Why the US Dept of Energy was created

[Pat McCotter]

Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal  from it at night." So they created a night watchman  position and hired a person for the job.

Then  Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job  without instruction?" So they created a planning department and  hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one  person to do time studies.

Then Congress  said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department  and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.

Then Congress said, "How are these  people going to get paid?" So they created the following positions, a timekeeper, and a payroll officer, then hired two  people.

Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable  for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an Administrative Officer,  Assistant Administrative Officer, and a  Legal Secretary.

Then Congress said, "We  have had this command in operation for one year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cutback overall  cost." So they laid off the night  watchman.

NOW slowly, let it sink  in.

Quietly, we go like sheep to slaughter.

Does anybody remember the reason given for  the establishment of the Department of Energy.... during the Carter Administration?

Anybody?

Anything?

No?

Didn't  think so!

Bottom line. We've spent several hundred  billion dollars in support of an agency...the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!

Ready??

It was very simple...and at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.

The Department of Energy was instituted on 8-04-1977.

To lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

Hey, pretty efficient, huh???

And now it's 2009 -- 32  years later -- and the budget for this "necessary" department is at  $24.2 billion a year. they have 16,000 federal employees and approximately 100,000 contract employees; and look at the job they have done! This is where you slap your forehead and say, "What was i  thinking?"

Ah, yes -- good ole  bureaucracy.

And, now, we are going to turn the banking system,  health care, and the auto industry over to the same government?  Hellooo!  Anybody Home?

Modified to add quote box - since I didn't write it.

[Pat McCotter]

Carter's signing speech for DoE creation.

For the first time in 11 years, a Cabinet level department is now being created. The impending crisis of energy shortages has brought about an unprecedented quick action by the Congress in establishing the new Department of Energy.

This in some ways has been controversial legislation because many agencies of Government are now being brought together under one roof, about 50 different agencies. And in the future, the head of this Department will be a person working directly under the President, who can be identified for those who want to work together in our Nation to at least alleviate the consequences of inevitable shortages of oil and gas and other energy supplies.

Senator Ribicoff in the Senate, Congressman Jack Brooks in the House, and others who have worked closely with them--Senator Jackson, Senator Percy, Congressman Horton, and others that I could name--have done extraordinarily good work in bringing this legislation to completion. In only about 5 months this extremely complicated effort has been realized.

I want to point out that the Department can now, I think, begin to deal in a much more aggressive and effective way not only with the needs of suppliers to increase the production of oil, gas, coal, solar, nuclear powers, but also to make sure that consumers of our country are treated fairly, that prices are adequate and not excessive.

It can also work with the State Department and others in relationships with foreign countries. I'm very proud of this accomplishment by the Congress, and I'd like now to sign into law the Senate bill 826, which establishes the new Department of Energy.

[At this point, the President signed S. 826 into law.]

Of course, the next problem that we face is the selection of a person to head up the new Department of Energy. This has been a matter that's been of great concern to me for the last few months. I've decided to establish a search committee [laughter] to choose a Secretary, and I have asked Dr. James Schlesinger to head up the search committee. And at his request, the membership of the committee will be limited to one person. [Laughter]

I think that everyone who serves in the executive or legislative branches of our Government knows that because of his preeminent knowledge and stature and his sound judgment and, I think, political awareness and the trust of the American people in him, that he is a natural leader for this tremendous undertaking. And without waiting for his recommendation, I would like to ask if he would serve as the Secretary of the Department of Energy, and I would like to sign now a nomination request to the Senate of the United States, nominating James R. Schlesinger of Virginia to be Secretary of Energy, which is a new position in our Government.
Jim, would you like to say a word?

MR. SCHLESINGER. I'd just say that I'm delighted to be here and want to congratulate you on the Department of Energy that the House and Senate worked together to achieve, with the help of your own administration. And I hope that it will light the way to a better energy solution for this Nation.

REPRESENTATIVE BROOKS. Mr. President, organization is really policy. You have a great energy program, but it is absolutely essential that you have in place an organization that can make it work.

Under your leadership and that of Dr. Schlesinger, I am confident that we will start on the solution of all our energy problems.

THE PRESIDENT. We've got a long way to go on the energy policy, but I want to express my thanks at this moment to the House and Senate for the superb work they are already doing in this difficult area.

I believe that before the Congress adjourns, hopefully in October, that we will have an energy policy to make our Nation proud. And I want to express my thanks to you, Senator Byrd, and to others.

[Praeteridiot]

And, now, we are going to turn the banking system,  health care, and the auto industry over to the same government?  Hellooo!  Anybody Home?

going to?  As if they were bastions of the free unfettered market before?  If such were the case the government might as well be in charge since the free market had demonstrated it can't get it right.