Administration’s Watered-Down Energy Plan

Don’t our alleged national leaders ever learn? The Dec. 29 article began, “Conservatives in the Bush Administration have succeeded in gutting the most ambitious energy conservation provisions contained in a proposed national energy plan. . . .”

The details of the energy plan, which is the result of 18 months of national hearings and study, have not been released, so it is not possible to comment on its specifics.

But enough information has emerged to show that nothing much will change in our national energy policy. The fact that we had a critical oil shortage in the early 1970s, now have sharply hiked energy prices--plus a situation that will get much worse if war with Iraq develops--seem to have no impact on the business-as-usual, status quo White House policy-makers.

It does not take much more than a moron to realize that we should take action to bring us as close to energy independence as is possible and environmentally safe.

Carrot-and-stick measures are the route to take. We should prod, subsidize and compel research and action to get more efficient cars, more mass transport systems, more energy-efficient fuels, whether petroleum based or not, solar-powered vehicles for urban use and other measures to make our homes, factories, refrigerators, lighting systems, etc. more energy efficient.

Many of these things can be done within five to 10 years. All it takes is some brains, money and the will to act. How many times do we have to get hit on the head before we bestir ourselves and our “leaders”?

LEO NEWMAN, Laguna Hills