Our Long National Nightmare is Over

One of America's greatest examples to the world and gift to ourselves and our children are the peaceful transfers of presidential power over 219 years.**  As we exercise the first step in this year's transition and look forward with exhaustion or pride or resignation or trepidation or excitement to whatever the future brings, I am reminded of the words spoken by President Gerald Ford as he took the oath of office during a time of crisis, August 9, 1974:

My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.

Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule. But there is a higher Power, by whatever name we honor Him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice but mercy.

As we bind up the internal wounds of Watergate ___(substitute with national, economic or biblical disasters of your choice)____ more painful and more poisonous than those of foreign wars, let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and of hate.

In the beginning, I asked you to pray for me. Before closing, I ask again your prayers, for Richard Nixon __(or current occupant)___and for his family. May our former President, who brought peace to millions, find it for himself. May God bless and comfort his wonderful wife and daughters, whose love and loyalty will forever be a shining legacy to all who bear the lonely burdens of the White House.  (so we figure he's got that going for him)

I can only guess at those burdens, although I have witnessed at close hand the tragedies that befell three Presidents and the lesser trials of others.

With all the strength and all the good sense I have gained from life, with all the confidence my family, my friends, and my dedicated staff impart to me, and with the good will of countless Americans I have encountered in recent visits to 40 States, I now solemnly reaffirm my promise I made to you last December 6: to uphold the Constitution, to do what is right as God gives me to see the right, and to do the very best I can for America.
(Sure, Let's try that)

As we warned 2 years ago, the appliance industry will not reach the future with anything nearly so peaceful as a presidential transition.  The industry is burdened with Hummer-styled, fat, inefficient products.  It is an industry premised on endless prosperity and new construction.  Exaggeration is the lingua franca of our industry.  We lie to those we serve with wild abandon, and do so in cahoots with both governmental and non-governmental bodies.  It is also an industry soon to be on the business end of accelerating environmental regulation, stiffening performance standards, and rising energy costs.  Brands will evolve or die. 
Luckily for you, our loyal readers, you are prepared for what's coming, for two years ago you read our warning (repeated below)

2006:  The Appliance Green Zone:  So what's our industry's plan for efficiency and greenhouse warming?
Clearly the argument is over for everybody but the unhinged fringe.  As an industry, we have 2 years to prepare for 2008 when fantasy retires and reality takes the oath.  
Where are the conversations that should be happening within the industry and with related industries (builders for example)?  Where are the "concept" appliances that should be at KBIS, where are the more responsible ways to sell appliances, the better ways of featuring appliances, the better ways of educating consumers who for example are still hell bent on rinsing their dishes (in hot water no less).   Shouldn't there be more going on?  Energy Star is a least common denominator farce, rewarding the purchase of less efficient appliances.  Isn't there a better way?
If this is all real, and the a IPCC concludes that it is with 90% confidence, everything is, or soon will be, on the table.  Appliances are responsible for 29% of household energy consumption (in California anyway), and they are a big fat target.
Why don't we figure this out before they do?

**this requires a rather broad definition of peace when including Southern Succession and the siege and shelling of Fort Sumter)