More Useless: Dirty Diaper or Career Politicians?

When did politicians approach to any issue become an all or nothing game? I think it's a result of the modern media and their OCD level obsession with reducing every story, issue, and news worthy event into a 30-second sound bite. It's impossible to explain the thousands of years of history, the geopolitical ramifications, and just the logistics of the Iraq War, let alone offer a practical solution in 30-seconds, so why does everyone in Washington insist upon trying?

As a result of this oversimplification, we are left with rigid politicians that steadfastly oppose anything that doesn't fit the 30-second sound bite model. Let's take a look at the current energy crisis as a framework. On one side, you have the Republicans who, for the most part, want to expand domestic exploration and drilling for oil. The 30-second sound bite is usually a Senator or Representative saying something about being held hostage by foreign oil and then repeating the word "drill" until the 30 seconds is up.

On the other side, you have the Democrats who tend to take the position that drilling for oil will not solve anything, and we should spend our time and money looking for and developing alternative fuel sources. The sound bite will include words like "carbon," "greenhouse gasses," "failed policies of the Bush administration," etc.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi referred to President Bush's call for expanded domestic oil exploration as a "diversionary tactic," while at the same time insisting that he open up the strategic oil reserve. For those of you playing at home, the strategic reserve is probably good for a 3-month supply of oil. When it runs out, not only will the US have to spend significantly more to replace the oil we used, but whatever effect releasing the supply had on the price of crude will immediately vanish. Yeah, that's totally not a diversionary tactic.

As nice as it is to think that the solution to high gas prices is a one-step fix (be it drilling or alternative fuels), the economy is entirely too complex for this problem to be solved overnight. It's going to take SEVERAL avenues of attack that incorporate both drilling for oil here in the States, searching for alternative fuels, and reducing the amount we use petroleum based products.

Despite what both sides are saying, if we were to throw all our effort at alternative sources, the products wouldn't be on the market tomorrow or even in the next few years, so to represent that the hydrogen car is only a couple billion of dollars away is completely misleading. Conversely, drilling for oil isn't going to reduce the price of gas immediately, but it will help prevent further price increases down the road.

To sit there and throw the political equivalent of a temper tantrum, refusing to explore any single option is irresponsible and demonstrates a complete lack of concern for the taxpayer. What it does show is unadulterated pandering to special interest groups, which will do nothing but pad the coffers of the politician and not solve the problem.