George Allen: Start your Creative Engines!

Young Conservatives of Texas at the University of Texas hosted George Allen on Tuesday evening. George Allen, the former Governor and Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, spoke on how to use our common sense, conservative, Jeffersonian principles to address one of the biggest problems facing our generation: energy policy. George Allen's wit and outlook gave a very clear picture into what our country must do to achieve energy independence while growing our business infrastructure simultaneously.

As Governor of Virginia, George Allen worked with Texas and Austin area leaders to bring Motorola and Seimens microchip manufacturing to the Richmond area. Governor Allen was amazed out how well Texas handles its energy resources, even though the average cost of a kilowatt-hour in Texas is at 11 cents, which is above the national average. The split on Texas energy use is roughly 50% coal, 38% natural gas (well above the national average), 11% nuclear, and 1% hydro-electric/other. George Allen is impressed with Texans using our home-grown resources to power our state's economy and is touring the country to encourage our entire country to do the same.

America's energy woes began in the Carter Administration when President Carter imposed additional taxes on oil and natural gas production and increased environmental regulations on energy resources. Since then, America's dependence on foreign oil and resources has increased every year to the point that America consumes more energy than we produce. This trend cannot continue for America to be a viable superpower. Our economy cannot sustain the pace of the cost of energy outpacing the rate of inflation for the average American and average businessman.

George Allen's proposal is very similar to Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams' proposals, only on a national stage. Here are the main points of the plan.

• America needs affordable and reliable energy.
  
  
• Our citizens are creative and responsible. We need to give incentives to allow this creativity and entreprenuership to take hold in the energy market to develop new, reliable, and clean technologies. Innovation is the key to producing products. But, we must remove the heavy hand of government regulations and taxes to allow individuals to kick-start our creative engines.
  
  
• America needs to lift the ban on off-shore drilling production to give the individual states the option to drill in their own lands and offshore waters. Virginia wants the freedom to explore and drill for oil off of its coast; to have the same freedoms and opportunities that Texas and Louisiana do. The Virginia Legislature plans to invest the money from the offshore oil royalties into the state infrastructure to build new roads and lower the costs of higher education. With Virginia keeping 37% of the royalties, that will make a huge impact on offering citizens a better quality of life.
  
  
• Current American domestic energy keep this country in the grip of foreign dictators.
  
  
• Americans are not addicted to foreign oil. We are addicted to freedom!"
  
  
• Common sense conservation techniques need to be employed by every American. We need to lower the demand for energy while increasing supply.

George Allen inspires maximum productivity in our energy market and plans to give freedoms to individuals willing to develop new technologies that will make our country a better, cleaner, and more economical place to live. There is no reason that foreign countries should produce energy better than we do. With policies that will start our creative engines, the sky is the limit. Kudos to Young Conservatives of Texas for bringing in such an insightful and provoking speaker.