. I am so excited about it. It could really work!! T Boone Pickens has a great idea to develop wind to replace natural gas used to make electricity, and in turn use the natural gas to fuel more cars. This would save us $700 billion spent on foreign oil in ONE YEAR! That is amazing. He is also pushing for the real development of all alternative energy sources. This is exciting to me, though I am absolutely repulsed by the development of nuclear energy. That is the one thing I disagree with in his plan. But, since this is the first effort anyone is making to actually move forward rationally at all in our energy policies, I am enthusiastic. I couldn't be more delighted, actually.
I hope anyone who reads about this will look into the matter for themselves. I think the rationale is self-evident. Please, lets do our part to have righteous dominion over our earth, our home.

Pickens plan encapsulated

Texas oil tycoon sees answer blowin' in the wind
BY T. BOONE PICKENS SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
Saturday, July 19th 2008, 12:25 PM
Most New Yorkers remember the old national debt clock in Times Square. It ticked upward every second to show how deep in debt our country was growing - to awaken Americans to a crisis.
We've got an even greater problem now, with consequences far more significant: Our dangerous and growing dependence on foreign oil, an issue that will require us to spend $700 billion this year, which is more than four times the cost of the Iraqi war.
Like many of you, I ignored the telltale signs as our imports of foreign oil grew from 24% in 1970 to 42% in 1990 to 70% today.
With only 4% of the population and 3% of the world's oil reserves, we now consume 24% of the world's oil.
We have had three years of record oil price increases. And while oil supply is decreasing, demand will only increase as developing nations consume more oil. Which will drive prices even higher.
We have drifted for decades without an energy plan. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
Here's my plan to reduce America's foreign oil imports by more than one-third in the next decade.
It starts with wind. Wind is 100% domestic, 100% renewable and 100% clean. In the middle part of our country from Texas to the Canadian border, we have some of the world's largest wind reserves. Using private investment in wind farms, we can tap that power and create 22% of the nation's electricity.
Wind energy can replace the natural gas we currently use to fuel our power plants to create electricity. We can then use that freed-up natural gas for transportation. Natural gas is cleaner, cheaper and better than gasoline, and it's found in abundance in the U.S.
At the same time, I also want to see us explore all avenues, from more R&D into batteries and fuel cells to development of solar, ethanol and more conservation. We should also consider drilling in the outer continental shelf.
It may seem simple, but these three steps would displace more than one-third of our foreign oil imports and get us to our goal. My plan can be accomplished through private investment with no new consumer or corporate taxes or government regulation.
We have a golden opportunity in this election year to build support for this plan. We can solve this one - if we come together and take on the responsibility of change.
Pickens, a life-long Texas oilman, is chief executive officer of BP Capital. Learn more about his ideas at www.pickensplan.com

The global food crisis and its causes

Another article from AEI about the global food crisis. I share in the frustration of biofuel. But I was surprised to see that Biofuel production is only incraesing food costs by 20 percent. The other causes are trade restrictions, and the inflation of the dollar(he hem, please refer to my entry on Jan 08 08 about the hegemony of the dollar). There are more, but I can't remember exactly what they were. I hope you will take the time to read this article, I found it very eye opening.

Ahh, I found another article on the same subject that is much shorter and to the point. And explains the causes much better.