Beginning of Days

The United States is faced with a huge number of challenges and most seem overwhelming. It is largely because of such looming problems that many feel we are coming to the end of our rope here on planet earth. Americans watch network news, read magazines and newspapers or listen to radio reports and what they hear sounds nearly hopeless. Can anything be done to change the course we are on? Are we rushing headlong toward a collision with destiny, or do we have something to say about our future?

Think for a moment what we are facing. New diseases are cropping up every year, global warming is taking a tremendous toll on glacial and artic ice at both poles, gas prices are soaring at the pump, corruption in government appears rampant, American corporations outsource American jobs to foreign nations where people work for pennies on the dollar, our national debt has exploded to more than 9 trillion dollars, an invasion of our nation is underway across our southern border and congress appears impotent to pass legislation to address any of these issues. These profound challenges confronting America require a new beginning. It is imperative that we embrace change while time remains.

It seems absurd that some Americans think global warming is either cyclical or believe there is insufficient evidence to support the claims of scientists around the globe. While evidence is overwhelming that our planet is being affected by the ?greenhouse effect? many are either unaware of that evidence, or simply prefer an essentially ?party line? point of view.

Americans at this time are deeply divided. If we are to rise to our highest potential, we must take responsibility as Americans to overcome our differences and work together for the greater good of all concerned. It is important that we dispense with the ideological dogma of political parties to recognize we are uniquely qualified to change the world. We have done it before, and are perfectly capable to do so again. We ought to place much more emphasis on the good of America than party affiliation. We should dispense with fretting about Democrat or Republican, liberal or progressive, left wing or right wing identity and focus instead on recognizing we are all Americans who need desperately to work together for the good of America.

John F. Kennedy announced that America would send men to the moon and return them safely home within a decade. This seemingly impossible task was accomplished not once, but six times. Kennedy stated his vision and America came together to manifest that vision. America not only created new technologies, applied new technologies to deal with the challenges of space, it was accomplished within the deadline Kennedy stipulated. There is a marvelous array of new technologies produced for the Apollo program that benefit us to this very day. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence that America met this incredible challenge, there are people who actually believe the whole moon landing was some sort of hoax produced in a film studio. More astounding still, some folks still believe the earth is flat, despite the abundant evidence to the contrary.

The difference between the challenge of going to the moon and those we face today is fairly simple and straightforward. If one does not believe we landed on the moon, little harm is done. But if we choose to ignore global warming or refuse to recognize the threat of terrorism, people suffer and die. Today?s challenges require the sort of American unity we enjoyed during the Apollo program if we are to overcome them. We must begin immediately because time is short.

Here is one of those esoteric truths of human history: So long as people believe they can?t do something, they will manifest failure in accord with their belief. By contrast, when people understand that all things are possible, then nothing is beyond their grasp. This is a Magickal principal found in nearly every spiritual path.

There is a proverb in the Bible that says: ?For lack of a vision, my people perish?. It is a concept that folks of any religious or spiritual path can understand. The challenges confronting us do not favor one religion or spiritual path over another. If we fail to act together, they will affect Jew, Moslem, Christian, Buddhist and Pagan alike. There will be Republicans who suffer right along with Democrats and Libertarians.

With the foregoing in mind, what may be done to change our course? How can we overcome so many momentous problems? What vision can be offered that would deal with such monumental issues as we face today? Are these troubles not larger than anyone can handle?

Let?s examine how Americans working together can forge a better destiny. You see, I am an optimist who believes that each of us has the innate power to change the world. Moreover, we have a responsibility to do so. We need to come together as Americans, and work for the good of all Americans, and what we do tends to affect the rest of the world. We have a responsibility to do what lies within our power to accomplish. The sooner we get started, the sooner we will discover blessings that await our effort.

Not far from here is a refinery along a major highway. Driving by the place is enormously unpleasant. It is dirty, smells to high heaven, and a terrible eyesore. Even miles away, the stench is amazing. That refinery is a remnant of a dying technology that is rapidly outliving its usefulness. As a Pagan who holds great reverence for nature, it is offensive to me on a deeply personal level. Would it not be far better to live near a ?wind farm?? How about a solar farm that does not cause such stench to fill the air as the refinery nearby?

Wind energy is nonpolluting, clean, and freely available. Rather than investing in new refineries, now being proposed by our government, why not focus on developing wind energy sites all over America? Here in Colorado, it is rare that the wind does not blow. This is free energy that can be harnessed and stored in batteries for later use. There is a radio station in Colorado that started using a windmill many years ago to generate power for their studios, offices and transmitters. It proved so successful that they terminated their connection to city power lines. Their batteries are so efficient at storing energy they can continue operations for more than a week should the wind not blow. The notion that the wind will not blow for an entire week in Colorado borders on the absurd.

Brazil has declared energy independence thanks to Flex Fuel cars. These vehicles use ethanol fuels that do not require petroleum imports. They can burn E85, which is a blend of ethanol and 15% traditional gasoline, or use straight ethanol. An onboard sensor detects the type of fuel used and adjusts itself appropriately. Their ethanol comes from sugar cane that is distilled in fuel factories that burn waste parts of the sugar cane to power the process. Nothing is wasted. If Brazil can break free from imported oil, why can we not do likewise? We do not need to develop these new technologies because Brazil is already using them nationwide. The technology already exists, and more compelling are the cars that burn E85. The cars are American-made vehicles produced by GM and Ford! The technology is already working so why not simply adopt a similar program for American energy independence. It isn?t like we must develop the wheel from scratch, just embrace change!

Solar and passive solar technologies are also well developed and represent a clean and constant source of power. I have friends in the scientific community who explain that a photovoltaic station measuring 100 miles to a side in a place like Death Valley would be sufficient to supply the entire America electric grid. While coal offers significant pollution and nuclear plants are incredibly dangerous, solar power is free and abundant. More importantly, every roof in America has the potential to become an electric energy generating station.

James Woolsey, former CIA director and advisor to President George W. Bush, has demonstrated his personal commitment to energy independence. He was interviewed by Amanda Griscom Little for Grist Magazine and had this to say:

We have a Prius and just got a new Lexus Hybrid SUV, which will get close to 30 miles per gallon, twice the mileage most SUVs get.? He went on to say ?We have solar on our farmhouse and solar-thermal panels for hot water.?

In another interview for television, he added that his solar power generation provides energy for his entire farm and home with surpluses he can sell back to the utility company. While his initial investment in solar technology was an added expense, he is recovering his cost. Instead of paying utility bills, he gets checks from the utility for the extra energy he generates. How amazing is that?

While many Americans live in apartment complexes or locations where solar power is less effective, wind farms and solar power generating stations can replace coal or nuclear fired plants to supply those needs.

The benefit to the environment and reduction of global warming gasses into the environment would be remarkable. While gasoline burned in cars releases carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, coal is much worse. A traditional coal fired power plant will expel tons of carbon dioxide into the environment with every passing day. Coal technology has become cleaner, but still remains a major contributor to carbon dioxide emission. Solar power releases no carbon dioxide at all.

Passive solar captures the sun?s warmth during the day to keep a home warm during the colder temperatures at night. Homes constructed so the sun will shine through windows onto cement, brick or stone during the day will remain warm through a winter?s night.

These technologies promise immense benefit not only for our environment, but also to our economy. In speaking with local solar power technicians who install units on local homes, they explain that they are always busy. As solar power becomes increasingly affordable and traditional energy resources rise in cost, more Americans are making the change to solar. The technicians say they are seeing an explosion in demand, and expect to hire additional crews in coming years. Employment opportunities for technicians are reflected in the need for manufacturing facilities to produce solar panels. Making a change from petroleum fuels to ethanol, hydrogen, bio-diesel and similar emerging technologies will also produce new employment opportunities for Americans. From farming the crops needed to create ethanol, to hydrogen fuel research, to facilities to extract ethanol from plant sources, to creating delivery systems and fuel stations, there is plenty of work to be done, and Americans will be needed to do that work.

Additionally, every new home built in America should meet energy efficiency standards of some sort. We can no longer afford to squander resources that could be deployed to stave off a coming energy crisis. When homes are built, wasted space that must be heated should be minimized. Solar arrays and solar water heating should be standard in all new homes rather than an expensive option. Better insulation and more efficient windows and doors can dramatically reduce dwindling fuel resources.

Moving toward energy independence has an additional benefit of ameliorating tension between nations over diminishing resources. China?s increasing demand for oil is causing tension with the West. By dramatically reducing our own demand on petroleum based fuels, we extract ourselves from an increasingly competitive market fraught with conflict. We can become energy independent, as Brazil has done, and remove ourselves from dependence on Middle East resources. Terrorists resent our presence in Arab nations, and reducing our reliance on imports from the region would mitigate tensions that result.

By embarking on an Apollo scale project to develop and deploy energy efficient technologies, we could not only reduce our imports, but become an exporting nation providing fuels and technology to partner nations. This would help to stem the spiraling trade deficit we now face. We buy cheap goods from China, and shipping containers that arrive full of products return empty. Unless we find a way to balance our trade with other nations, our economy is in grave peril. One thing China needs, however, is energy for a ponderous population. We have an opportunity to supply that need and balance the ledger.

My vision for America is that we embark on the changes necessary to redeem ourselves from foolish attitudes toward energy consumption, our planetary life support system and our shaky economy. I believe that we can reduce global warming before things get out of hand. Alternative fuel technologies, as noted previously, are already on the shelf and ready to go. We can change from technologies that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and make the switch to renewable energy technologies that we grow right here in America. We can deploy wind and solar technology to help meet additional energy needs right here in America. We can create employment opportunities for our ailing automobile industry by demanding Flex Fuel cars, along with fuel stations and refineries to run them. We can start taking responsibility for our own needs rather than relying on foreign nations. Farm subsidies should be eliminated to encourage farming crops that produce ethanol for fuel. There need to be markets for those crops to be sold and we can create them. We need facilities to refine those crops into fuels we can use, and we need cars that will burn them efficiently.

We begin when we acknowledge ?We CAN? and drop the negative ?We can?t? thinking that seems to plague many in America, particularly in government.

Terrorism is of great concern to Americans. Yet, in a post 911 world, millions each year enter and remain in our country illegally. One of the great fallacies of our response to terrorism is that our government is doing a wonderful job. After all, we have not been subjected to another attack since the destruction of the World Trade Center. That sounds great, but is outright deceptive. That claim is as flawed as stating we haven?t suffered the destruction of another American city due to hurricane because this administration is doing a great job in the war on weather. Since it is claimed that those who destroyed the World Trade Center were foreign nationals, who entered this country despite being on the ?terrorism watch list?, perhaps it would be prudent to review our immigration policies. The truth of the matter is we really do not need massive overhaul of immigration laws, or creation of new ones, but enforcement of existing laws already on the books. If we fail to enforce existing law, what good are new laws without enforcement?

Our troops now stationed in far flung parts of the world would be better employed protecting our own borders than those of other nations. We now know that claims made to justify war in Iraq were fabricated, and no evidence was introduced in advance. No accountability was demanded by the American people or the press. Since the administration now admits mistakes were made, delaying our departure will only compound our error. This isn?t some sort of mystical notion. The old phrase ?Two wrongs do not make a right? provides us direction. If the case for war was questionable, and mistakes were made, why continue down the path of error? While stuck in Iraq, our own nation is enduring an outright invasion across our southern border. A significant number of those who cross our border illegally are from nations other than Mexico. Many who have been apprehended from Middle East nations. If a terrorist were determined to harm America, the best bet to accomplish their objective would be to enter our nation covertly through this porous border. Once inside the USA, they would meet with others who also entered illegally and initiate their operations. The point being, border security could be achieved by making better use of American troops to keep unknown immigrants with unknown intentions from entering America!

Moreover, existing laws provide stiff penalties for employers who provide jobs and other support to illegal immigrants. Those laws simply need to be enforced. More Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should be hired immediately. In recent years, their numbers have dwindled from 240 to approximately 100 today. Consider that number represents 2 ICE agents for each state in our union, and it becomes abundantly clear how absurd the situation truly is.

Finally, such sweeping changes as I describe require honest and ethical leadership from government. Unfortunately, we are plagued with a government that is dysfunctional. Lobbying reform is desperately needed. Legislators should represent their constituents rather than political action committees and corporate interests. Influence from K Street over politicians needs to be curtailed, and politicians need to hold higher ethical values. Greater accountability should be required from every one of our elected officials and their appointees. We need representatives willing to put American values above party agenda or personal gain. We must have leaders in all branches of government willing to uphold their oath to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States rather than stripping Americans of their rights and liberties. We urgently need to educate Washington that Americans will no longer tolerate corruption and ineptitude in high places. It must be made clear that we expect them to uphold such core American values as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, and all the blessings of liberty stipulated by our founding fathers. It should be driven home with the authority of an informed citizenry that we demand better of our leaders. Back room deals and secret arrangements can no longer be accepted as ?business as usual? in government.

What we are talking about is a sea change in the United States. In order for America to embark upon revolutionary change, we must have leadership willing to embrace revolutionary challenges. There is no time left to squander.

Members of both primary political parties have failed America. Both Democratic and Republican administrations have taken their turn at running our nation into the ground. Neither has focused on what is important to the American people, heeding special interest groups favorably over their constituents. We have witnessed corruption on both sides of the aisle. What then are we to do? Perhaps the best way to send a clear message to Washington would be to eliminate every incumbent office holder in the upcoming elections. We have ?seen their act?, and it has been underwhelming. By throwing every single incumbent out of their job, perhaps they would become more sensitive to the thousands of Americans who remain unemployed through no fault of their own. They might develop an understanding of what they have done and permitted to be done to the citizens they represented, albeit badly. Simply get rid of every incumbent and start over with a fresh new crop in Congress, for starters. Would this not send a clear and unambiguous signal to Washington? It would be viewed as a second American revolution, and a clarion call for patriots to seek public office. It would be clear that Americans CAN require ethical and responsible leadership. The people deserve a new beginning.

While our nation is confronted by challenge upon challenge, we have the power and ?can do? attitude that took American men to the surface of the moon and back again. That same grasp of what we can do, when we work together, makes clear that we can change the world for the better. We certainly have the capacity to reach for the stars, and through focused will, we can achieve them.

Moreover, I strongly believe it is our purpose on this earth to live in accord with our highest ideals, greatest potential, and spiritual philosophy. Better we be about our work lest the master return to find us sleeping!

This is not the End of Times.

It is Times of a New Beginning.

The day is far spent and there is much to do.