Redux

The last few weeks I have touched on three key topics and want to revisit them today as each has made headlines, reiterating my concerns, or in one case giving hope and contradicting my thoughts. Last week I touched on energy policy, the failure of the Department of Energy to meet its mandate by President Carter, and cornucopian ignorance by conservatives. The prior week I alerted you to my concern over failing state governments. Three weeks ago I hit on the issue of entertainment and sports prevailing as the interest to Americans instead of citizenship. I typically write this column on the weekend preceding publication so it has been fascinating to watch thoughts, predictions, and trends materialize.

Snowstorms battered the mid-Atlantic and northeast again this past week reiterating my focus on state governments running budget deficits and the upcoming economic malaise. The same week I wrote my column the governors of the states met and voiced concern over impending shortfalls. In world headlines, Greece continues to make the news, but the state of California is the eighth largest economy in the world and remains on the brink of failure. On the U.S. east coast snowstorms may bankrupt individual states. For example, Georgia has no budget for snow removal but has spent $5 million. Virginia has suffered; outspending its $79 million snow removal budget by another $70 million. Those are critical monies ordinarily available for social services, schools, libraries, and road maintenance. In Virginia, the state DOT has stated all major road projects will be postponed until next fiscal year.

Thursday of last week brought the much anticipated healthcare debate. In anticipation the pundits from both the liberal and conservative views voiced excitement over the possible outcomes: would President Obama save himself and his party from defeat in 2010 or would Republicans present a concrete plan revolutionizing healthcare? Ironically with the hype to finally add transparency to the healthcare debate, most citizens will never know what took place. First, most people cannot give six hours of a weekday to watch government officials be dogmatic providing campaign like speeches. Second, the networks gave up and changed to “more interesting” programming. Thus, once again the people chose Oprah, ESPN, and daytime soap operas over engaging themselves in the strenuous process of governing America and instead will rely on media opinions and polls to persuade them.

I enjoyed writing last week’s column regarding energy policy and praising President Obama’s decision to provide loan guarantees to build two nuclear power plants in Georgia. As a follower of Peak theories, and a Chemical Engineer, I understand the mass and energy balances required to calculate the inputs required to fuel the surpluses in our society we enjoy every day. Without inexpensive fuels we would not have 2% of our society working to feed us, fertilizers and pesticides, bottled water, or cross America in a commercial jet for just $400. The ability to obtain energy cheaply provides us the lifestyle of kings; a gallon of gas bringing the energy equal to one person working nonstop for twelve weeks. Last week though, a revolutionary new fuel cell was debuted: the Bloom Box, featured on 60 Minutes, USA Today, and Forbes brings technological revolution. Ordinarily I look away, comparing such news to rainmakers invading the dustbowl in the 1930’s. However, this may be the cornucopia sought by many, a former NASA mechanical engineer has developed an ink and sand based fuel cell. The Bloom Box delivers the economic promise of powering cars and homes through a distributed network. This loaf of bread sized device may be in every home in just a few years.