As I said earlier, I believe these people honestly believe government can solve problems. If you don't like their solutions propose a better one, don't deny the issue. No one is fighting development of hybrids, hydrogen power, or solar power, and few are fighting wind, tidal, and geothermal energy initiatives. There is plenty of room for common ground on the energy issue.

As for why some belive in the power of government to do good try: FDA, disaster relief pre-Bush, EPA, OSHA, clean air act, clean water act, RCRA, etc.

The Republicans lasse fair attitude has been discredited by enron, other accounting scandals, food scares, etc. No government does not equal good government and neither does more government=good government. Good governemnt is the minimum intervention needed to resolve a problem when and only when a private solution can't be found. In addition it needs to be responsive to changes in technology and public desires/attitudes. The biggest problem with government is the lack of competition to keep it efficient and minimal. That has to be done through the electoral process injecting new blood with fresh ideas and out of the box solutions.

Regards,
Mark