by Skye Martin

Created on: November 20, 2007

Government subsidies to energy sources in the U.S. has long been over influenced or outright controlled by business and led to or maintained monopolies. With this in consideration one should, and the public should be highly skeptical of subsidies, especially the profit and political motivation behind them.
The larger question involved in this debate title could be, "Do we trust a free market for our energy needs, to be a responsible power for environmental and social justice." The history of the energy industry, and subsidies in our country would suggest that it is not; however, the political powers that have long advocated the end of subsidies have done little to actually end them but benefited from the subsidies and funneled these funds into the sort of politics that spread and benefit from public ferment against their very own bankroll.

We have a broken system, which may or not be better than no system, yet we should have a system. A public polarization exists, which pits supposed "free marketeers" Vs. supposed "socialists." The supposed public representation does little to recognize this "false debate" yet gives us another "false debate" which is merely the old on-going pulling of puppet strings representing profits and political power and not the populous.
We should recognize this, recognize that ignorance and apathy, encouraged by these powers is and has been the weapon of mass destruction that has lead to our current energy and climate crisis. When the people realize this, realize that some publicly monitored subsidies will help to discourage unigenerational thinking and practices, as far as needs concerning the environment and national security. Sustainability equals peace and profit, and a good energy plan will allow a competitive market be being an appropriate check to the market, to discourage artificially high prices, and to encourage pro environment practices.

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