Elect leaders who solve energy problems

High oil prices have driven up the price of gas and consumers are again crying for legislative leaders to “do something.” High-priced gas is a hurtful indirect tax that drives up the price of everything and diminishes the standard of living for lower- and middle-income earners. More insidiously, it transfers wealth from our shores into the lands of foreign oil producers where, often, leaders just don’t like the United States. Thus, high-priced oil is a national security issue as well. Importantly, it is also a problem that can be solved.

Regrettably, the oil and gas price issue is just one example of a national problem that is never solved. Since the hurtful OPEC oil embargo of 1973, our national leaders have been implored many times to create a sensible energy policy that serves our national interests and forestalls disruptions in supply and high prices as well. But today’s leaders show no sign of wanting to solve the problem.

In corporate or NGO settings, problems are faced and solved because solutions are critical to survival. However, there is no similar imperative for the problems presented to our elected public managers. So, problems in this sector are never really solved — they are just left to fester. Our leaders give us speeches and half-baked initiatives, but never develop a real “solution” for the core problem. Perhaps leaders fear that they will not be needed if they actually did solve the nation’s problems? Mysteriously, voters don’t hold the politicians who don’t solve problems accountable and re-elect them.

The bottom line? Let’s not just wail about high gas prices. Instead, let’s demand the election of new, solutions-oriented leaders that will solve the oil and gas issue — and all of our nation’s long-unsolved problems.

Charles Falk

Schaumburg