On this Independence Day, it is time to declare our need for energy independence as we struggle to find our way in the current global economy.

With the planet getting more toxic, we need to quickly fund smart, clean, renewable answers like wind, satellite solar, mirror farms, algae bio-fuel, and efficiency.

A national smart grid allows access to the plentitude of wind energy in four plain states that can supply the entire country with electricity; or allow solar mirror farms from southwest US that also easily provide enough electricity to light up our great nation.

Clean energy policies will send new life into struggling industries, creating millions of new jobs that can’t be outsourced: manufacturing jobs for production of wind turbines and solar panels; industry jobs for renewable energy projects; farming job in algae to bio-fuel, plastics and fertilizer; and construction jobs to make buildings energy efficient. Tennessee is gaining hundreds of new jobs in two separate billion dollar solar production plants being built and we stand to be a leader in a new green economy so let’s repower Tennessee and America this Independence Day.

I’m hoping America has the vision and strength to go for Energy Independence this July 4th, 2009.

Tami Freedman
TamiFreedman@aol.com

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On the 4th of July, in 1776, the people from 13 self-powered train cars (we now call them states) declared their intent to form a train. Our ancestors then spent eight years, under the leadership of General Washington, in the mud fighting for their freedom. Over the next many years they determined how their train, a vehicle or instrument for the people, would operate and established procedural rules. We call this the Constitution. It was adopted in 1787 and within the next three years was ratified by the people of each of the thirteen train cars.

Because the American Train is made up of self-powered cars it needs no locomotive to pull it. We simply have a powerless navigation car at the front of the train. The Navigator (we call him the President) is chosen by the train cars and charged with keeping us on the right track. Stewards (called Senators) and Ushers (called Representatives) are sent by the train cars and their people to carry messages to the navigation car (now named Washington in honor of the General, our first Navigator). Adams, Jefferson and Madison (members of the group known as the Founding Fathers) followed Washington in the role of Navigator.

Delaware is the first train car, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island. Vermont, Kentucky and Tennessee were added to the train before the end of the 18th century.

In early 1861, the 34th car—Kansas—was added to the American Train. Then, the train “jumped the tracks.” Eleven cars (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina) were completely off the tracks. The Kentucky and Missouri cars each had one set of wheels off the tracks. The people in one end of the Virginia car built a new car, named it West Virginia, and put it on the tracks. A man named Lincoln was the Navigator. He felt his duty was to keep the American Train headed down the tracks and persisted in that effort. A lot of men were struggling, off in the mud, for four years. Many died or were injured. However, in 1865, the American Train with all the cars was again on the tracks.

In the 20th century, some train passengers began to believe there would be benefits associated with a more expansive navigation car. To make a long story short, the 21st century American Train looks like fifty cars from a Lionel model train trying to push an Amtrak viewing car. It does not work. If the American Train is to survive, we must find our next Washington or Lincoln, get out into the mud, and get to work.

Lynn Waring
Apison

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While all of what Miss Freedman sounds good to the uninformed and looks good on paper, the fact is that over 50% of the energy consumed in America right now is produced by coal. Thinking that can end overnight or even within 10 years is completely naive, especially given that American energy demands are growing every year. We can thank Democrats for the moratorium on nuclear power dating back to the Carter administration. His administration set back American energy independence and largely put us in the situation we find ourselves now. Obama said of his own energy "plan" that, "Electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket." Feel free to look that up as it was not taken out of context in the least.

So exactly how is America going to keep jobs when the cost of doing business, especially for large manufacturers, is going to go through the roof? Mark my words, if Obama's current energy plan passes through Congress, there will be a loss of American jobs in a way not seen since the Depression. Companies will simply shut their doors and have products manufactured in China where there are essentially no environmental regulations, at least none that are taken seriously.

Let's see, apart from this idiotic energy bill now in the Senate, Democrats already have put someone with no business experience whatsoever in charge of oversight of General Motors. Everyone is aware that the federal government is trying to require that all closed dealerships turn over their entire customer lists, right? Oh, the guy running GM did recently get his MBA. That counts as actual business experience though, right?

Democrats have also changed the language of the Clean Water Act that, if passed, will put even isolated farm ponds used only for private irrigation under federal control. This would prevent such an individual from doing anything to change that body of water such as draining it to put in a new building, for instance. Democrats have now introduced a bill that would put all agricultural authority under federal control and usurp that authority guaranteed in the Constitution from the states. This includes small, organic and roadside operations that would not be able to meet federal regulations that currently comply with applicable state regulations and inspections.

It is obvious that Obama is doing all that he can to also nationalize health care. When are people going to get furious enough to call this entire administration out for thinking they are somehow royalty and can do whatever they want no matter how many jobs and rights get lost in the process?

This is a dangerous administration we have had forced upon us. If people do not wake up, in a very short while, many people, including Obama supporters, will be standing in lines at federal health clinics after they picked up their government welfare checks, because their employers moved their operations to China, saying "How did this happen?"

Joel Walker

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Wow Tami I cannot agree with you more. We do need to be energy independent, and we need to start today. We need to open our shores and allow offshore drilling. We need to drill in the huge oil shales out west. We need to drill more in Alaska. Do you really think that alternative sources are our answer? Just think of all the environmental studies that will have to take place before all of these things actualy get started. Let's face it we don't want to disturb the natural habitat of some small animal you have never heard of before. Once all of the alternative energy plants are built where are the construction people going to go work?

The real easy way for new jobs to be created is to lower taxes. This will make companies from all over the world want to do business in The United States. Heck look what Tennessee gave away for Volkswagon. It wouldn't suprise me that once their tax breaks expire if they don't close up shop and go elsewhere; afterall they have done that before.

So if you want people to go to work and stay working throughout their life, keep taxes low or eliminate them by implementing the Fair Tax. If you want to be energy independent then drill for oil rather than buy it from all over the world. This is like growing your own tomatoes in your back yard and still go to the store to buy them. It makes no sense. Plus have you seen the new Toyota with a wind sail on top of it? I haven't either so stop dreaming. We need oil and gas.

Jimmy Gray

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Mr. Gray, drilling is not the answer the energy independence. Neither is
nuclear (the way we do it now). The answer is reducing our energy
consumption to a level where we can stop relying on foreign sources and can harness cleaner power. Take public transportation, ride your bike, or *gasp* walk. Wait, you can't because you moved out into the sticks half a hour from where you work.

I cannot help but think that $5/gal gas and $.25/kWh is what this country needs to wake up. Absolutely nothing else will get people to stop driving around everywhere and turn off those lights they aren't using. I do not want fuel to be expensive, and I certainly don't want to have to off
my air conditioner, but if this country does not scale back its hungry demands, we will see prices like that for one reason or another.

Either the oil will run out, the oil companies will get greedy (again), or the government will force us to do so (cap and trade), but we will eventually cut back. Why shouldn't we do it on our own terms first and keep prices in check?

If you are so hungry for oil, Dubai is currently seeking citizens. While you are there, you can see a perfectly good example of what happens when you drill, drill, drill. It runs out, the rich get richer, and the rest suffer. Wake up people and pull your head out of the [foreign] oil spout.

Michael Easparam