by Rep. Zach Wamp
posted May 20, 2008
My high school basketball coach used to say, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That battle cry should be our mantra as the leaders of the United States of America at this critical moment in history.
We all know the fundamentals are not good, the price of a gallon of gasoline is too high and unsustainable, the housing market is in a slump, shooting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue to extract blood, sweat and tears, health care is not accessible to all and too expensive for many. Overall, times are really tough for a lot of people.
However, the United States and its people have endured much worse on many occasions throughout our storied history. What we need more than any single program or policy is the collective will to face these challenges with the same fortitude, resolve and unity with which we have rallied from adversity before.
After all, unemployment is still relatively low at five percent, the stock market has actually held its own over the last few months and while people’s confidence in the economy is way down, most Americans believe we will recover and that their children will have it even better than they do today. So let’s get on with this historic task of turning lemons into lemonade.
On energy, allow new domestic production of oil and gas, permit refineries, deploy bio-fuels quickly, accelerate ion-lithium battery technology for plug-in hybrid vehicles and use our tax code to incentivize major, long-term investments in renewable energy and advanced technologies, such as stationary solid-oxide fuel cells. Invest in clean coal, coal gasification and carbon-capture technology among others.
On housing, extend a $7,500 tax credit for new homes to jump start the housing market without bailing out lenders and investors who made high-risk loans when times were good.
On health care, use the market and our tax code to reform health insurance to gradually shift from the employer-based system to a system that is more equitable for everyone who purchases insurance. This will create competition among insurers, reduce health care costs, and give the American people more for their health care dollar.
On trade, encourage commerce with countries that share our values and treat people with dignity. Otherwise, we need to balance our trade deficit with aggressive policies that keep countries like China from taking advantage of us.
On war and peace, have the courage to defend our way of life and protect our allies, leave Iraq with honor on a responsible timeline of our choosing and work to prevent further military engagement unless we have no other choice.
The “Greatest Generation” is still watching our every move. They were impressed with the way we came together after September 11. We must unite and decisively answer this call together. The political parties cannot or will not do this, but with or without them, those of us in leadership positions need to move forward and make the tough decisions to meet these challenges. Too much is at stake and time is of the essence.
* * *
My high school football coach, Pete Potter, used to say the same thing “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” But it was only to give us inspiration. The real work was when he always looked back critically at mistakes we had made and came up with ways to correct them. It always involved a lot of hard work, patience, and thoughtfulness.
We will not solve our national issues by “getting tough.” That never worked, even in the greatest generation. We have to correct the failed policies of Mr. Wamp’s party in the past seven years. Tax cuts that favor the wealthiest in our country have created a wider gap between the rich and the poor, an illegal war fought on two fronts that drains our economy and the morality of our nation, deregulation that leads to unmitigated corporate abuse of human rights and a huge impact on the health of our planet. Oh, I almost forgot the tax break that Bush gave us for driving SUVs. That is a good one.
This brings us to the real issue: the bill that Mr. Wamp introduced to give oil companies access to the last wild places in our country. Not surprisingly, this is the same thing that the executives from BP, Shell, Chevron, Conoco Phillips and ExxonMobil said today in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in their $2,000 Armani suits. They were so sad about the high price of oil and blamed China, OPEC, the lack of access for them to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife refuge and more coasts. The truth of the matter is that it would take years to affect the price of oil if it would at all, but would greatly increase the profits of the oil companies that are already the highest in history. They almost had me in tears as they explained that it wasn’t as great as it seems for them.
"We cannot change the world market," Robert Malone, chairman and president of BP America said at the hearing. "Today's high prices are linked to the failure both here and abroad to increase supplies, renewables and conservation." They need to drill and explore to increase supply.
Do you see a pattern? Congress and the oil companies are playing a game with American taxpayers. Zach Wamp and others introduce a bill and then they set up a hearing where they all act concerned and try to “fix” the gas prices. They don’t pay for their own gas. (Taxpayers pay to fill up their limos). Their big plan to control the price of gas is (surprise) the same that these congressmen already came up with, to destroy our last wildlife area for our grandchildren. What if it were cloudland canyon where they wanted to put an oilrig?
According to Malone our congress has failed to make policies of conservation. They have even discouraged it with their SUV tax breaks.
I think in this case “the tough” should take it a little cautiously. Maybe the bullet that we need to bite is using less gas as the price rises. Consider what harm we have done in the past by letting big oil control our government. We should separate them by making campaign contributions from corporations illegal, use our creativity to enhance alternative energy sources, encourage our children to simplify rather than consume.
Maybe we could even be a real conservative and ride the bus or a bike.
John Zachary
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Mr. Zachary,
You had your opportunity to take pot shots at the Republican Party, and that's OK, but let's get your facts straight. You mentioned the tax break " Bush" gave us for driving SUVs. If my memory serves me I believe you are talking about a tax break given a few years ago that was intended to stimulate the purchase of large trucks typically used in agriculture. Yes, there was a loophole that allowed the SUV purchaser to participate in that tax incentive. However, SUV drivers shouldn't thank George Bush for that. That was signed into law by William Jefferson Clinton.
In a press release dated April 24, 2006, Nancy Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.” Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.”
Mr. Zachary, how has that worked for the American People?
Greg Goodman
Chattanooga
smoky157@hotmail.com
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