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Editorial: Independence Day
July 2nd, 2006

Editorial: Once Again...
June 25th, 2006

Editorial: Home Ownership
June 24th, 2006

Editorial: Mosquito Control in Cedar Key
May 11th, 2006

Editorial: Will Gas Prices Go Up?
April 30th, 2006

Editorial: Tree Ordinance Violations
April 26th, 2006

Editorial: Why Worry about Global Warming?
April 21st, 2006

Editorial: The Purpose of Government?
March 23rd, 2006

Editorial: Air Boat Regatta, Guests or Pests?
January 29th, 2006

Editorial: The East-West Management Plan
December 21st, 2005

Editorial: Water, Water, Water
December 13th, 2005

Editorial: Bad News for Print News, Good for Online
November 14th, 2005

Editorial: A Bad Tradition
November 10th, 2005

Editorial: For the Birds
October 17th, 2005

Editorial: If It Killed the River....
October 4th, 2005

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Catching the Right Wave

Catching the Right Wave

Editorial

We have all seen spectacular videos of surfers catching a wave, dancing forward and back, and being driven into the sand as the wave breaks. We are continuing to see performances of our representatives in Washington as they ride the waves of bond default and international financial reputation. We must wait until the 2012 election to see which politicians get off the wave of emotion in time to avoid being "wiped out" in the ballot boxes.

The default wave is big indeed. A trickier wave is how far into the future the debt limit gets extended. But the rogue wave is cutting Medicare. Misjudging which wave to ride will end political careers. Some candidates for office promise to replace an incumbent and go to Washington with a new agenda. That agenda morphs into getting reelected soon after the reformer arrives in our capitol. The charm of the TV camera, excellent health care plan and the money that lobbyists lavish on incumbents no doubt explain the goal of reelection.

Reelection in "safe districts" is not uncommon. With reelection comes seniority and a surplus of money in the campaign war chest. That builds alliances and the courage to ride the big waves. The surfing videos seldom show the surfer lying on the beach with a concussion and contusions after overplaying the thrill of the ride.


The coming fifteen months will bring one big emotional wave after another. If you have faith that something positive can be achieved by legislation in the face of political campaigns dominated by the desire to be reelected, please write to your Representative and Senators. Tell them that a rational energy policy must not be put off. Regulated offshore drilling, alternative energy sources, biofuel boondoggles and recognition of global warming are crucial long-term issues.

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