Our May 1st posting from Mercury News, "Tax Break Stalemate Slows Green Movement," is cause for concern.

Tax rebates and a moratorium on the federal gas tax during the summer months are great election year political ploys.

I feel the pain, just like everyone else at the gasoline pump, but if Americans can't cut back on their use of gasoline and energy consumption in total, it all amounts to great folly. The American public needs to show a resilence it hasn't exhibited since World War II.

Listening to CNN last night, if gasoline prices continue as they have been, we will be paying $7.00 a gallon by this time next year. And, the answer isn't ethanol!

Mass transit, mass transit, mass transit, along with what some feel will be the resurgence of the American automobile industry coming on line with more cost effective and energy efficient vehicles.

But, I digress. To get to the point - "The Gift That Keeps on Giving," what we need is for Congress to get off the mark and extend the tax breaks to companies developing solar, wind and other renewable-energy sources, allowing those companies that have invested heavily in the field to continue making strong advances.

Rebuilding the nation's infrastructure through clean technologies has created a job market that can continue to prosper, if the credits are renewed. If not, by all reports, tens of thousands of Americans will lose employment, along with the prospect of employing tens of thousands more. If not, Americans as a whole will be the biggest losers.

We desperately need to re-establish our priorities in this country. We are a nation of can-do people, but Congress is hedging on how they will pay for extending the tax credits. If not NOW - WHEN? When will our nation's leaders truly commit to long-term solutions for solving our energy crises? The momentum is building, we may not have time to do anything but react, because we have not been proactive - the time is NOW!