Jacqueline Marcus: Middle-East War Is Futile -- By 2020, Electric Cars Will Make Oil Obsolete

BUZZFLASH GUEST COMMENTARY
by Jacqueline Marcus

Last night, I was shocked to hear that the U.S. plans on staying in the Middle East for at least another 10 more years, according to NBC Nightly News. AND they're planning on raising every kind of tax to pay for it.

Obama failed us. Instead of firing General McChrystal, a ruthless commander who is responsible for "covering up the killing of football star Pat Tillman and condoning torture practices under his earlier command in Iraq," Obama is taking orders from him. More troops for a futile occupation with no end in sight.

It's clear that the U.S. Corporate-Military-Government is in the business of making wars on countries possessing oil. We all know that defense contractors have a lock on our treasury worth billions and billions of dollars. Obama can give all the "rationale" excuses he wants. We know why the CIA-military is in Iraq and Afghanistan and now -- Pakistan. It's always been about the largest source of oil in the world; and the pipeline is necessary if the oil polluters are going to steal it. The "extremists" are the guys that are hindering the U.S. from constructing the pipeline. After all, it's THEIR country, a little fact that our Government and corporate media like to ignore.

And then, of course, there's the CIA's obsession for those drug potential, poppy fields that are worth billions of dollars. This is all common knowledge, easily accessible on the Web. The networks and White House perpetuate the same deceptive and offensive lies and excuses, as if we were incapable of knowing the real facts for invading Iraq and occupying Afghanistan. Just SAY IT, President Obama: The U.S. Government wants control of the Middle East for its resources. Stop lying.

Cheney and his corporate friends bet the whole country on this extravagant invasion. But the reality of the Green Paradigm Shift is catching up. By 2020, most people will be driving electric cars, rendering the oil industry -- OBSOLETE. By the time they finally steal the oil and by the time it's ready to go on market, there'll be NO market for it. In a decade, more or less, driving a combustible polluting car instead of an electric car will be like using a horse and carriage in 1930 when everyone else shifted to automobiles.

China is preparing to pave the way for the paradigm shift. Consider the Miles EV.

The Miles EV is an interesting-looking, highway speed, all-electric sedan that is supposed to cost $45,000. A few will trickle out in 2010, apparently. Now this part is ridiculously optimistic: Miles wants to sell 20,000 by 2011. Maybe if it was $20,000, and Miles was a company with some kind of automotive track record (the company makes small low-speed electric trucks and vans).

China plans on making very affordable electric cars for as low as $15,000. If the U.S. car companies were smart, they'd start doing the same. Talk about burying the oil industry once and for all! In a decade, the majority of people around the world will be driving electric cars. Moreover, China is also paving the way for affordable solar and wind technologies.

The U.S. used to be the leader of innovation. Now, thanks to a thoroughly corrupt Congress and weak leadership, the only thing our Government can do is conduct wars.

Upshot: Al Gore is right. We can't depend on a corrupt Government to fix our problems. We, the consumers, must determine the economic-environmental change.

If you want to end the Oil Wars, buy an electric car, the sooner the better!

BUZZFLASH GUEST COMMENTARY

Jacqueline Marcus' book of poems, Close to the Shore, was published by Michigan State University Press. She is a regular guest contributor to BuzzFlash.com. She taught philosophy at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, California, and is the editor of http://www.ForPoetry.com. She is currently promoting green technologies (solar & wind) on the island of Maui. www.GoSolarMaui.com. She is currently working on a new book: Corporate Media and the Erosion of a Civil Society.