Who Knows Benefits of Conserving Fuel

A short but good article pointing out two extremely important issues Not being talked about during this campaign cycle especially by those getting the most press {and their very own 24/7 cable channel hyping them}, the so called Mad electorate calling themselves the TEA party. Many, or most, are from the same that brought us these two long running occupations and are supporting those seeking representative jobs from the same political party with no ideology but quickly rubber stamped the credit card of dept and already have stated they won't Work for the Country, in no way to compromise but to raise the obstruction within!

Veterans know the benefits of conserving fuel

October 31, 2010 - The stack of mail that awaited me after a trek last week to three favorite national wildlife refuges on the Delmarva Peninsula included a slick and glossy brochure from an incumbent state legislator. The text, headlined with bold lettering, proclaimed the fellow's support for veterans' benefits and the like.

As if such benefits are being debated, at all.

They aren't.

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No, veterans' benefits are not on the debate table. But America's continuing - and growing - dependence on foreign sources of oil surely is. And American men and women in uniform are on the frontlines of the ongoing campaign to protect oil fields, most notably in the Middle East. (I won't identify the name of the politician whose mailer I mention above, but you can figure it out easy enough).

Political leaders - at all levels of government - who really, really, really want to deal with a real issue at the heart of national security would start hammering away at reducing our insatiable demand for fossil fuels, like Middle East petroleum.

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"The Obama administration set the country on a path to higher fuel efficiency in automobiles and lower consumption of oil. By increasing fuel efficiency, we will reduce our reliance on oil and thus enhance our national security," said Jonathan Murray of Operation Free, which has called for a standard of 60 mpg by 2025. "Today's announcement is welcome news among America's military families that are on the front lines of defending American security."

The Obama Administration has signaled that it is looking to raise fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks to at least 47 miles per gallon and up to 62 miles per gallon by 2025. The new standards would apply to cars and light trucks in model years 2017-2025. Increasing fuel efficiency to 60 mpg would result in at-pump cost savings to consumers of more than $100 billion and cut oil consumption by 44 billion gallons in 2030, according to a recent study.

"Our current energy policy sends a billion dollars a day overseas for oil and some of it ends up in the hands of terrorists and regimes hostile to the United States. The existing policy puts our soldiers at risk as they face our enemies on the battlefield. Setting higher fuel efficiency standards will reduce the need for oil and the associated security risks. The administration's proposal complements the Department of Defense efforts to find new sources of clean energy to power our ships, planes and tanks and reduce our dependence on oil," said Murray.

Operation Free is a coalition of veterans and national security organizations dedicated to securing America with clean energy. Operation Free sponsors the Veterans for American Power National Tour, a 29-state tour by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans making the connection between energy policy and national security. Learn more at Operation Free. Operation Free is an advocacy campaign of the Truman National Security Project. {read rest}