We must rededicate ourselves to strong public institutions that are indubitably public because they work well for everyone. Of course, this means more money and higher performance standards, but it also requires a renewed public spiritedness. We must participate together. Compassionate conservatives see government as an intrusive means of forcing people to share with the needier. This should be left to private charity.
Patriotic progressives see public institutions as a means of maintaining a nation.
This is the real difference that is worth fighting for. Based on a 1997 industry study, world reserves yet to be tapped exceed anticipated increased demand for the next 200 years. Existing offshore fields yet to be developed, which can be done safely and with environmental safeguards, have been subject to restricted development by President Clinton and Al Gore. Increased dependence on imports. Gore is so critical of George Bush and Dick Cheney being too close and too knowledgeable of big oil.