I’m No Expert…

The Republicans have always had an uncanny ability to fool the American people and here we go again. Well they are at is again. In July,22 NY Times, Paul Krugman’s insight into the Republican’s new campaign to rewrite history and cleanse Bush policies of having anything to do with the current ec0nomic mess will have consquences if the American people fall for it again. Don’t miss this important read!!

 “Republicans aren’t trying to rescue George W. Bush’s reputation for sentimental reasons; they’re trying to clear the way for a return to Bush policies. And this carries a message for anyone hoping that the next time Republicans are in power, they’ll behave differently. If you believe that they’ve learned something — say, about fiscal prudence or the importance of effective regulation — you’re kidding yourself. You might as well face it: they’re addicted to Bush.”

Tags: Economy, National Issues, Politics by Jay Stuart
No Comments »

Everyone seems to agree that America needs to break its addiction to oil. But for many the solution is to drill more oil wells here in the lower 48, Alaska, and offshore; you know “Drill Baby Drill.”  But that really doesn’t break our addiction, it only changes “dealers”. That’s like trying to quit cocaine by switching to a dealer closer to home.

I’m no expert, but these people don’t seem to have a clue. Even in the wake of the greatest oil disaster in history, they still think “Drill Baby Drill.”

Breaking our addiction from oil must begin with changing the mindset of Americans. Oil can be just one component of our energy. As we add other sources, such as renewables, we use less oil. More drilling only begets more more drilling! It’s time to break the viscious cyle of oil.

Tags: Energy, National Issues by Jay Stuart
1 Comment »

As if you really need to ask. But Jonathan Powers, a veteran of the war in Iraq, reaffirms the reasons, probably adding a few you never thought of, and describes the consequenses of maintaining the status quo.

“This year, as Americans across the nation celebrate July Fourth with barbecues and fireworks, those most responsible for defending our independence, the military, will continue to fight two wars. And it is a shame that we will let yet another July Fourth pass us by without making substantial progress toward ending our unnecessary dependence on oil, a dependence that is funding the bullets that our enemies fire at our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.”  READ MORE

Tags: Energy, National Issues, Politics, Renewable energy, environment by Jay Stuart
No Comments »

The United States economy didn’t fail over night. It took years of wrong decisions, neglect, cutting banking regulations and so on to get us here. The “Bush” years specifically. You remember when the Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress.

But now, as midterm elections near, Republicans think it’s time for President Obama to take ownership of it and stop looking back at what caused it. Now I’m not exactly clear what they want him to take ownership of? The loss of millions of jobs that occurred at the end of the Bush administration? The collapse of the financial system that occurred primarily because of the rampant deregulation and internal Bush policies that had government financial regulators cozy up with Wall Street? The “tax-cut-and-spend” policy of the Bush years that turned a trillion dollar surplus into a half a trillion dollar deficit? Or Republican stonewalling and filibuster threats to bold recovery efforts unless they were scaled down? And let’s not forget the conservative’s genuine wishes for “Hope for Failure” to Obama’s recovery policies.

After two year in office Obama can take ownership, but remember where he started…at the bottom. The economy is slowly improving . But the rich are losing the tax cuts that is the foundation of our current deficit and not getting richer fast enough for Republicans. So the new Republican slight-of-hand strategy is to be make the American people believe our current situation is all Obama’s fault.

Tags: Economy, National Issues, Opinion by Jay Stuart
No Comments »

The Louisiana judge who struck down the Obama administration’s six-month ban on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has reported extensive investments in the oil and gas industry, according to financial disclosure reports. Read More

Tags: Economy, National Issues, environment by Jay Stuart
1 Comment »

For decades environmentalists and those “bleeding heart liberals” warned of environmental disaster should we from fossil fuels, oil spills in particular. Opponents insisted leaks such as the one we face in the Gulf were virtually impossible. Besides they were carefully “self-regulating” and taking all precautions and safe guards. Even now supporters of our fossil-fuel based society argue that this is just one off shore oil rig while there are hundreds operating safely. But it only takes one to see an ecosystem destroyed, not to mention the economy of a large portion of the country. And unfortunately we are just seeing the beginning of this disaster. The ramifications this may not be know for years. [Read more →]

Tags: Economy, Energy, National Issues, environment by Jay Stuart
2 Comments »

The release of new hi-res video released shows more oil spilling out of pipes than was estimated by BP. Now BP estimates a worst case scenario as high as 250,000 barrel of oil per day. So if BP hopes to capture 20,000 barrels of oil per day, that’s only a fraction of what is being released.

The government fines BP based on the amount of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico, so it was in their best interest to low ball the estimates and hide the new hi-res video.

Tags: Economy, National Issues, environment by Jay Stuart
1 Comment »

BP engineers said Saturday that the “top kill” technique had failed and, after consultation with government officials, they had decided to move on to another strategy. Repairing this disaster is no easy feat and we can be sure the best minds in the country are working on it. But that doesn’t mean it that there is actually a fix out there.

First, BP tried to repair a blowout preventer with submarine robots. That failed. Then its efforts to cap the well with a containment dome failed when it became clogged with a frothy mix of frigid water and gas. BP then tried using a hose to gather escaping oil but managed to catch only a fraction of the escaping oil. In the meantime, BP has started work on two relief wells, but has said that it will not be completed until August — further contributing to what is already the worst oil spill in United States history.

At a rate of 12,000-19,000 barrels of oil a day (504,000-798,000 gallons a day), the spill has already dumped 18 million – 40 millions gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Assuming the spill continues until the relief wells are completed that would add an additional 1,104,000- 1,748,000 barrels of oil or 46,368,000 – 73,416,000 gallons (for grand total of 64,368,000-113,416,000 gallons).

But what if the relief wells don’t stop the leak? What then? How can we count on that working in light of the current failures. Is anyone preparing for this? Can we prepare for this? Will the Gulf of Mexico become a wasteland void of life? The Gulf fishing industry crushed? I’m no expert so no answers here. But what is surprising are the lack of questions and discussion that it’s time to make a serious effort to move away from this oil-based society.

The argument that moving to renewable energy would cost too much pales in comparison to the cost of staying on oil.

Tags: Economy, Energy, National Issues, Politics, Renewable energy by Jay Stuart
No Comments »

Texas Gov. Rick Perry offered a stern warning against halting oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a massive oil leak, and he raised the question of whether the explosion was an “act of God.”

While it’s known that the Governor is a staunch supporter of the oil industry, I actually agree with him, but probably for different reasons. I think god is sending us a message to stop this dangerous drilling. We ignored previous signs such as the Valdez accident, middle-east blackmail, and the havoc oil prices wreaked on our economy.

God has given us other safe and bountiful sources of energy; it’s time we listen and use them.

Tags: Economy, Energy, National Issues by Jay Stuart
No Comments »

“We can’t expect to solve our problems if all we do is tear each other down. You can disagree with a certain policy without demonizing the person who espouses it. You can question somebody’s views and their judgment without questioning their motives or their patriotism.”

—President Obama

Obviously Rand Paul, Republican Senate nominee from Kentucky, doesn’t agree! What a shock that is! In response to the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar insisting that BP be held accountable for what is becoming the worst oil spill disaster in history, Rand Paul called Salazar’s comments “Un-American.” So I guess if you have a position different from Rand Paul or the Tea Party you are “Un-American.” He touts himself and the Tea Party as being different from GOPers but it sounds a lot like the Bush administration rhetoric.

What more, it seems Rand Paul’s Criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (now a foundation of  United States ideals) as too broad and should not apply to private businesses, is OK! Ata boy Randy, at least you’re honest!

Tags: National Issues, Opinion, Politics by Jay Stuart
No Comments »