Editors' note: Please click here for Wyatt Meldman-Floch's Democratic outlook on alternative energy.
Alternative energy is certainly the most over mentioned issue. I say this as I write an article about alternative energy and therefore not helping the situation here. Although over mentioned, I cannot stress enough the importance of alternative energy sources, but not for the traditional liberal reasons, but for pure capitalistic gain.
I clearly stated in my last article my view on “Global Warming” and so as an individual who has concluded that climate change is a natural occurrence I believe that alternative energies should be developed but not mandated by the government. In my political ideology I believe first and for most that neo-liberalism (free markets) rain supreme over almost all government interventions with certain exceptions such as military action. Now that is to say that I do not believe that mandates from the government that cast a shadow over capitalism should be permitted. The importance of free market is paramount and so I support all alternative energy sources which can be marketed and sold. The profits that could be made from the development of alternative energy could help to turn our economy around. Why shouldn’t we capitalize on this “fad” when so much money can be made? Oil prices are at an all time high, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t capitalize on the situation at hand.
Needless to say implementing alternative energies into the market could take years, and therefore I also believe that we need to increases the oil productions in the United States. Off shore drilling needs to be increased and we also need to tap into Alaska’s vast oil reserves. We should not let the scare of “Global Warming” scare us into not drilling for oil. We still buy and use it despite the fact, and so therefore we to try and make the price of oil we are using anyway drop drastically in price. Furthermore an oil refinery has not been constructed in the United States since 1976. We need the refineries to process all the oil we use causing prices to go because we can’t process all of the oil. There is a need for oil in the world and why should the United States be left in the dust economically. The sale of oil could turn our national debt into a profitable establishment.
All in all the development of alternative energies could really stimulate the economy, but we should let the government to mandate companies to switch to alternative energies they need to be developed by independent companies for profit. Also we cannot just overlook the need for oil. We need it now, and the government should shot themselves in the foot trying to import oil. It needs to be drilled and refined in the United States by US companies.
