What Can I Do?

By Jill Chapin

August 11, 2008

This unintentionally provocative question was recently asked of Senator Obama as to how we can individually tackle the escalating costs of our personal fuel consumption. The answer, by the way, is plenty.

Obama explained how just by keeping our tires properly inflated, we could reduce our costs at the pump. Senator McCain’s reaction to this proven gas saver is more revealing than Obama’s small but effective example of individual responsibility.

By mocking this suggestion, Senator McCain reveals an appalling lack of awareness when he summarily dismisses any attempts by each of us to be a part of the overall solution. And he exposes an arrogance that is both unattractive and counterproductive.

Ironically, it is now the democrats who are championing that entrepreneurial, inventive, pull ourselves- up-by-our-own-bootstraps mentality that used to be the hallmark of the GOP.

If you’re old enough to remember the beginning of this oil crisis back in 1974, you understand that we have squandered 34 years with precious little to show in the way of alternative energy. This, despite the fact that solar and wind and biofuels have always been cheap and plentiful and renewable and clean. But our government has instead gotten between the sheets with oil companies and ceded our energy policy to them. When their profits soar, they explain it is to be used to search for new energy sources – theirs. So they are not the ones to be vested with looking outside the box for alternatives.

Our crisis is no longer just an energy one; it is now a security one. We need to severely cut back our dependence on foreign oil and we can do so with increased productions of plug in and hybrid vehicles, while we exploit the many options for clean and plentiful fuel. Even algae can be converted to energy use, but so far, the start-up entrepreneurial guys have not been courted by our politicians as seductively as those oil companies have been wooed.

In the meantime, ask yourself that question asked of Obama: What can I do? We can do a lot. We can start by properly inflating those infamous tires of ours. We can car pool, walk, ride a bike, use public transportation, inquire about telecommuting or a 4-day work week, we can get a job closer to home. We can bundle our errands instead of running back and forth each day.

You may have noticed how the airline industry has lowered their fuel consumption with fewer, fuller flights. Many non-stop routes have been eliminated. Buses ferrying people from airports to neighboring towns have fewer runs back and forth. If they can cut back and rearrange their schedules, so can we.

I can understand people who question what Obama will do to address our energy problems inasmuch as he has only been a U.S. Senator for a few years. But those same people should also question what McCain will do, since he has been a U.S. senator for over two decades and has yet to show any leadership in solving our energy crisis.

There is much that is being promised by both candidates, but a lot of this is just campaign rhetoric. The only real and immediate energy solutions at the moment lie within each of us. We can continue to wring our hands over the stalemate in Washington, or we can get on with our personal lives in a more energy-aware state of mind. We need to get off the fence and either align ourselves with McCain’s defeatist, elitist attitude, or respond to cynics with one of Obama’s best lines: Yes we can.

Jill Chapin

Jill Chapin has been a guest writer and columnist in several Los Angeles area papers for over fifteen years. She has written a bilingual parenting book titled, "If You Have Kids, Then Be a Parent!" and a children's book entitled, "My Magic Bubble."

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