Wednesday, September 28, 2005

A wastrel nation hell-bent on plundering its treasures


Vice President Dick Cheney established the White House ethic on conserving energy some time ago.

"Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it cannot be the basis of sound energy policy," Cheney said in 2001. He was ably abetted by White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, who said of energy prudence, "That's a big no" with George W. Bush.

So, why regard President Bush's appeal this week for limiting fuel consumption—as serious? Especially when the president has taken seven post-hurricane trips to the Gulf Coast, in the mother of all guzzlers, Air Force One, for no other reason than to rehab his political image.

The president's appeal is even more contradictory when, in the same speech, he promised to open the valves of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a clear political act. It's not a shortage of oil that's driving up prices, but a shortage of refinery capacity. So why tap emergency supplies?

If so suddenly smitten with post-hurricane conservation, why did the president not appeal to automakers for more efficient mileage on fuel?

The nation is on a path of gluttony that if not reined in soon could bankrupt its future. We seem hell-bent on squandering national treasures and not saving for rainy days.

The president and the Republican majority in Congress have exhausted hundreds of billions of dollars in the inherited budget surplus. They've run up astronomical debt by borrowing from foreign nations instead of postponing tax cuts. The allure of U.S. military service has been exhausted by misuse of forces in Iraq and the goodwill of overseas friends has been squandered with we'll-go-it-alone decisions.

If that weren't enough, California Republican Congressman Richard Pombo, who detests protection of endangered species because it prevents real estate development, is ramming through legislation to remove habitat from protection and let species fend for themselves.

Not to be outdone, Colorado Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo has offered this scheme: Sell off millions of acres of federal land to pay for the costs of Hurricane Katrina.

And for bipartisan plunder, few acts top the greed in the $286 billion transportation bill enacted last month with 6,371 congressional pet (say, "pork") projects. The president's threat to veto the bill because it exceeded his limit turned out to be just more posturing. He signed without complaint.

The only end to this ransacking of national assets may be if the Treasury's printing press for money breaks down.




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