[LadyRuby]

Oil Companies Deserve an Honest Grilling

Nice article from the Washington Post! Here are some highlights:

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')Here is what Congress should have done, and should still consider doing:

Rescind the $14.5 billion in tax credits -- at least that portion of it that goes to the oil people -- in President Bush's energy plan. Any business that can't pull adequate research and development funds out of $32 billion in quarterly profit -- repeat, profit -- shouldn't be in business.

Raise gasoline taxes to help curtail consumption. Use those taxes to accelerate the development of an alternative-fuel infrastructure in the United States.

Reallocate current consumer tax credits for the purchase of hybrid, clean diesel and other alternatively fueled vehicles. It makes no sense to give a tax credit for a $45,000 luxury hybrid sport-utility vehicle that gets less overall mileage than a $12,000 economy car with a traditional gasoline engine.

Force the White House to be as passionate in its pursuit of national energy conservation and efficiency as it is in fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It would be nice if we had all of those Americans back home working on developing new engines and fuels instead of having them over there getting killed, blowing up engines and burning up fuel.

Start telling the American people the truth. To wit: We are facing a global energy crisis. It isn't pretty. It will require sacrifice from all of us. Overall gasoline prices will continue to go up. We are in for some traumatic, but survivable and necessary changes.

Not one of those proposals marks an easy way out. All are controversial, risky. But isn't that why we supposedly vote for leaders, instead of puppets and entertainers? Do we want government, or just another political show?