In the State of the Union last night, President Bush called for (in a rhetorical sense) breaking America’s addiction on foreign oil, and (in a specific sense) calling for a 22% increase in Energy Dept research. Although we’re obviously Democrats here, we’re not reflexive Bush-bashers either, and Bush should get some credit for taking the time to point out this problem.
But we need to do more than point it out and call for a vague increase in research. Oil dependence is a national security crisis, an environmental disaster, and an economic disease. Boosting research is great–but not nearly enough, says Gov. Richardson:
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, speaking on CNN, said that other than calling for a 22 percent increase in Energy Department research, Bush was short on specifics.
“We need an Apollo-type program,” said Richardson, referring to the effort that put an American on the moon.