14- EVERYONE, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF ENERGY, ITS FORM, AND ITS COST CASTS A LONG SHADOW OVER FUTURE PLANS AND FUTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT. ONE CANNOT DIGNIFY THE LEGISLATION JUST ENACTED AS A WELL REASONED ENERGY POLICY THAT PROMISES TO CURE THE ENERGY PROBLEM. ONE CAN ARGUE THAT IT IS AT LEAST BETTER THAN THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSALS. ITS PRAGMATIC VIRTUE MAY BE LARGELY LIMITED TO ANSWERING THE CRITICISM THAT THE CONGRESS HAD "DONE NOTHING ON ENERGY." BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLAN, THE FAILURE TO DO SO DRAMATIZES ALL TOO VIVIDLY THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF OUR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN DEALING WITH A PROBLEM OF THIS COMPLEXITY ON A TIMELY BASIS. THE POLITICAL PROCESS SEEMS GEARED TO TURN OUT ONLY SHORT-TERM EXPEDIENT ANSWERS WHERE THE SITUATION DEMANDS LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT MUST FIND WAYS TO DEAL WITH CRITICAL PROBLEMS BY ANTICIPATING THEM RATHER THAN RELYING ON CRISES TO CATCH THE