Today, Barack Obama, delivered his most comprehensive Energy Policy Speech to date.
I am pleased, and here’s why. For a change, here is a candidate who proposes a realistic plan to address the complex challenges of energy dependence and climate change. A candidate who is taking into account political realities and the need to compromise sometimes. A candidate who is incorporating all the good solutions that are available so far. A candidate who embraces Tom Friedman‘s view of a Green Revolution. A candidate who knows Americans have it in them to weather the storm. A candidate who is not afraid to confront our addiction to oil.
Yes, he did change his mind on offshore drilling and tapping into oil reserves. Some say, Obama does not know what he wants. To which I respond, great policy is an organic process that requires constant adjustment to circumstances and people. What matters is that the vision, and the leadership remain constant.
La Marguerite 
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“Obama does not know what he wants. To which I respond, great policy is an organic process that requires constant adjustment to circumstances and people. What matters is that the vision, and the leadership remain constant.”
This made me remember a quote attributed to Bill Clinton which I saw coming by a few days ago I think:
“When people are insecure, they’d rather have somebody who is strong and wrong than someone who’s weak and right.”
Yet, I think this is changing. I think the most important thing for a leader to do is be clear how his policies relate to his principles, and emphasize that his principles don’t change, but that one of his principles – doing his best for the country – require him to change course when new information comes to him.
I do feel that Obama should pay more attention to explaining the “why’s” about his turnaround. He should be more clear, like: “First, I knew this, now I know this and this on top of that, that’s why I changed my opinion on this matter.” (include some reasoning here perhaps)
… and you Americans should consider yourself damn lucky with such a leader in your country.
If you’re interested in more of Friedman’s green policy, I recommend checking out the excerpt of his new book Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution–And How It Can Renew America. I work for the publisher, and we’re bundling it with an online giveaway of his bestseller The World Is Flat.
The giveaway lasts until Aug. 11th, and the new book comes out Sept. 8!
http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/giveaway
p.s. Great Clinton quote above.
-Ryan
Meryn, I hope Obama reads you! 🙂
Seriously, you are right on. That is probably the only weakness in his current discourse.
Ryan, I had already passed on your giveaway in comment on earlier post on Tom Friedman’s 20 questions. Thanks for bringing it up again. I hope readers here will take advantage of it.
My Dear Ms. Marguerite,
I truly hope Barack continues his bold work and adopts some of the proposals emerging from “The Breakthrough Institute” like this one that I got from them earlier today on a “National Energy Education Act”:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/30/EDP9121D56.DTL
Meryn,
The latter part of your comment # 2, reminded me of this quote attributed to Gandhi:
“I have never made a fetish of consistency. I am a votary of truth and I must say what I feel and think at a given moment on the question.”
Besides, responding to changes in our environs is consistent with basic principles of both cybernetics and evolution.
Also, your comment yesterday about “some kind of global brain” reminded me of this = even though it’s a 30 minute slide-show, I think it’s worth it (and Marguerite, Mr. Forthomme and I enjoyed an earlier version of this 20 years ago in a consciousness-studies course):
http://www.peterrussell.com/GB/GBVideo.php
Ciao for now,
paul
I hope you are right. I’m still disappointed in the off shore drilling shift. Please God let Obama have the strength to be a true leader – to do what is not necessarily popular but what is necessary.
Green Bean, I think you are speaking for many.
From over here (Scotland), I see Americans as a nation that likes to view itself as leading the world. If only you would! I think the future of the planet lies in the hands of America – if you grasp the challenges (and economic opportunities) presented by climate change we have a chance.
Simon, remember it will take the whole world to make it out of this mess! Obama said it . . . And yes, America needs to take the first step. We led the consumerist movement. Now we need to lead the green revolution. I believe in the domino effect.
[…] a qualifier for all aspects of people’s lives. This is in sync with growing green narrative: green economy, green revolution, green jobs, green media, green homes, green cars, green living, etc. It is also […]
When Obama changed his mind on offshore drilling, I realized that nothing will ever change in the US until we are up against the wall with a true disaster. He may believe in it 2/3 of the US want more drilling and nothing will ever change their minds – Very depressing…..