McCain and Obama Differ on Energy
Following on from Monday’s article from Low Impact Living, “Who’s the Greenest? Obama vs. McCain”, I’ve decided to take a bit more of an in depth look at their policies. But all of this has a little bit of a twist, because unlike most political pundits around here, I’m from Australia, and can’t vote! Sadly, because, not surprisingly, I’d vote Obama all the way peoples!
The American political season is now in full swing, and with Barack Obama finally securing the nomination for Democratic Presidential nominee, the games can really begin to heat up. One of the big topics – alongside or just underneath the economy – will be the environment, and how to best preserve it (or resurrect it after George W. Bush is finished with it).
And, not surprisingly, a lot of the end results being pitched by Senator Obama and Senator John McSame McCain are looking mighty similar. However how they want to get there are bipolar at best.
Stephan Power at the Wall Street Journal took the time to take a look at what the two Senators differences were when it came to the environment. For those of us looking to make a change in the world, it is no surprise that Senator McCain is definitely living up to his reputation as the next model (or previous model) of George W. Bush.
The senator from Arizona has a voting record that is in stark contrast to that of Obama, despite saying he wants to reduce a dependency on foreign oil. McCain wants to back the government involvement off; way off. He believes that “when government jumps in and distorts the market, then there’s unintended consequences as well as intended.” McCain has voted time and time again against policies such as tax credits that attempt to push a higher reliance upon alternative and energy efficient technologies.
Without a doubt I’m not a fan of McCain or his policies. He is, from my far away view, exactly the same as George W. Bush in his methods. McCain believes that providing benefits for alternative energies is nothing more than subsidies for special interests. Well of course they are! But by labeling them “special interests” he attempts to blacken the name of alternative energies. It’s a crude and crass way of sliding in under the radar.
Senator Obama on the other hand, despite a somewhat hypocritical voting record, is fully intent on using the government to make changes to the countries energy and climate change policies. He believes rightly that the US doesn’t do enough to help create clean energy technologies, a point which is proven by the US’s flagging position behind European nations flying ahead with wind and hydro solutions.
If he manages to claim the Presidential office, Obama would invest $150 billion over the next decade into alternative fuels, and push for the US to acquire at least 25% of its electricity from renewable sources. Stephan Power quotes Obama from a meeting in Portland, Oregon, last month: “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on, you know, 72 degrees [Fahrenheit] at all times and then just expect that every other country’s going to say OK. That’s not — that’s not leadership.”
Senators McCain and Obama differ on a lot of aspects. McCain wants to reduce emissions by 60% from the 1990 levels, whereas Obama wants to reduce them by 80%, a number that a vast number of scientists agree with. Senator McCain wants to temporarily kill the federal gasoline tax, a move that, along with Senator Obama, some conservatives oppose.
On a last note, I will say this personally. I realize that fuel prices are heading up and up the world over, but seriously people, have you heard of walking? Fuel prices should not be an issue in a world where fuel is causing the destruction of our planet.
And, if your like me and not living in the US, or even if you are, head along to the Green Options Mock US Election in the forums, located here.
McCain = Bush?
Tell that to the Conservatives, who think he’s the opposite.
Tell that to John Kerry, who wanted him as a running mate in 2004.
Now apologize for your wicked, intentional misrepresentation of the truth.
Let the left vs. right wing debates begin!
What about carbon permits–auction or giveaways to historical polluters? That seems like a pretty critical issue distinguishing the candidates.
Republicans are greedy, thoughtless, egotistical and elitist. They have proved again and again that as long as they can prosper the rich, the rest of us can go to hell. They are destroying the essence and spirit of America. I am a supporter of Hillary Clinton, but Barak Obama will do just fine!
[...] of them know about the issue well enough to make an effective decision. Environment (energy): McCain and Obama Differ on Energy : Red, Green, and Blue Economy: One clear example is the "gas tax holiday" Health Care: Who care how much they [...]
[...] McCain and Obama Differ on Energy [...]
I am republican and I am not egotistical or elitist or greedy. The problem is that many voters feel they are part of some sports team and have to vote only that way. I am concerned for the environment as are many republicans. We should focus on the issues and not go into rampan stereotypes. Saying such things is as incorrect as me saying democrats are a bunch of tree hugging, communist hippies who are unpatriotic. Its not true. Remember, the parties were once called the democratic-republicans and its always nice to have a balance of both.