My Super-Duper Plan to Reduce America's Pathetic Dependence on Oil

[Photo: Chicanos hanging out next to their car, San Jose, CA, 1971. Click on image to view larger version]

Boys and girls, here is my brilliant (obvious) plan to reduce America's dependence on oil.
Some of these programs have already been implemented. Please encourage your local politicians and bureaucrats to consider these energy savings ideas. It may be difficult to stop big oil and their partners in government from sucking us dry, but in the long run it's definitely worth it. Good luck!

• Hold a national and International conference on reducing energy consumption and pollution
• Meet with (be nice) and encourage other countries to use energy-saving technologies
• Reward homeowners and renters that conserve or use alternative sources of energy with tax breaks
• Distributors should implement a sliding scale per KWH for residential and small business customers. Many companies today only give you a better rate if you use "more" energy (see www.pec.coop). Energy savers should pay less per KWH not more.
• Support energy conservation with the use of energy saving devices such as replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescents
• Encourage telecommuting
• Increase and subsidize mass transportation

1. Busses
2. Trains
3. Light rail
4. Bicycle lanes (for the short haul)

• Develop regional, state and national mass transportation corridors
• Elect a president who isn’t too cozy with the oil companies
• Start thousands of twelve-step programs for gas and energy guzzlers (you know who you are ...)
• New slogan: Gas Guzzlers Suck!
• Create a new class of vehicle - 50 MPG Highway Class

1. Low vehicle sales tax
2. Low vehicle registration fee
3. Commuter lane access
4. Vehicles manufactured (engine and chassis) in US get extra tax break
5. No toll road and bridge fees

• Increase the use of Ethanol and Hydrogen fuels
• Rededicate our communities and nation to the development of solar, geothermal, biomass, wind and other clean fuels
• Don't believe the oil lobby and their sycophants who want to drill off-shore or in wildlife refuges
• Finally ... work for peace in the Middle East. We should immediately start an open dialogue with all sides in the conflict

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