Americans Trust Obama, Not McCain, to Lower Gas Prices

[Hope And Change]

Americans Trust Obama, Not McCain, to Lower Gas Prices


by Jonathan Singer, Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 09:04:59 AM EST

Wonder why John McCain recently ramped up his obfuscation campaign on gas prices, launching screed after screed about getting rid of the federal gas tax for the summer (not mentioning, of course, that this wouldn't actually lower the price of a gas of gasoline for the American consumer, while at the same time either cutting key funding -- and thus jobs -- in highways or growing the national debt)? This from the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll should provide a bit of an answer:


Six percent in the new poll call gas and energy prices the single most important issue in the presidential election now underway. In February, under 1 percent highlighted the issue as tops. Asked which candidate they trust to deal with the situation, 50 percent said Barack Obama and 30 percent said John McCain. Eleven percent said neither presumptive nominee is better on gas prices.


This has got to be a focus of the Obama campaign going forward, pressing this already present advantage on the issue of gas prices. With the potential of five or even (oy gevalt) six dollar a gallon gas near the time of election day, energy issues aren't likely to come off the collective mind of the American people any time soon. And as a memo to John McCain, I would just say that going and pandering to oil executives probably isn't the way to assure voters that you're going to be any better on the issue than George W. Bush.

http://jonathan--singer.mydd.com/story/2008/6/17/83522/6154#commenttop

[hedgehog]

1. We need to re-shape the dialog. Gas prices will continue to rise

no matter who wins the election. There may be some market manipulation right now, but just look at all the people in India and China who are going to want to buy a car in the next 5 or 10 years and try to convince me that the price of gas is going to drop.

What people need is not cheap gasoline but a cheap way to get around to do their business. My guess is that means alternative fuels, living closer to where you work, more public transport and who knows what else.

[truthisfreedom]

2. You're right. We don't have any control over gas prices so what we really need is cheap transit.

People obviously need to get from one place to another. Car pooling and mass transportation are going to be key at the beginning, and alternative fuels and then alternative energy must be around the corner.

[Indenturedebtor]

3. Algal biodiesel hybrids are the way forward.

We can go into production immediately, and already have the flex fuel engines and infrastructure set up. Plus algal biodiesel is 90% carbon neutral, and can even be used to make plastic. AND the coal industry can produce it to help offset their carbon. It actually grows faster when you pump CO2 through it. They've already built a functioning plant that does this.

Oh and of course we need tons of public transportation, which Obama holds as a big part of his poverty program. Which is a good way to look at it imo.

[hedgehog]

4. Part of the public transportation puzzle is housing distribution

How far are you willing to walk in all weather to a bus stop or subway? How long a ride are you willing to take? Park and ride inevitably is going to take longer than driving yourself unless busses are given special lanes in congested areas.


Another problem is that the era of the huge manufacturing plant is fading. It seems to me a lot of people drive from scattered houses to scattered jobs.

[Indenturedebtor]

5. True but if you build the infrastructure more people will move there

The environment is better off when we're concentrated in cities, and there are many other benefits as well.

And in any case we don't have to provide public transportation for "all", but at the least make it available in one city in every state.

The reason why I thnk it fits best into a "poverty platform" is that people who aren't poor can afford to buy diesel hybrids.

[hedgehog]

6. It really is a patriotic venture to make this country energy independent.

Anything less leave us at the mercy of foreign and domestic oligarchies!