Problem: Global warming and the depletion of our fossil fuel reserves.

It's happening. Don't let anyone tell you that it isn't. Greenhouse gases are beginning to cause dramatic climate change on our planet. And the sudden increase in demand from China and other developing nations is hastening the depletion of available fossil fuels.

Solution: Smaller engines. Better public transportation. A Manhattan Project to develop new energy sources.

Our environment, our fuel reserves, are like a pie sitting on the kitchen table. The kids will be home from school in a while, but right now it's just us and the pie. Are we going to eat it all or save some for them? Hanging a 20-horsepower motor on the side of a four-ton SUV isn't going to solve a thing. It's all about the horsepower - Fuel consumption is directly related to horsepower - just ask any engineer. We need tax incentives to encourage the use of smaller engines while we develop alternative fuels that will be practical and cost-effective. We need better mass transit. Signing and adhering to the Kyoto Protocol is only a first step towards reducing greenhouse gases, but it's a step that we must take.

It's time to redirect our technological prowess towards the development of new energy sources. If we can build B-2 bombers, we can build efficient solar cells. If we can build a thermonuclear bomb, then maybe we can harness the power of fusion energy. It's a tough task, but solving our long-term energy needs is the greatest challenge of our time, and it's time for us to rise and meet that challenge.