In many cases, our government’s system of subsidies is failing to support its citizenry’s efforts toward a more sustainable future, and this is going to be difficult to change. A recent example of this is the 2007 Farm Bill,which was passed in the House, and now has the blessing of Senate leadership. Massive efforts by progressive activists and leaders were put into trying to remove the billions of dollars in subsidies for corporate agribusiness, which is already profitable, instead of supporting the independent family farms that continue to struggle. But corporate America prevailed in their efforts to include those unneeded payments.
Two major areas need to be addressed to bring the system of subsidies back on track. First, political power needs to be removed from the hands of big business, and put back into the hands of the citizenry. Second, until that happens, the renewable energy industry must continue fighting for consumer incentives, research and development funds, and other forms of assistance to be on a fair playing field with the fossil fuel, nuclear, and transportation industries.
Until then, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to adequately address solutions to climate change and other environmental problems that are so important to the public welfare.
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