Unless we make America the country most able to innovate, compete and win in the age of globalization, our leverage in the world will continue to slowly erode.
Writes: THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Why would Republicans, the party of business, want to focus our country on breathing life into a 19th-century technology — fossil fuels — rather than giving birth to a 21st-century technology — renewable energy?
As I have argued before, it reminds me of someone who, on the eve of the I.T. revolution — on the eve of PCs and the Internet — is pounding the table for America to make more I.B.M. typewriters and carbon paper. “Typewriters, baby, typewriters.”
[Cartoon By: David Horsey]
Of course, we’re going to need oil for many years, but instead of exalting that — with “drill, baby, drill” — why not throw all our energy into innovating a whole new industry of clean power with the mantra “invent, baby, invent?” That is what a party committed to “change” would really be doing. As they say in Texas: “If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got.” ….[ read more ]
Product Description: “I plan to deliver an address from the Oval Office one month from today. The topic will be oil dependence.”
With these opening words, Freedom from Oil takes the reader to the highest levels of government, as Cabinet members and White House aides debate how to break our addiction to oil. In a fast-moving narrative, David Sandalow shows how to solve this problem while offering a unique window into the White House at work.
A White House veteran, Sandalow explores what would happen if the next President made breaking the United States’ addiction to oil a top priority. In crisp and clear prose, Sandalow explains the size of the challenge and then offers a powerful message of hope. “This issue unites Americans,” he writes. “Game-changing technologies are at hand.” Plug-in cars, biofuels and measures to improve traffic are all part of the solution.
Throughout the book, profiles of fascinating individuals help bring serious policy dialogue to life. From the commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq to a grandmother in northern Alaska to an electric car entrepreneur to the winner of the Indianapolis 500, Freedom from Oil is filled with stories of people whose lives have been touched by oil dependence-and are working to find solutions.
Drawing on both his government experience and energy expertise, Sandalow depicts the President’s top advisers as they explore options, shape solutions and create national policy, culminating in an inspiring speech by the President to the nation.
From the Back Cover: Widespread Acclaim for “Freedom from Oil“
“When David Sandalow writes about energy and the environment, we should all pay close attention.”-Al Gore
“Freedom from Oil is a compelling analysis of one of the great challenges of our time. David Sandalow draws upon his extensive White House experience and offers a powerful vision of a clean energy future.”-William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
“David Sandalow’s Freedom from Oil should be required reading for all concerned citizens and elected officials.”-U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar(R-IN), from the Foreword
“One of the clearest, most innovative approaches to energy that has been written. A superb combination of policy and politics, cast in highly readable government policy and memo format. Every American should read David Sandalow’s book.” -General Wesley Clark
“Superb analysis and recommendations that show how we can break our dependence on oil without further dithering. The next Administration, or this one, could do no better than to go with Sandalow’s package.” -R. James Woolsey, Vice President Booz Allen Hamilton; former director, Central Intelligence Agency
“Freedom from Oil should be at the top of the reading list for America’s next president . . . This is an important book for anyone concerned about the most pressing threat to our security, our economy and our environment.” -Frances Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council
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