McCain’s Energy Plan: Correct Diagnosis, Killer Prescription
First off, kudos to PJM and to Jerome for a well written featured article on energy. Especially appreciated are the inline links to the data and information sources spoken of in the article.
Jerome has touched on the breadth of the energy problem and implied that solutions will be varied and development of those solutions full of complexities.
Unfortunately what sells best to a populace are quick and easy answers (e.g., “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less”) that can fit in the space of a bumper sticker, even if reality dictates such answers are unreal. Many of the electorate will accept more nuanced and complex proposals, however this requires a politician both to be very honest and a very good communicator.
So far I believe Sen. McCain has done a decent job in positioning himself as the “Energy President”. He will need to keep on topic though, and not let himself wander. Much of what he says does not get a great deal air time and thus he will need to keep up the effort.
How McCain (or for that matter Obama) deals with the NIMBY blockades will be telling. The latest is the effort to prohibit exploration for uranium around the Grand Canyon effort. While there certainly are issues with nuclear that does not mean we should give up on the idea, especially the development of alternative reactor concepts.
