Environment calls for lifestyles to change

Mariannette Miller-Meeks' commentary (Jan. 24) on the American Clean Energy and Security Act sounded like many of our shortsighted, narrow-focused politicians. She pointed out how this bill will adversely affect low-income senior citizens, raise taxes and cause more government interference in our lives. She offered no solution.

These things may be true, but inaction on our environment for the sake of economics will lead to even more difficult hardships, more taxes and more government interference as natural resources are depleted, energy costs rise and energy distribution becomes limited. Over the past 150 years, we have consumed 50 percent of the natural energy resources of the planet – do we have 150 years of resources left?

Miller-Meeks rightly points out that we must transition away from fossil fuels and become energy independent. However, this will be a long process – in the meantime, we must conserve the resources we have now. Conservation is a vital part of energy independence and without it, we may run out of resources before alternatives are achieved.

The world is changing; our lifestyles will not remain the same. We must all sacrifice as we adapt to these changes. I look for our representatives to offer solutions that have vision, strength and objectiveness.

Kevin Ernster

Walker