Pickens Plan
PickensPlan -- Boone on The Daily Show
When we were in Minneapolis, I spoke at length with people that had a tent set up on a sidewalk, pushing T. Boone Pickens' energy ideas. They were firmly behind a bill that was trying to get passed through congress that would give consumers huge tax credits if they were to pay for alternative energy systems to be installed in their homes, businesses, etc. The bill did pass, and I think I have a really cool windmill hat pin tucked away somewhere.
To be very clear, T. Boone has a lot invested in his "plan" on a private business level. Yes, he wants the USA to be less dependent on foreign oil, but he also stands to make a lotta moola if his "plan" gets implemented in the next few years. That being said, I don't disagree with what he's talking about at all, and if the USA could actually do all the things he is talking about, we would be SO much better off.
His plan does not necessarily call for high-speed trains, but I'm ALL for bringing back passenger rail service on a huge scale. After all, many of the grand old stations are still around, and they would be a great place for the new "shopping malls" since people would pass in and out of the buildings in great numbers (the old "suburban-mall-with-parking-lot-the-size-of-a-huge-farm" model is failing miserably in this downturn). And sooner than later, airline travel will only be available to the very, very wealthy.
WOW--with people taking the train and actually slowing down, taking a little break in this hectic world to get from point a to point b--it would be really good on an emotional level for the USA, too, I think.
When we were in Minneapolis, I spoke at length with people that had a tent set up on a sidewalk, pushing T. Boone Pickens' energy ideas. They were firmly behind a bill that was trying to get passed through congress that would give consumers huge tax credits if they were to pay for alternative energy systems to be installed in their homes, businesses, etc. The bill did pass, and I think I have a really cool windmill hat pin tucked away somewhere.
To be very clear, T. Boone has a lot invested in his "plan" on a private business level. Yes, he wants the USA to be less dependent on foreign oil, but he also stands to make a lotta moola if his "plan" gets implemented in the next few years. That being said, I don't disagree with what he's talking about at all, and if the USA could actually do all the things he is talking about, we would be SO much better off.
His plan does not necessarily call for high-speed trains, but I'm ALL for bringing back passenger rail service on a huge scale. After all, many of the grand old stations are still around, and they would be a great place for the new "shopping malls" since people would pass in and out of the buildings in great numbers (the old "suburban-mall-with-parking-lot-the-size-of-a-huge-farm" model is failing miserably in this downturn). And sooner than later, airline travel will only be available to the very, very wealthy.
WOW--with people taking the train and actually slowing down, taking a little break in this hectic world to get from point a to point b--it would be really good on an emotional level for the USA, too, I think.