How much influence does Big Oil have over our Government? The House of Representatives, The Senate, The judicial system and of course, the Vice President and President?
How much money are they receiving from lobbyists?
How much stock in oil companies do they own?
These factors affect how the government reacts to issues involving not only oil, but other forms of energy as well. Are some of the legislation that has passed in recent months really beneficial for our energy economy as a whole? Or is it a bone thrown to the American People to say, "Look, we’re doing something."
If the government truly wanted to do something to assuage our concerns they would be doing more than passing token legislation and seriously promoting the inventive, creative spirit that our country was built on. Not simply finding pathetic ways to "stretch" our oil usage out as long as it will last.
I’m not sure if the government’s individual connections with oil companies, and automobile companies for that matter, are available to the public, but they should be so we can make an attempt to keep them honest in their dealings. Remember, they are public figures. They work for us. We are their employers. We need to keep that in perspective. Look, if Pepsi finds an employee drinking or promoting Coca Cola they can be fired. Shouldn’t the government be held accountable too?
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2 Comments
Miro
Hey to help solve these problems we have set up a group on facebook to phone blitz senators check it out! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20568327141
Andy Chapman
Hi
Yes..what is really needed here and what is sadly lacking is some genuine leadership and vision from all governments and perhaps Western governments in particular. Politicians run scared of introducing any measures they fear may be vote losers (such as supporting high oil prices as being one thing which WILL actually bring about the right sort of behavioural change) – which is of increasingly little use to anyone. We need to keep pressing for urgent government action of course but at the same time start doing stuff ourselves without waiting. I’m trying to get a zero carbon community project up and running in the UK at the moment..more details on my blog.
Good luck and let’s keep optmistic!