Urgent Business in Congress: National Watermelon Month May 6, 2008
Posted by onemom in Politics.Tags: Dave Camp, Michigan, Nancy Pelosi
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I received a very interesting letter from my US Congressman (Dave Camp, R- Michigan) this morning and just had to share:
In the last two weeks, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, has had us voting on World Glaucoma Day, recognizing 2008 as the International Year of the Reef, and putting the House go on record as supporting a National Watermelon Month. Now, we didn’t actually create a National Watermelon Month; we just said there should be one.
There is serious work to do, but it is not being done by this Congress. No wonder Americans are frustrated with Congress. So am I.
Of course, when she was in the minority Pelosi promised big things…she promised a plan to immediately lower gas prices. Well, that plan has remained a secret these past 16 months and gas prices have shot up $1.20 since she and the Democrats took over Congress. That’s right…the nationwide price for gas has gone up $1.20 since January 1, 2007. Call it the Pelosi Premium.
We need to eliminate the Pelosi Premium, which has added an extra $25 every time you fill up your car. A decade ago, I began pushing alternative energy in the auto industry because transportation makes up 75 percent of our oil consumption. We are now just beginning to see the impact of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. But that is only part of the solution.
I believe there are a number of fairly simple, straightforward approaches we can take, if we had the political courage to do so, to lower gas prices in America.
1. Use domestic oil before buying oil from the Middle East.
We have 50 years worth of energy in Alaska and the deep waters of the Outer Continental Shelf. We can tap these in environmentally friendly ways and we should do it today!
2. Increase the number of refineries in the United States.
In 1981, 324 refineries were operating in the United States. In 2005, that number stands at 148 – less than half! Unless we increase domestic production, prices will not drop. And we can do that by cutting the red tape, streamlining the permitting process and utilizing federal property – like old military bases – to build new facilities.
3. Get the Alma Energy Park up and running.
The oil wells in Alma at the old Total refinery can help stabilize prices right here in the region. Experts suggest that by using new technology that blasts CO2 into the old wells (sort of like shaking up a pop bottle) we could get as much as half the oil that is still down there.
4. Continue to promote alternative fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure.
Ethanol is a bridge to the future, but it is not the sole solution. I have authored a new law that provides consumers with a tax credit for the purchase of a new hybrid, lean burn diesel, or other clean fuel car or truck. My plan also provides incentives for gasoline retailers who convert their traditional fuel pumps and tanks to those using clean fuels.
If we can get some of this done, we will start to change the direction we are heading in.
Sincerely,
DAVE CAMP
WATERMELONS and STAPLES, ENERGY and FOOD
When I was a boy growing up on different farms we considered it a lucky year when we had a watermelon patch that produced large,
delicious watermelons. Fortunately, and more important to our humble farmer means, my mother nearly always raised a good vegetable garden. She seemed to excel in tomatoes. Mother home canned hundreds of quarts and pints of various vegetables; also fruit and sometimes meat. An occasional good watermelon in late summer or early autumn was a treat. But the staples that got us through the winter were the more basic and enduring foods Mother raised, harvested and canned with the help of her family.
For many years in the United States we were accustomed to and spoiled by relatively cheap gas and energy costs. Now the accelerating price rises of energy are causing financial havoc both directly and indirectly.
I cannot offer any well studied, scientific solutions to the energy problem. I can only pass on some observations that I have picked up over the years. Energy costs and our energy crisis are often blamed on (depending on the viewpoint of the critic) what I might call the four “P”s: (1) Politics of the liberal/left and a perverted worship of nature and environmentalism; (2) Profit motives of big oil and big business, that puts self-interest and immediate greed above long-term stewardship and fair market profits; (3) Petering out of the availability of natural resources; (4) Profligacy or poor conservation
by the American consumer. I am inclined to think there is some truth in all of the above points, though I think the biggest problem is number 1 above. I recall a former Democrat U.S. Senator from Iowa some years ago who was flagrantly pro-abortion but became so emotionally upset over the possible harm that might come to snail
darters if a wilderness setting was disturbed that he pounded on the lectern in his excited defense of what has become a perverted pagan
religious worship of nature, of putting the creature above the Creator,
of elevating beasts and plants above mankind. Unfortunately this type of thinking, philosophy and political power has great influence in the Democrat party and too much influence in the Republican party.
I assent to the need to find alternative energy sources and to use oil resources that are already available in the continental United States, but that are being blocked by extreme enviromentalists. I have not been convinced, even though I live in a corn state, that ethanol is a good solution. It appears that the diverting of corn and other grains toward energy use is driving up food prices and putting poor areas of the world of even greater starvation.
Perhaps inventive minds will find new ways to produce energy and ways to increase the effectiveness of existing sources. A good measure of economic freedom and just capitalism is usually needed to spur new inventions. Meanwhile, when will human babies, preborn and born, become more important in our crazy culture than snail
darters and other lower creatures? When will basic human needs for energy sources and for the reasonable existence of human life become more important than the perverted nature worship and twisted politics of much of the political liberal/left?
Amen.
I’m sure glad we got that taken care of. I mean, I’ve been sitting around saying, “Gee, you know, when will we celebrate the watermelon?” and really had no idea. I’m glad that the House had the vision and courage to take up the potential of possibly thinking about possibly getting around to discussing that vital issue at some point in the future.
I mean, there’s nothing in the world more important right now than the possibility of maybe honoring the watermelon.
Sure, there’s a couple wars going on, the economy is imploding, energy prices are beyond reasonable, we’ve somehow managed to develop a food shortage, and China owns more ofthe US than the US does, but … you know … watermelons are great!
Sigh …
Well Wickle, the poor watermelon has been so misunderstood and under-represented, I do hope Speaker Pelosi can push through her agenda to get the watermelon the recognition it deserves.
I’m not a fan of watermelons. I think we need to call our congressmen and express our disapproval of congress on this issue! It’s about time they move on to more serious fruits, like oranges and bananas!
To be honest, I might rather them vote on these issues than harmful issues, like raising taxes and increasing spending.
Ronnica - you’re right, we might be better off if they spend more time on fruity topics!