We are now at a critical FORK IN THE ROAD.

The fork we (you) choose, whether through ignorance or choice, will determine our history and that of mankind.

You have a truly EPIC opportunity to lead the world and change the trajectory of our species on the planet by the decisions you make at the beginning of your presidency.

PLEASE CONSIDER

I’d like to make the case, for your consideration, that with all the many problems facing America and the planet that will be demanding your time and attention — from health care and immigration, to the war and the economy, from climate change to energy independence, there is ONE — and ONLY ONE issue that trumps all the others. 

Focus on this and all the others will start to resolve themselves.  Ignore this and the game will soon be over.

I call this fork the “ENERGY FORK” because the direction America elects to take, in the face of the energy and climate crisis will determine the history of modern civilization, as we know it.

WHICH ROAD?

The fork to the left leads to conflict, war and societal collapse.  Let’s call that the RED ROAD…for the blood that will be spent and the suffering that will ensue.

The other fork, let’s call that the GREEN ROAD, is the road that runs through  innovation to economic renewal and a sustainable future for America and the survival of modern man on the planet.

The choice and the consequences are largely up to you.

We will never be here again.  The choice will be gone forever.

COLLAPSING OIL PRICES

What I’m about to say is made all the more urgent by the recent collapse in oil prices from $140 down to the $60s.  Like the previous price collapses, it has removed the urgency but we can’t let this one prevent our finally taking action.

So let’s cut to the chase.  There’s not much time.

There are three major facts that indicate that America has already chosen the RED ROAD.  The road to continued dependence on oil, climate change and future wars.

THREE FACTS

FACT 1 -  Our modern world has been made possible by the replacement of muscle power with petroleum power.  Machines powered by oil have created enormous wealth and benefits for mankind.   And now this new energy intensive society we’ve created is in jeopardy as we approach and pass PEAK OIL.

Peak oil is the point at which all the cheap oil is gone and countries start using force to grab the remaining, diminishing…and increasingly expensive… petroleum reserves.   Like the U.S. is now doing in Iraq.

FACT 2 – It’s now pretty well established that burning fossil fuels is changing the climate in potentially catastrophic and irreversible ways.  This can’t continue if we want a habitable planent.

FACT 3 – America is the most energy intensive and wasteful society on earth.  We have 4 percent of the world’s population and 3 percent of the known oil reserves – yet we consume 25 percent of the world’s oil, over 65 percent of which is imported at a cost approaching a trillion a year.

And don’t forget the collapsing economy… being sucked dry by the world’s biggest military machine, powered by petroleum, “protecting America’s strategic interests in the middle east”.

By now it should be clear that continuing our reliance on fossil fuels is a DEAD END.

There’s not enough oil for all the people here now… much less those coming in the future… and even if there were, the climate still can’t handle more carbon dumping.

THE CHOICE

So the choice should be clear.

You need to lead America… and the world in an entirely new direction.

And the time is short.

There is only one choice.

You need to inform the world that America is changing its direction.  You need to tell the world that America is going rebuild its society based on new clean, renewable energy technologies and that it’s going to lead the new energy technology revolution.

You need to tell the world that America is choosing the GREEN ROAD that will take us, and the world — toward economic revival, peace and climate sustainability.

YOUR FIRST 100 DAYS

If there’s anything that history teaches us about the effectiveness of presidents, it’s that they need to focus on one or two major agendas and that the first 100 days are their windows of opportunity.

By announcing to the world that your taking America in a new energy direction, you’ll be taking giant steps toward fixing our economy and moving aggressively to solve the climate crisis.

You’ll be reducing international conflicts.

You’ll be putting downward pressure on oil prices and give the world more time to develop new technologies.

You’ll be building huge new export industries in the clean energy technologies that the whole world NEEDS.

You’ll be creating millions of new domestic jobs.

You’ll be able to lower taxes by reducing the enormous price we pay for the military machine protecting “our strategic interests” in the middle east.

You’ll reduce the balance of payments.

And you’ll change the psychology of the world as it comes to see we’re investing in the future and we’re planning on becoming good stewards of the earth.

For as America goes, so will go the world.