I know we have to do something, but I don’t accept getting something rammed down our throats by President Bush’s Administration — a la the failed Iraq war and the PATRIOT Act. Princeton professor Paul Krugman says the plan is insufficient unless we get ownership guarantees in the banks if their asset value falls. This makes sense — and maybe we should also lower the price tag to taxpayers.

Bush’s woeful mismanagement of our federal budget these past 8 years has made tax increases and spending cuts necessary in the years ahead. Just think if the $1 trillion that went into the Iraq war actually went into supporting an efficient wind and solar revolution these past five years. Our country would be the mecca of advanced energy and our crippling oil bill would be slashed. Should we have to ask this same question about this bailout?

Should we back banks and their mysterious and sometimes fictitious assets, or is it a better use of our money to put those hundreds of billions into making our country energy independent. An energy independent country that sells its innovative energy technology to the rest of the world is a much more robust economy than preserving the status quo for Wall Street. Chomsky’s observations of socializing losses and privatizing gains ring all too true these past few months of bailing out the wealthy.

Of course these issues are complex, as we need capital markets to help finance the efficiency, solar and wind installations that can make us strong and climate responsible. But my judgment will not be rushed by some impatient Bush appointee who probably has a very different idea of a prosperous America than me. And I hope members of Congress don’t roll over and obey the President as they have way too often these past 8 years to our peril.

With oil remaining above $100 even alongside the economic downturn, our elected leaders must help contain energy costs through efficiency and increase energy security through diversification to renewables. Our economy will languish otherwise…