civilization at the gates

What will we do now?

Some suggestions:
- more money for education, especially college, especially in the area of science.
- tax credits for energy-saving home improvements such as windows, doors, insulation, and HVAC replacement.
- End cost-plus contracts on everything. No-bid contracts, too.
- A massive road improvement program, one which also includes construction of bike lanes and paths.
- Automobile licensing taxes based on gas mileage - the lower the mpg, the higher the tax (though, to an extent we already have that in the gas tax). Yes, I realize that's a state thing, but still.
- A Manhattan Project-like program to develop cheap, efficient batteries for electric cars - the surest way to escape oil dependence. Tax credits for electric cars, also.
- Some sort of Agricultural program that encourages local produce growing. One bullet we dodged in the credit meltdown was that shipping almost ground to a halt - considering how much of our food comes from overseas, and how much fuel is spent moving food around, maybe local growing would be both more efficient and safer.
- Figure out a way for GM, Ford (and foreign makers, also) to start selling the small, fuel-efficient cars that the rest of the world enjoys in America, also. Many of them you just simply cannot drive here legally. Ever hear of a "Kei Truck"?

That's all I got for now, and it's bed-time anyway.