President’s Proposals on Energy
What will it take to get our elected officials to lead? Perhaps term limits will provide a start. It is impossible to separate our thirst for oil and putting American lives at stake in the Persian Gulf. Embedded special interest groups have prevented Congress and the legislatures from stopping us from consuming twice as much energy per capita as Europeans consume. Americans talk about saving energy but won’t do it until they feel it.
Additional fuel taxes and an oil import fee should be instituted to finance the development and operation of mass transit alternatives. Then, people will change their behavior.
Perhaps our allies should contribute $5 billion to the U.S. when we reduce our average auto fuel consumption by 25%! We must reduce our dependence on the Persian Gulf.
FRED STERN
Beverly Hills
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