Tom Friedman has a
column in today's New York Times that is definitely worth reading. He proposes making American energy independence in 10 years -- by ending reliance on oil altogether and developing other fuel sources -- the great project of our generation. Friedman lists a number of possible benefits -- depriving corrupt oil regimes in the Middle East of money and rallying Europe around a new environmental policy -- but leaves out the main one: A 10-year energy independence proposal would dry up support for corrupt regimes at home, like the current one, which has pursued short-sighted, oil-driven foreign and domestic policies.
In Friedman's view, the main benefit of a 10-yar drive for energy independence is stripping corrupt regimes around the world of their money source, which will force them to reform. Friedman lists Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia as the countries that will be forced to liberalize in response to falling oil prices in order to stem the internal pressure that dwindling revenues will create. He posits that Europe will mobilize too because of the environmental benefits such a policy would have. This is all true, though he may overestimate the ability to rally Europeans quickly after the way Bush has intentionally alienated many of the European powers, most recently
refusing to take the congratulatory phone calls of Spain's prime minister after the election because of Spain's decision to pull its troops out of the Iraqi quagmire.
But the main benefit of Friedman's policy would be a domestic one: Framed correctly, an energy independence project could be a sound, popular reform and, most importantly, it is one that Republicans could never support. Friedman's proposal runs counter to everything we know about this Administration, with its close links to big oil and its close links to the Saudis, and its willingness even to talk about democracy-promotion only when all other arguments have failed. And even then, the Administration seems willing to ditch democracy-promotion in the Arab world at the slightest hint of trouble, as Armando points out today. This Administration doesn't just support Big Oil, it is Big Oil. If this Administration stands for one thing, it is a "Leave No Oil Behind" program that supports immediate increased production and profits for oil producers at home and abroad. Everything else is just window dressing.
The sort of energy project Friedman proposes runs against everything the Bush Administration stands for and if BushCo has its way, such proposals will never see the light of day. That's why Democrats should add it to the to-do list for reform. Now. But first, take the poll.