I've been reading Friedman again, and thinking about what he's been saying (for a while) about motivating science and engineering in the US by establishing urgency. Specifically, he'd like our "man on the moon" project to be energy independence. I think that we can safely say with a Texas oil man and an oil executive in the White House, this isn't going to be a national priority this presidency. But, could this be a campaign issue for Democrats in 2008? In fact, I think that it is the perfect issue.

This is the perfect issue for a Democrat to run with because it is something that motivates liberals. Liberals, for the most part, love environmental issues. This is something that they can get behind, because, unlike Kerry, it is something that they are excited about. This was one of the key problems with the Kerry campaign, no one was excited about him. They thought he could beat Bush. Excitement inspires more than hate.

The issue of energy independence also works as a single issue that can be leveraged against all other national concerns. You can talk about anything while staying on message. And, we all know that Democrats have a problem staying on message. Here are some sound bites for various issues:

  • Terrorism -- We can not stop terrorism if we keep funding it by sending money to the middle east.
  • Education -- In order to stay competitive in a global marketplace we need to encourage more science and engineering education in the United States through funding of Energy Independence research.
  • Family -- I just don't know how a candidate can say he's pro-family when he supports policies that cause innumerable health problems for children, our most vulnerable citizens.
  • Foreign Relations -- The US can not have the freedom to support democracy abroad when it is hamstrung by countries who control it's energy supply.
  • Outsourcing -- In order to keep jobs in the US we must make our products and our consumers more savvy and advanced through pushing new technology and innovation in the goal of energy independence.
  • Soaring energy costs -- Energy costs effect every American, poor and rich. In order to combat costs, we need to combat demand, and so we need to work on Energy Independence.

How do we do it? Well, that's a nuanced issue that doesn't get picked up by the evening news or discussed in 45-second debates. It is something that would take hard work and determination. But, people are inspired by having a goal they believe in.


posted May 12, 2005 | permanent link