We couldn't throw out the oil lanterns just because Ben Franklin discovered electricity.

We had to wait until Thomas Edison
developed the lightbulb
and mass produced the product.

Many of the same people who wax poetically about trips to the gulf, or walks in the mountains would be the first to condemn the very people who provided the energy required for those trips.

It is about 800 miles from Staunton to the Gulf Coast. I doubt if too many people will walk or bike that distance. They will fly or drive. Will they use oil based products for that trip? And even if the person takes his bicycle, will they ask themselves how the tires were made. How was the bicycle forged? How did it get to Staunton? The fancy walking shoes that the hiker wears on his hike, where were they made? Are there any synthetics used in the process? They might want water on the trek. Will that be from plastic bottles?

Will the person who wants only green energy say OK when they cover the mountain meadow with solar panels? Will he say OK when they want to clear the mountain tops for the wind turbines? Will they say yes to an ocean platform with wind turbines? The Kennedys said no to that. Will the person say no to all the oil based products that make his home more energy efficient? Will he give up his air conditioning in the summer? His heating in the winter? Will they say "Not in my backyard" when it comes to new energy?

I want to see all forms of energy utilized. I want solar panels. I want Wind turbines. I want oil,coal, hydropower to be maximized. I want to see conservation and recycling. I want to see nuclear power developed. We need to develop all sources of energy. We need to promote the study of energy. I want it safely utilized. We must work very hard to find new sources of energy. We also have to realize that there are costs for everything.We cannot say no to oil, until we have a replacement. We couldn't throw out the oil lanterns just because Ben Franklin discovered electricity. We had to wait until Thomas Edison developed the lightbulb and mass produced the product.

There are clearly problems associated with energy production. There are accidents. The Gulf, Chernobyl, Bhopal, Love Canal, etc. are examples. We must work very hard to prevent those things from happening. When an event occurs, we must gather all our resources and respond. We should fix the problem, not worry about fixing the blame. We clearly must hold the people responsible for these things accountable for mistakes, preventable accidents and such, but that need not be done until the problem is fixed. If a situation occurs out of criminal acts, there should be swift justice and long jail sentences. If an accident occurs because someone wanted to save a few dollars, that person should be held strictly accountable.