The Democrats failed in their attempt to bring a comprehensive energy bill up for a vote in the U.S. Senate. News stories report that their failure was due to unified opposition by the Republican senators, aided by several centrist Democrats.

What many reports failed to note is that the core of the Democrats’ energy bill, cap and trade, was a centerpiece of the John McCain/Sarah Palin energy policy during the past presidential campaign. In fact, cap and trade was originally a Republican idea, offered as a market-based solution to our excessive dependence on fossil fuels. But just listen to the Republicans claim that the Obama administration is failing because it won’t meet Republicans halfway.

The Republicans simply have no energy policy at a time when our dependence on fossil fuels is the root cause of two wars, hundreds of billions of dollars flowing to the Middle East each year, and catastrophic environmental impacts.

Heaven help our country and the planet if Republicans regain the majority. They are doing enough damage as a minority.

Jeffrey Botkin

Park City