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RMDolddave's avatar

For a purpose-driven perspective on Thom's most elegant of solutions, let’s assume that fossil fuel energy suppliers get their businesses nationalized, so what would be the best way to use their businesses to promote our general welfare? Let’s also assume that the ostensible purpose of the carbon oligarchs is to provide energy to their customers ( while trying to sate their avarice), so the purpose of our government should be to leverage a unique opportunity and transition their carbon-based energy systems into a role model energy system for the world, and then privatize it when the systems are past the beta stages (and try to regulate their greed again). All the knowledge that we need to do this is already a known known. (And while they’re at it, figure out how to control the carbonization of Earth’s environment and make a profit doing it.)

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alis's avatar

OK, this is another fantastic history lesson that proves the point. It's a bold idea.

What is going to happen to this industry is going to happen much faster than previously thought. In part, it will have to do with what Putin has provoked. There is an excellent article just published by the RMI titled: "The Global Sprint Away From Fossil Fuels". It was just published hours ago; Google it with Clean Technica and you'll see it .

We have subsidized these lying, thieving bastards so long! It is likely they will need the government just like the airlines, car manufacturers, and banks. They have used and abused us, it's time to turn the tables and stop killing the planet.

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