Talk is Cheap

Everyone agrees on this age old cynicism (in this case I'm using cynicism as an objective noun instead of a nominative noun, which is the intended use for this word. If that didn't make since to you and your an English major, then I'll admit I'm making up this English jargon as I go along), but I'm not quite sure everyone takes it to heart. You'd think that when a politician makes a speech, his promise and spin would be given as much credibility as... well... a politician. Yet I think another reminder is required.

If a politician says he has an energy policy that will move American to "energy independence," it should be taken with a gross-pound of salt (a gross-pound, by the way, is an imaginary unit of measure equal to 144 pounds, which truly is a gross amount of salt). One should carefully examine the politician's record first. For instance, did he recently invade an oil-rich nation on false premises? (did i spell premises wrong?) If so, I would begin to doubt his claim he's trying to move to cleaner fuels. Has he himself been either in charge or on the board of directors of several (unsuccesful) oil companies? Is there enough footage of him (and/or his father) shaking hands with Saudi princes to pass the time while your geeky friend watches the entire Star Wars triology (digitally enhanced)? Have Saudis give billions of dollars to him, his friends and family, and their related businesses over a period of some years?

An oil tycoon, son of an oil tycoon is not the person who's going to lead America to engergy independence.

(This post was posted at 4:00, June 11, but was originally composed at the time dated)