The election of a non-republican majority in the Congress is a good start, but I am afraid this will not equate to effectively addressing the no-kidding important issues.

- How are we in the United States and the World going to address our energy needs? Oil and methane (natural gas) are obviously finitie resources and will be economically exhausted by the year 2050, if not considerably sooner. Liquifying/gaisifying coal and shale and tar sands are not the way to go for two reasons: 1) The net energy gain is absolutely minimal and 2) Society needs a source of petrochemicals to produce plastics, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, pesticides, and a myriad of other chemicals. We can't be short-sighted idiots and suck dry every last petro-mineral and burn them into smoke.

'Alternative' energy sources time has come...the time for lame excuses is over: Solar thermal and photvoltaic energy production and electricity from wind power are ready to go NOW. The USA could easily set and meet the following goal: withing 20 years, the USA will obtain 20% of its energy needs from wind, 20% from solar, and 50% from nuclear power. Geothermal, Hydroelectric, biomass, waste combustion, tidal power, etc can perhaps contribute as much as 5%. The remaining 5-7% can come from petrochemicals, mostly for aviation needs. Coal and oil reserves can can be used for asphalt, tar, and numerous other chemical needs as discussed previously. In addition to developing wind, nuclear, and solar energy, within 20 years the USA can reduce it's energy use per capita by at least 20%, by investing in efficiency technologies to enjoy the same types and amounts of benfits we now expect, delivered in a more efficient manner. Note that I have not advocated turning down our thermostats and air conditioning, or reducing the number of miles we dribe, etc...we are talking about enjoying the same heating/cooling/travelling we do now, but reciving these benefits with less energy expenditure by investing in more energy-efficient machinery. For those who waould say "solar and wind and blah blah etc. are too immature, too expensive, not practical, etc....know that this line of thinking is utter hogwash. All it takes is leadership from the top of the government to set clear goals and provide the proper mix of incentives and punishments to obtain these goals. Think about it, people: Oil, gas, and coal, as well as nuclear enrgy, are heavily subsidized by the government today, and always have been! For those of you who cannot stomach nuclear power as part of this solution: Get over yourselves and understand the science. The technology to produce fail-soft nuclear power plants is here today, as is the technology to safey extract fissile ores, produce fuel, and isolate waste for 10,000 years...it just takes leadership from the bully pulpit, to overcome both the entrenched coal and oil indutry interests and the NIMBY green crowd who have closed their minds to anything with the word 'nuclear' in it (BTW, I am a Green...just one with a healthy dose of pragmatitism and an understanding of science).

The United States needs to lead the World in these initiatives...we have had since the first oil shock of 1973 to take action, but have squandered over 30 years of kow-towing to entrenched petro-chemical/Big Coal lobbyists. Developing these technologies will create enduring, high-paying, satisfying jobs for our people, ensure our energy needs will be met, and not held hostage to foreign countries and wild speculation on petro-futures markets, cut off the supply of petro-dollars to corrupt, miltant regimes across the world, and greatly reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide, sulur, nitrous oxides, mercury, and numerous other harmful pollutants that we release into our environment.

Again, this plan does not ask sacrifice-one from our people...in fact, it offers the opportunity to secure our energy independence and create many, many manufacturing, technical maintenance, and other employment opportunities...not WalMart greeters and burger-flipper jobs, but high-technology manufacturing and service jobs...think about the export market for high-quality, leading-technology manufacture of wind turbines, solar thermal plants, solar photvoltaics, nuclear energy technology, high-power, long-distance electricity transmission, hybidand all-electric vehicles, etc.

Thye time for the next evloutionary burst forward in energy technology is NOW. Make our lawmakers understand this and act, or be swept away and replaced by politicians who do.

You sound like so many of the rest of us: You are bored and want a hobby, or you at least want to buy things and pretend you have a hobby or tradition or whatever. Guns are instruments of death...face it, they have no other purpose. If that is what you desire, then exercise your freedom and buy one or more, but be prepared to accept the responsibility that goes with gun ownership.

Of course, there are many other things to buy in the name of having a hobby: Skis, kites, wood-working equipment, telescopes and related accessories, weight-training kit, books, pets...the list is seemingly endless. Note that these examples provide positive benefits, such as providing exercise, increasing knowledge, and perhaps providing socializing opportunities, without the negative Karma of owning a killing device. You are 21...you have time...think about it before you blow your money on some expensive and dangerous ego toys.