Friday Rant: The presidential election

This has been an interesting presidential election for me. In more years than I care to say I actually have a clear choice and look forward to November. In the past my vote has been for the candidate I perceived would do the least amount of damage. As an independent, I like to think that I can be objective as I watch and listen to the campaign messages and the opinions of the rabid partisans. It seems the vitriol has risen to new levels this time out. That's fine I guess. People certainly have the right to express their opinions in this country and candidates should be free to run their campaigns as they see fit. I only have one meager request. Please stop screaming at us, the swing voters about how bad the other guy(s) are. We don't want to hear your subjective rantings. Of course you have a poor opinion of the opposition. That's why they are the opposition! How about for the next few weeks you stop telling me about how awful the other side is and start telling me about how awesome your side is? After all, I think we'd all prefer to vote for a candidate instead of against one. That is all. As you were.

MO Clean Energy Initiative makes the ballot

The Clean Energy Initiative made it on the ballot! Now get out November 7th and vote for it! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, September 08, 2008 St. Louis, MO — - Missourians for Cleaner Cheaper Energy (MCCE) announced today that the Missouri Clean Energy Initiative will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot. The Cole County Circuit Court found that the initiative has the necessary number of signatures to be certified for the ballot in November. More than 400 Missouri volunteers statewide circulated petition pages for the initiative, which would require investor-owned utilities to generate or purchase 15% of their electricity from clean energy sources, such as wind and solar power, landfill gas, biomass, and small hydroelectric projects. Approximately 163,000 signatures were turned in from six US Congressional districts. “The Clean Energy Initiative will reduce the use of fossil fuel for electricity and encourage growth in Missouri’s renewable energy industries. The potential growth in these industries could lead to significant job creation and gains in income for Missourians,” said Dr. David Laslo of UM-St. Louis Public Policy Research Center. “The Clean Energy Initiative would diversify Missouri’s electricity supply by adding a significant amount of renewable energy, and potentially save Missourians $331 million over twenty years," said Martin Cohen, former Illinois Citizens Utility Board Executive Director. The Clean Energy Initiative is endorsed by a broad based coalition of industry, labor, faith, and environmental groups such as Kansas City Power & Light, United Steelworkers, Restoring Eden – Christians for Environmental Stewardship, and Republicans for Environmental Protection. Twenty-six other states have enacted similar renewable electricity standards to increase production of clean energy and promote energy independence. “Missourians support this policy because it cleans our air, creates jobs, invigorates the economy, and makes Missouri more energy independent,” said Erin Noble, Energy Policy Coordinator for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. “In fact, by 2022, the Clean Energy Initiative will have the same effect as removing 2 million cars from the road. This initiative moves us towards a cleaner and healthier future for Missouri families.”