The word energy comes from the Greek word energeia, which means active operation or energos, which means active working. One definition of politics is factual scheming for power and status within a group. The combination of the ability to do work, which is considered energy and factual scheming or how to do that work, which is politics make energy issues political footballs, which are tossed from one group to another over the years and the work never seems to get done, because the ball is always dropped. It is obvious that in every factual scheme energy is used, but the energy needed to transform one type of energy into another type of energy is an economic issue that depends on the political power behind it. Energy policy has been at the mercy of different political groups around the world and the fuel that has keep energy transformation in a stagnated state is money and power, not natural resources.
The United States policy on energy is a good example of energy policy stagnation. Thirty-two years ago President Jimmy Carter pushed for energy reform. He wanted to reduce US dependency on oil. At that time 46% of the oil consumed in America was coming from sources outside of the US, today that figure is around 60%. Carter advocated the use of nuclear power, windmills and other natural sources that produced environment friendly energy. At first it appeared Carter was going to change America’s dependency on oil, but politics got in the way. Most people did not feel like energy was a big enough issue to change their lifestyle and the big oil companies had enough influence over congress to alter the Carter energy policy.
Politics has been complacent over the last thirty years and that complacency has kept the US dependent on energy sources that have had a negative impact on the economy, as well as the environment. It’s no secret that the Bush family has strong ties to global oil production. Clinton understood the problem, but didn’t put enough of his own energy behind a political plan that would alter America’s dependency on foreign oil. The thoughts of Carter are now being used to help change the current energy system and Americans are now willing to take an active part in their own well being, by using the political energy of awareness.
Jason Grace
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany
