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Adding up these bail-outs and another defense budget over $600 billion, like many Americans I'm scratching my head and wondering: Where is it all going to come from?There seems to me an obvious solution. Unfortunately our politicians all live in fear of the "S" label - SOCIALISM. Scary word, I know.
But don't we already have social services? Don't we share the responsibility of garbage, water, sewage, roads, military defense and public schools through our local, state and federal governments? Why shouldn't we treat energy the same way?
Based on Rep. Dennis Kucinich's idea, I think we have a wonderful opportunity to change our energy paradigm from one that's privately owned to one that's mostly publicly owned using green energy sources. It makes sense, too, because no one can legally own the wind, sunshine or heat in the earth. Why should the ultra-wealthy like T. Boone Pickens get to sell energy they get for free back to us for a profit?
The Bush Administration has done an incredible job of starving the government while Wall Street and oil speculators overvalued the cost of oil and enriched Big Oil companies who now sit in a prime position to embark on clean energy ventures with little competition.
If the public is going to bail-out Wall Street, the public deserves something in return.
Scott Tyner
Hattiesburg, MS
