For my money, the American Scene is the best group blog in the US blogosphere and Jim Manzi the most consistently thought-provoking blogger. In this post he even manages to say "Reagan was great" in a novel and interesting way.
The post is definitely worth reading in full but this extract is particularly crucial, it refers to Obama and McCain's energy policies but describes the proposals of the British parties pretty well:
"Both plans are fantasies. While predicting the future is difficult, I will offer an even-money bet to anybody who wants it that the United States will have material imports of oil whose price is mostly determined by Middle Eastern producers in calendar year 2019, no matter who is elected president. It’s hard to listen to this kind of stuff from either candidate without feeling either infantilized or insulted."
Of course, the details are a little different. Instead of the idea of ending our demand for Middle Eastern oil over night, we have the fantasy that we're going to provide a big portion of our generating capacity from renewable sources. The result is the same: a fantasy that insults our intelligence.
Manzi goes on to highlight how Carter offered pretty much the same diagnosis in prescription in 1980. Reagan offered something better:
"In order to understand Reagan’s take on this problem, it’s important to see it in the context of his overall address. He is specific about the problems the country faces, and is able to prioritize down to a list of three:Never before in our history have Americans been called upon to face three grave threats to our very existence, any one of which could destroy us. We face a disintegrating economy, a weakened defense and an energy policy based on the sharing of scarcity.He’s then clear and practical about what he intends to do about each."
[...]
"When he then comes to his proposals for dealing with the energy crisis of his time, Reagan’s views are qualitatively different than Carter’s, Obama’s and McCain’s. After clearing his throat with the point that conservation is obviously desirable in that waste is bad, his proposed approach is like a thunderclap of clarity and honesty:
America must get to work producing more energy. The Republican program for solving economic problems is based on growth and productivity.Large amounts of oil and natural gas lay beneath our land and off our shores, untouched because the present administration seems to believe the American people would rather see more regulation, taxes and controls than more energy.
Coal offers great potential. So does nuclear energy produced under rigorous safety standards. It could supply electricity for thousands of industries and millions of jobs and homes. It must not be thwarted by a tiny minority opposed to economic growth which often finds friendly ears in regulatory agencies for its obstructionist campaigns.
Note that he does not say “I” will exploit various energy sources, nor does he propose a government crusade to make America energy independent. Note also that, in this case, he makes no absolute promises about results. He puts forward the views that: (1) energy is a means to the end of economic growth; (2) we want more of it, not less of it; and (3) deregulated markets are the best means for getting as much of it as feasible at the lowest price possible. This is energy policy for grown-ups."
