Why doesn't the US do something like this?

[Playinghardball]

Why are we allowing other countries to become more developed than us? Before long we'll be a third world country, we're already on the way there.

Found on the Being Liberal Facebook page...

[abelenkpe]

1. K&R

We should do that here in CA

[Earth_First]

2. Because the United States isn't concerned with issues of energy or resource depletion...

When we find ourselves in need of it, we simply just take it; as one would pluck a ripe apple or orange from a tree.

[bvar22]

25. "as one would pluck a ripe apple or orange ....

... from a tree that doesn't belong to them.

[rdharma]

3. That's Brilliant! nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. What and annoy the oil barons? What is wrong with you?

Oh and will include this for those who might miss it.

[wandy]

5. Wow, now somebody really thought that out........

If you're going to use up land for a canal why not cover it to help prevent evaporation. And as long as you're at it why not have the cover generate electricity.

Sure looks as if at least one of that countries political partys isn't a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries.

In a true third world country/corporate state/banana republic they would have built a cross country pipeline to carry oil slag across a good part of the nations aquifer so the rich could get richer by selling fuel to to resort countries.

[Egalitarian Thug]

6. Where's the profit, man? Why on earth would we want to do something like that? I mean sure,

a few contractors are going to get a payday, and the solar panel manufacturer as well, but once the job is done it is nothing but losses to energy barons until the damn thing falls down.

Where is your mind at?

[NV Whino]

7. California really needs to do this

[chollybocker]

8. Cheney Hulk Smash!!!

That's why.

[SheilaT]

9. Because we are now living in the late afternoon of

a once-great empire. It's not obvious yet to everyone, but eventually it will be. Since as a nation our priorities are totally backwards, namely favoring endless wars over infrastructure or things that would truly benefit the citizens such as universal health care, we are declining. It's really sad, and it doesn't need to be happening. But so long as various myths dominate, such as the ones about needing to be able to fight two (or is three?) major wars at the same time, that those who are poor have only themselves to blame, that our health care system is the finest in the world, and so on, we'll continue this decline.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

11. Post of the day ^^^^^ eom

[Iggo]

15. Yay!!!

[Demeter]

20. Don't Fret--Europe is Doing It, Too

With Angela Merkel as their dominatrix.

Although in energy policy, several European nations are light-years ahead of us, economically they are truly bankrupt, unlike the US. Still, their lights won't go out....

[Populist_Prole]

10. Because to a GOP-er, being "green" in any matter, shape or form

Is somehow giving aid and comfort to "the other side", the people they live to hate with the heat of a million suns.

[green for victory]

13. Democrats controlled the House, Senate and White house from 2009-2011

and instead of focusing on green jobs and energy independence, they focused on passing a law that requires everyone in the US to buy corporate insurance, without even hearing from single payer advocates (Dem Max Baucus had them arrested).

Wouldn't it have been great if the priorities were different?

Clinton didn't do a GD thing for energy independence during his entire 8 years.

Why was that?

Blaming repubs makes some people feel better, but the truth is neither party wants energy independence. That's a fact, proven by history. And the sooner Citizens realize that neither party wants energy independence, the sooner the problem can be fixed.

[louis-t]

17. Dems didn't control the Senate for 2 years.

That's a right wing myth. On paper they had a very small margin. Franken wasn't sworn in until July, 2009. Kennedy went in the hospital in April and died in August. His replacement wasn't sworn in until Oct. Then stupidface won the special election. They had something like 24 days in session with a true majority to accomplish ANYTHING. All the while, repugs fillibustered EVERYTHING.

[Populist_Prole]

18. What you say is absolutely true

Yes, too damned many in the democratic party are either corporatists ( like Clinton was ) or all too friendly with corporatists ( 3rd-wayers ) but my point is they aren't outright hostile about anything "green".

I mean, republicans hate the Chevy Volt just because. Purely spiteful shit.

[liberal_at_heart]

19. yes unfortunately both parties have been bought by corporate America

[Demeter]

21. Thank you for speaking truth to power

I cringe when I think of the discarded opportunities under Democratic control...not just in renewables, but in EVERYTHING! Except war. That we seem to be able to focus on just fine.

[uponit7771]

28. This is false on its face and a GOP\FUDr meme. Dems did NOT have controlling share of senate

....for 2 years

regards

[Initech]

12. Can't make billions in profit off solar.

[spanone]

14. because we have a congress that doesn't care one whit about the environment.

[liberal_at_heart]

16. Other countries have been ahead of us in clean energy for years now

[randome]

22. Because of whiny Republicans who worry about spending money.

[adieu]

23. I could see the potential for fungal or mold growth

in the shade of the panels. However, it could be possible to have the panels be movable so that sunlight does hit on parts of the canal to dry up the mold growth. Good ventilation and sunlight helps curb mold growth (much like what people should do with their bath tubs and shower stalls).

Still, it's a great idea and I can easily see this for the long canals we have in California going down the state along Highway 99 and Interstate 5.

[SoCalDem]

26. The water moves, and the "covers" are not complete

There are segments that are not covered.

[adieu]

29. Moving water

Isn't totally sufficient, but yeah with partial covering and mooving water mold growth should be mitigated. Well worth the effort.

[toddwv]

24. That would be progress.

And everyone knows that progress = communism.

[Deep13]

27. As a group, we're kind of stupid. nt