Thinking our way out

The headlines these days are so depressing.

Congress is dysfunctional.

Here in Pennsylvania, a lump of a governor sits and waits for bills on issues like school vouchers and English-as-the-official-language, abortion clinic limitations because of one crazed lunatic in Philadelphia, voter ID cards, to sign. Solutions in search of problems.

The people we elect to represent us are in the pockets of lobbyists and and an energy industry drooling at the prospect of profits from the Marcellus Shale.

Disposing of the fracking fluid, providing clean drinking water for communities with fouled wells, decimating aquifers, well, that's someone else's problem. After all, the industry is creating jobs – the mantra, the be-all and end-all. Somehow, it never matters that the jobs are ruining other people's lives, and that there are never any jobs, except at taxpayer expense, to clean up the mess once those other jobs have gone away.

And that's where the power lies, but it should be used proactively.

We need a new way of thinking. Energy is a problem. Here is a thought for a solution:
Feet, pedals and zoning.

Our communities are built for the last century. For cars.

We can't afford that anymore. My idea is to start thinking differently about where we live.

Zoning laws can be changed to allow a little corner shop with milk and veggies, so neighbors don't have to get in the car for one thing.

We can reconfigure our communities to be pedestrian and bike friendly. Pittsburgh isn't the most conducive city to biking, but that can be addressed here and elsewhere with a commitment dedicated funding for public transportation. In Pennsylvania, a lot of legislators from the middle of the state don't like this idea. But they are looking at it parochially.

Mass transit cuts down on gasoline consumption and keeps air (relatively) cleaner and reduces wear and tear on roads, saving money for repairs.

It's not just about helping one group at the expense of another. It's about using what we have and about what we can do to help reduce our dependence on foreign AND domestic energy. Sun and wind are free. Foot power is free. Bikes aren't free, but pretty friendly in terms of sustainability, not to mention fitness.

If we find ways to lessen our dependence on, let's face it, Big Energy (which is global, not just Middle Eastern), we the Average Joes and Janes who just want to get on with our lives, will win.

Big time.