Senate detrimental to energy
Collegian Opinion

    Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate has demonstrated again that partisan ideology, rather than actual concern for the country, dictates the government’s national energy policy.

   This spring, conservative senators celebrated a victory over their liberal counterparts, voting against higher fuel-economy standards for sport-utility vehicles.

   Not to be outdone, the liberals got back at the conservatives by voting to block oil exploration in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

   Distracted by the squabbling, however, our senators have unwittingly doomed the country regarding energy.

   Not only did they vote to allow unchecked petroleum consumption to continue, but they also forced America to continue its dependence on Persian Gulf oil.

   With these latest actions, our government continues to show an inability (or unwillingness) to consider the future.

   The senators seem to think that as long as SUV fuel tanks are full, Americans do not care about energy policy.

   That is simply not true.

   Unlike international affairs, where there is a clear split in public opinion, most Americans sincerely care about the domestic energy crisis. The issue draws consistent and nonpartisan concern.

   Not only does excess petroleum consumption harm the environment, but the money we spend on foreign oil supports countries unfriendly to the United States such as Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

   Federal standards for fuel economy have not been raised since 1989 while the average vehicle’s mileage has actually worsened, largely due to the popularity of SUVs.

   It is unbelievable that laws with so much potential for our nation’s improvement can be dismissed so easily by our elected lawmakers.

   Most obviously, it is an easy way to reduce greenhouse gases. The ozone levels in American cities are getting steadily worse.

   But perhaps most importantly, if these bills had passed, they would have allowed the United States to gradually buy less oil from Middle Eastern countries.

   Over the next 10 years, the U.S. could have stopped buying oil from Iran and Iraq completely and greatly reduced the imports necessary from Saudi Arabia.

   With U.S. demand for foreign oil lower, world oil prices would undoubtedly drop, profoundly affecting the incomes of these anti-American regimes.

   Maybe certain Persian Gulf state leaders would be less likely to condone anti-Americanism if they were watching their wallets shrink.

   Better yet, maybe the United States would no longer need to be involved in every Persian Gulf military crisis.

   Does a self-sufficient nation with cleaner air, lower fuel prices and fewer foreign conflicts sound good to you?

   Sadly, your Senator does not see things the same way.

   The U.S. lawmakers need to rethink their recent actions. Maybe if they pay a little more attention to the consequences of their actions and place a little less emphasis on partisan antics, they can actually do what is best for their country.