Much Ado About Energy

A surprising editorial from the Denver Post embraces a comprehensive energy policy that includes offshore drilling (ANWR still pending?).

Amy Goodman of "Democracy Now!" offers completely differing thoughts than the DP, especially about nuclear energy. The arguments posited in this column consist only of quotes from someone else with little evidential claim.

And just for kicks, Al Gore yesterday on Meet the Press.

The need for more energy is certainly a tall-task. Population growth is reason enough to need more energy, but increasing consumption may be increasing the drive to more energy- whether oil, clean coal, nuclear energy, or renewable energy. Yet, one will rarely hear a call from Washington to actually decrease one's personal consumption. The Lausanne Occasional Papers, an evangelical Christian document, produced A Commitment to Simple Life-Style that may bear on this issue. A pertinent quote from it: "We therefore denounce environmental destruction, wastefulness and hoarding. We deplore the misery of the poor who suffer as a result of these evils. We also disagree with the drabness of the ascetic. For all these deny the Creator's goodness and reflect the tragedy of the fall. We recognise our own involvement in them and we repent."

Could we go without tv, internet, air conditioning, or most electronics? How much of what we have is a necessity versus a luxury?