President Jimmy Carter delivered a TV speech on July 15, 1979, exactly three years after accepting the nomination of the Democratic Party to run for president, and three days after Disco Demolition night.  At the time of this speech, the United States was struggling economically as a result of stagflation, which was having a huge impact on energy and fuel prices. The United States was in the midst of a resurgence of the Cold War as well as navigating rising tensions in the Middle East.  Even though Carter never used that word, the speech was later dubbed the “malaise speech.”  Carter explained that the true problems of America were much deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, even deeper than inflation or recession. He believed in the decency, strength, and the wisdom of the American people.  However, there were some national underlying problems that legislation could not fix, more serious than energy or inflation.  He wanted to talk about a fundamental threat to American democracy that was nearly invisible, a crisis of confidence, a lack of a national will.  There were growing doubts about the meaning of our own lives and the loss of a unity of purpose for our country.  The erosion of our confidence in the future was threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.  We now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption.  Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns.  Owning things and consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning.  The symptoms of this crisis of the American spirit are all around us.  Most people believe that the next five years will be worse than the past five years.  Two-thirds of our people do not even vote.  There was a growing disrespect for government, churches, schools, the news media, and other institutions.  We remember when the phrase “sound as a dollar” was an expression of absolute dependability, until ten years of inflation began to shrink our dollars and our savings.  We believed that our nation’s resources were limitless until 1973, when we had to face a growing dependence on foreign oil.  These wounds are still very deep.  They have never been healed.  The gap between our citizens and our government has never been so wide.  We simply must have faith in each other, faith in our ability to govern ourselves, and faith in the future of this nation.  Restoring that faith and that confidence to America is now the most important task we face.  We were too dependent on OPEC.  He blamed oil demand for the increased inflation and unemployment that we faced. This intolerable dependence on foreign oil threatens our economic independence and the very security of our nation.  The worldwide energy crisis was real, as a clear and present danger to our nation.  He then proposed an Energy program with six principles: 1) this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977; 2) set import quotas; 3) develop America’s own alternative sources of fuel; 4) have nation’s utility companies cut their massive use of oil by 50% within the next decade; 5) create an energy mobilization board; and 6) build conservation in each home.  Strengthen our public transportation systems!  Take no unnecessary trips!  Use carpools!  Use public transportation whenever you can!  Park your car one extra day per week!  Obey the speed limit!  Set your thermostats to save fuel!  If we solve our energy crisis, then that can also help to conquer the crisis of the spirit in our country.  It can rekindle our sense of unity, our confidence in the future, and give our nation and all of us individually a new sense of purpose.  Little by little we can and we must rebuild our confidence.  We can succeed only if we tap our greatest resources, America’s people, America’s values, and America’s confidence.  He thought that a secure energy strategy would lead to a stronger more confident country?  What do you think about these ideas?