Gone BANANA in 'Can't Do America'

This used to be "Can Do America."

Conceived in liberty, generations of pragmatic, problem solving, inventive Americans produced the highest standard of living for the most people of any society in human history.

Conquering time and space, Americans invented worldwide instantaneous communications, a cornucopia of abundant cheap food, innumerable labor saving devices, a world of knowledge accessed in a hand-held computer and scads of other modern marvels.

It's difficult to know just when one era passes and something completely different takes its place. But evidence is piling up that "Can Do America" is giving way to "Can't Do America" where guilt about our past successes and the rising religion of environmentalism combine to lower our standard of living and teach us that this is good for us.

Our world is going BANANA, or Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody.

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To build a home in my city, a permit used to be required to satisfy the city that you would build according to fire and safety codes. What used to be a short review for practical purposes has ballooned in the past 20 years into a nightmare of expensive regulations that basically require the homeowner to prove that any use of his land would not harm a flea, fly, bird that might fly over or Mother Earth herself.

The lengthy, arbitrary process drives up housing costs and deprives the market of timely housing completion. Housing prices are higher for it, and so are rents. The benefits to Mother Earth are not known – but the bureaucrats who guard her feel better for their efforts, I'm sure.

"Can't Do America" knows who the villains are – the evil oil companies and the even more evil oil they produce.

Rising demand in growing countries pressing against static oil production has made gas nearly $5 a gallon in my neighborhood.

"Can Do America" says: "Increase the supply. Bring down the price."

Drill more oil? Absolutely not! Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke for "Can't Do America" when he said, "We must stop using fossil fuels." Tell Las Vegas to shut its lights off first, senator.

Savoy Energy LP wants to drill on a lease in Michigan it already bought and take five years doing the required environmental studies. No, says U.S. District Judge David Lawson of Detroit. The Kirtland's Warbler sometimes nests in the area, and even though the lease is outside the wilderness area, no drilling.

If Murphy Oil wants to expand its existing oil refinery in Wisconsin to accommodate oil from Canada and reduce our dependence on OPEC oil, the answer is "no." A federal judge will block it.

Want to join the "alternative energy" crowd and build a wind farm off the New England coast? No, the champions of "alternative energy" – Sens. John Kerry and Ted Kennedy – will block that because it might affect the pristine offshore view from Hyannisport.

Want to champion solar energy? A private company proposes the largest solar energy plant in the world – a $100 million effort in the California desert. No, local enviros oppose the solar plant because they don't like the transmission line that crosses the mountains to San Diego to bring the solar energy to the people.

The politics of BANANA are stifling our economy and our freedom. Gas prices have no top end with these fools in charge. We, and especially our children, will live in an increasingly "Can't Do America," and we will suffer for it.