Katie Couric's Notebook: Energy

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

Conversations about energy in this country are a lot like Groundhog Day. Lawmakers agree that climate change is a problem, vow to do something about it, and then argue about taxes and jobs and nothing really gets done.

The energy bill that squeaked through the House last week now faces the Senate and an uncertain fate. It may not be perfect. The cap and trade plan is as hard to follow as an episode of "Lost", and it will likely mean we'll all pay more for utilities.

But the bottom line is that it forces us to take the first steps toward ending our dependence on coal and oil and to begin to develop new and cleaner ways to keep this nation running.

Yes, smoke billowing from a factory means people are hard at work inside and industrial communities do need the assurance that a green nation won't put them in the red.

Change can be scary, but the consequence of doing nothing is even scarier. At some point we must focus on the future, even if that means some growing pains along the way.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by ObjectiveNewsIsDead July 8, 2009 3:27 PM EDT: Katie Couric: "It may not be perfect. The cap and trade plan is as hard to follow as an episode of 'Lost'..."

Katie, you are a so-called journalist! It is your job to understand this puzzle of a bill and REPORT the facts! Sadly, Katie, you always just swallow the Obama line ("but the consequence of doing nothing is even scarier") and report his talking points as holy writ.

Is it any wonder why your ratings continue to fall?; Reply to this comment


by jelink July 6, 2009 5:36 PM EDT: "Yes, smoke billowing from a factory means people are hard at work inside.."

How completely condescending and CLUELESS. Only self-centered media "elites" think modern industries are still "dark satanic mills".

The EPA and other agencies ended "billowing smoke" about twenty-five years ago. If you see "billowing smoke" today it's because something's seriously malfunctioning--- unless, of course, you're seeing steam.

Likewise, only a similarly clueless elite would think we can end our dependence on coal and oil with solar and wind, and without a huge switch to nuclear power.

So save the preaching, Katie, for the Green Weenies who have no idea of the basic principles of energy economics.; Reply to this comment


by casey_abbott July 5, 2009 12:28 PM EDT: Sounds to me like you guys are bookies.; Reply to this comment


by Robtmoen July 3, 2009 2:57 PM EDT: I'm a Democrat who doesn't support cap and trade and thinks the House overplayed its hand when it passed this legislation. In 2010 many of those representatives who voted for it will lose their jobs. I read editorials, comments and letters-to-the-editor from all over the country. Anti- sentiment outnumbers pro- sentiment by at least 4-to-1. The Senate will be wise to heed this overwhelming lack of public support and stop this disastrous legislation from passing into law.

-- Robert Moen, www.energyplanUSA.com; Reply to this comment