Progressivism was a non-partisan movement from the very beginning. It became strong after the rapid rise and decline of populism, when the city-dwellers of the midwest came to realize that their interests lay with the farmers and other rural folk.

These days, certain groups (led by Paul Krugman and Daily Kos) are trying to re-name liberalism to progressivism, because they have figured out that people seem to have gotten wise to liberalism and don’t care for it so much anymore.
And this is really, really important, because it’s really a statement of values. It’s a statement that appearances are to be valued over substance. That’s why these people are so hyper-sensitive, ever-ready to be offended en masse at the drop of a hat at some nebulous slight that any ordinary person would never pick up on.

Now then, it is the function of the government to set policy (executive branch), and one of the many methods gov’t does this is through tax policies, both positive and negative. It’s like the path of least resistance in simple fluid mechanics.
And if you really believe that the Laffer curve is sound economic theory, show me your proof, and I will deliver a quite capable refutation.
Taxation is not a bad thing. It’s a good thing, and it does good things for us.
It’s over-burdensome taxation that’s a bad thing. Consider the simple fluid mechanics example, and you’ll see why.

But yes, misguided and ill-informed environmentalists have been holding up progress in various areas of the state, and I believe they shold suffer monetarily for it, ie bankrupt the SOBs.

What the hell is a progressive traditionalist????

If you’re one of those liberals who call themselves “progressive” cut to the chase and just call yourself a socialist.

I live in Ill. I pay extra tax for gas (thanks obama!!)
I pay twice in property tax as I did in MO.

I’m sick of paying all this tax!

I drive past the wood river refinery which is trying to expand, but can’t as the liberal Sierra Club has it tied up in court.

If you really believe extra taxation will help this nation, prove it.

Give as much tax as your heart desires – there’s no limit to how much you can give to uncle sam.

I’m sick of people like you who suggest that taxation will help end the high fuel prices.

Democrats who want to fix this through taxing me more – my sweat, my time for what? Giving my tax dollar to someone who dosen’t want to work.

They say China is off the coast of florida drilling our oil and the Democraps still won’t let americans drill?

Who votes for these democrats?

Chris, you’d have my vote if I still lived in Mo.

Thanks for the in sight.

DC

First, the current high prices are not due to typical supply & demand activities, but rather,
1) The falling value of the dollar, and
2) Activities among speculators.

No. 2 suggests that oil (among other commodities) is only the latest bubble in a long stream of them– housing, the tech bubble, and so on.
And the best way to end that would be through taxation to encourage investment in more traditional instruments.

As to the four-part plan–
1) Nuclear will indeed be a huge part of our energy future. The big problem is the disposal of the waste. Chances are this problem has already been solved, and we will begin our use of that technology just as soon as the over-budget long-delayed Columbia River project finally opens.
And if we can’t get that one going in a reasonable period of time, then we need to build a smaller one elsewhere, with some builder other than Bechtel working on a cost-plus bid.
After talking with men that worked on that project, I’m inclined to believe that it would be dangerous to operate.

2) A common misconception.
Existing infrastructure is a much more imprtant determinant. There has to be pipelines to feed those refineries.
Also, most existing refineries are able to expand 3 to 5 times over right where they’re at, just like the one at Wood River, Ill, is doing right now.
There’s another Valero plant in Ill that is increasing its size three-fold.

3) Not a likely solution. Domestic oil typically runs a few dollars higher than the imported.
Best saved for an emergency measure.
A much more viable plan would be to release oil from the national reserves.

4) That’s a good idea, and long overdue.
It also has positive effects in other ways.
Domestic manufacturers would be able to capture greater market share with higher standards.

Other than that, I would recommend to you Mr Vaclav Smil’s “Energy at the Crossroads” as a sourcebook for data on energy related topics.

Best wishes,