I was not around when the fever for space flight started. I have seen that speech by Kennedy about reaching the moon. It was an obsession... a competition against the Russians to get to the moon first. It seemed a daunting task, but we made it to the moon. And that is part of our proud history.
Where is our call to arms about energy? Yes, there is a growing throng of voices calling for change in our energy habits. There are those around our country who work to achieve that goal. And yet, there is not that nationalistic call to be the first nation to find that alternative that could break our oil addiction.
This is not just a global warming issue. It is not just an economic issue. And it is not just a national security issue. This should be an issue which we can rally behind. A thing that we could be proud to declare we discovered.
As time goes on without some major discovery in the way we propel our vehicles down the road, I can feel the tin foil building up on top of my head. Is there some conspiracy involved in keeping us so indebted to oil for our livlihood? I mean, we had the electric car a long time ago. And now we have hybrids. When are we going to take the plunge and just bite the bullet on this! When are these people crying right now about how much the price of gas is screwing them over going to get on board with this. Sure, right now they are clamoring for something. But in a few months it will settle down to between $3 and $4 and people will stop grumbling and just take it. Until the next time this happens. And it starts all over again.
I understand the desire to offer some quick relief to this gas problem. Some people can't cut back any more than they already have. It's breaking the back of the American people. This is not the America I was brought up to believe in. We were supposed to be strong and independent. Times like these just seem to show us as a weak and vulnerable nation. I know people are hurting all over the world. But folks in this country barely register the things going on unless it effects them personally.
I know this is not a diary with tons of quotes and links, but I just want to understand. Why are we not racing to be the first to develop a gas free car? That would be such a great thing to bring this country to its feet and fighting again. To be that America we keep telling ourselves we still are.