Originally Posted by
fit29
I think that we should all press our candidates to accept the "Gore Challenge" to produce all of our electricity from renewable sources by 10 years, Obama has accepted the challenge and McCain says it is Doable.
Facts are that the US is too Automobile oriented, I sincerely hope that the current energy crisis has put an end to our dependence on cars and more public transportation is built. Once we have efficient fast public transportation along with Hybrid/Plug Ins/Electric coupled with electricity that does not come from Coal or Gas we will see such a huge drop in oil demand that the US will be able to satisfy its remaining demand with domestic oil and lower prices will allow our industry (since there is no practical oil replacement for airplanes yet) to prosper.
One of the risks of allowing oil prices to go back down is setting the stage for a rebound in demand, therefore it is important that governments tax gasoline to keep it at 3-4 dollars ensuring that people drive only as a necessity, it worked in Europe, were most people use public transportation and have a "weekend car" and it can work here too.
There are so many things wrong with this:
1) The problem is that very few urban infrastructures are designed with mass transportation in mind. Look at Seattle for example. A light rail project was approved by the voters and after $2 Billion were spent on planning a proposal went out that sent a rail line from almost the University of Washington to almost SeaTac airport. Its too easy to say we need more public transportation but where are we going to put the rail lines in most of our cities. Even if could build a transit system, how are you going to get out of the city? Very few people who work in the city live in the city. Just imagine the cost of a transit system that connects all of the population areas
.
2) Unless you want to fill our landscape with endless wind turbines (Which are only effective in certain areas) how do you propose we get away from primarily using coal for our electricity. I wonder how Gore feels about nuclear power?
3) Do you really want our government to implement taxes as a means of dictating how we live our lives. Like it or not, this country has thrived in a free market and the consumer dictactes the going price of goods. Though I don't think its coincidental that oil prices dropped the second Bush lifted the moritorium, the fact that Americans are driving less and the entire airline industry is reducing their use by 10% is a sign that gas and oil is priced too high. It will work itself out.