Considering Renewable Energy in Political Science Terms: An Analogy

For fun, I've been reading up on A Level political science (no, really). This firstly means I learn new words, and secondly, means I can apply obscure and esoteric concepts to the mundane.

Today's dichotomous consideration is energy interpreted in political science terms.

Current Regimes

Energy in western civilisation can be seen as a profit market margin, which means, in capitalist political terms, it is a plutocracy and depotism. Plutocracy because wealth and power control the market forces, driving prices up and service levels down. Depotic because we are, in essence, discussing one main group of providers, who have refined the market to such a degree, they can squash any competitors to retain that power.

Looking Ahead to Renewable Energy

In the current energy crisis, we are seeing all sorts of alternative energy forms being discussed. Do we shift to Wind, as Germany's pledge to commit 50% of energy supplies to renewable sources indicate?

Or solar? Imposing reflective surfaces on every new home?

How about water, using waves to power the generators?

The biggest problem I see initiates with the current plutocracy in oil supplies. The industry is controlling development of alternative energy strands with a vice-like grip. They are unwilling to consider an oligarchy of energy provision, where by their only resolution of the problem of expiring energy resources is a singular, powerful and dominant, forming a Kyriarchy that can cripple competitors with ease.

Combatting the Dictators

The market is prime for kratocracy, for an oppertune company to invest in multiple, egalitarianist provisiong of energy, whereby the larger suppliers cannot cripple their business through Kakistocracy.

By introducing market providers that formulate a more participatory democracy, an egalitarianist interpretation of market access, we may run the risk of a mediocracy, the lowest common denominator of services.

How do we challenge this?

Well, perhaps people need to approach the sources of their energy with a different mindset?

But ultimately, with energy provisions being convinience, which, of course, our plutocratic energy companies cash in on, we are unlikely to be driven to rebel.

Perhaps Virgin should embark upon a multifaceted energy provision, assaulting the market in much the same way they have with Satilite and Cable TV?

Or perhaps we need a strong government commitment to chnaging energy supplies to counter being held captive to oil.

Lateral Discursive on Oil

It would be interesting to analyse what this would free us from.

If we were not dependant on Oil as a provider of energy, would our transport activities change?

How about our food consumption?

Our attitude to work and travel?

The obvious one, how about our attitude to resolving civil conflict in other countries under an opaque cloak of "United Nations Resolution"?

I could go on all day!