“America does have a problem: I think we’ve lost our way since 9/11. And the world has a problem: It’s getting hot, flat and crowded. And I think we solve our problem by taking the lead in how we solve the world’s problem. In a world that is HOT, global warming; FLAT, the rise of middle classes from India to China and Brazil; and getting CROWDED in terms of population - what I call ET or Energy Technology is going to be the next IT, the next great industrial revolution. And I’m a big believer in whichever country dominates that economic revolution is going to have the most security, the most respect, the most competitive and the most healthy population.”

Friedman quotes John Gardener “This is a series of incredible opportunities disguised as insolvable problems.”

The Common Good (TCG), is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that encourages civil discussion and effective participation by bringing together leading political, business, media and entertainment figures on pressing issues of the day.

Pretty smart, eh?

Check them out.

Draft Lessons Dinner 1: The Economics of Power Generation 101
Draft Lessons Dinner 2: Energy Alternatives a la Carte
Draft Lessons Dinner 3: The Nuclear Power Debate Version 2.0

Most of the time they are not who we think they are.”

—First line of Flags of our Fathers

— Rick Warren on Larry King Live tonight

Now in America, we’ve got to learn to disagree without demonizing each other. We need to restore civility in our civil discourse and that’s the goal of the Saddleback Civil Forum.”

– Rick Warren, Forum on the Presidency from Saddleback Church

Here’s your tickler:

They say that modern society has lost its way. They say God is the answer. But their battle to save the world has caused anger, division and fear.

Left or right side of the aisle, we’d probably all agree that we’re in trouble the day Paris Hilton makes the most sense on energy, and that day just might have come.

Here’s Ms. Hilton’s opening volley in her 2008 presidential platform:

“OK so here’s my energy policy: Barack wants to focus on new technologies to reduce foreign oil dependency and McCain wants offshore drilling. Well why don’t we do a hybrid of both candidates ideas? They can do limited offshore drilling with strict environmental oversight while creating tax incentives to get Detroit making hybrid and electric cars. That way the offshore drill carries us until the new technologies kick in which will then create new jobs and energy independence.

Energy crisis solved!”

What Ms. Hilton gets is that critical Village Square concept, “the power of AND.” Solving our energy problem will require lots of “ANDs”. Of course, there are holes in her platform beyond that, but since she’s such a dark horse, we’ll let them slide.

If you actually look at either candidate’s energy platform, they DO contain many ANDs. It is, instead, the bizarre quality of our public debate that artificially eliminates the ANDs. So… I say, let’s all try to add them back in and, in our own tiny corner of the national debate, not be outdone by Paris Hilton.

While John McCain is pressing for more nuclear and clean coal technology and Barack Obama focuses on taking on big oil companies making record profits, both candidates are following the time-honored political tradition of not pressing for citizens to do our part, for US to conserve. Apparently the conventional wisdom is that we don’t vote for a candidate who expects much from our end.