Wake up and change U.S. energy policy

There has been a lot said about the current government's failure to act quickly enough to fix the oil spill.

We all need to ignore the issue of how quickly the Obama administration reacted as the question itself is patently absurd and remarkably silly. Instead the left and the middle should immediately move on to what is the opportunity of a lifetime.

The oil spill opens the door for real reform that can get the United States and all of its citizens out from under the thumb of big oil and its allies. Without going through a whole economic analysis of why unfettered multinational corporations controlling the life blood of our economy is bad, let me point out just two reasons why the U.S. should act decisively and immediately.

One, the cost of gasoline and heating oil is in reality a regressive tax that adversely and inordinately affects the lower and middle classes.

Two, allowing the multinationals to continue operating without real safety regulation and without any concern about the economic well-being of the U.S. puts the United States and its citizens in jeopardy.

Not only should there be stricter safety laws, but this is the time to change tax policy to encourage development of alternative sources of energy.

It's time for the right to admit that regulation of businesses that are essential to our well being is a job that must be done and that only the federal government can take on that job.

It's time for the right to do the right thing even if it means admitting that environmentalists had a point about offshore drilling.

This oil spill is a wake-up call and it's time to not only cap the well, but to change the culture of government being in the pocket of big oil.

James Farruggia

Schaumburg