Friedman opens Chapter Sixteen with an odd fantasy: he wishes the United States could become China for a day. He is referring to the slow democratic process and fast Communist process. He realizes China can hand down regulations from the top and expect them to be in place in a just a few years. In the United States, however, regulations can take decades to be implemented. Obviously, our country can’t become Communist for a day. So, Friedman takes a look at all of the factors that are inhibiting a green revolution: Dirty Fuel industries have a lot of money and clout, politics drive policy priorities, tax credits for renewables are highly variable (if they even exist), the government is not allocating money for research, and we have no sense of urgency.
Friedman is absolutely right in his assessment of our slow government. We take way to long to make real changes. There are a lot of factors that are working against a green revolution, but I think if we were able to combat only a few of them we could make some progress. Dirty Fuel industries have a lot of money and clout, and I do not think there is anything we can do about it. However, I think Americans could make a conscious effort to combat those industries. For example, the utilities successfully halted Proposition 87 in California with a huge ad campaign. It seems like clean fuel advocates could work toward producing a similar campaign. The majority of citizens only know what others tell them. They are not willing to do a whole lot of basic research on their own time so as to understand the issues surrounding dirty and clean fuels. We are going to have to battle the utilities in advertising. I also think the government could be making a better effort to fund research and development. This factor alone could the U.S. the upper hand in the green race (as Friedman is so fond of calling it). I was astounded at the fact that our government spends the equivalent of nine days of fighting in Iraq on research and development (p. 385) Finally, I think the U.S. should model after the German feed-in tariff. It sounds like a great way to influence the American market for green technologies. Obviously, there is a global market. Japan and countries of the European Union have already become players in the field. It is time for the United States to step up to the plate, but, as Friedman points out, we have no sense of urgency. I can’t believe our government can ignore such success as First Solar, Inc. has demonstrated. I just can’t imagine what kind of push it will take for us to get going in the green revolution if Father Profit isn’t enough.
Interesting blog, I’ll try and spread the word.