Yesterday I took some time to watch Barack Obama while he was in Cedar Rapids. The part of his speech that I found to be the most interesting was his rhetoric on the energy crisis. Later that afternoon I saw the below Obama ad.
I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes. Barack Obama is making a hard court press to own the energy issue, and I will admit if he is successful in doing so he will win in a landslide this November. Obama’s energy plan is simple.
Another Government Stimulus Check for $300 per family.
Ah nothing like a politician trying to buy your vote with your own money. The other thing I find odd about this is the fact that the McCain gas tax holiday was a gimmick according to Obama. Isn’t this the same thing?
10 year 150 Billion Dollar Government Investment in Renewable Energy Technology.
Hey, that’s my money too. A quick look around Iowa and you will see plenty of private investment in renewable energy. So is the government, funded by our tax dollars, now going to compete with private investors? We need to unleash American ingenuity by getting government off of our backs. I’m confident that private investment will find additional alternative energy sources quicker that or government can.
Reduce U.S. oil consumption by about 3 million barrels of oil per day by 2018.
Hey, I’m all for it. This is the problem with the polarization of politics in America. We need to conserve and drill. This is an argument that McCain is trying to make but finds difficult to do. Both sides can be right. We need to increase oil production in the United States by drilling in the lower 48, in ANWR, by using the oil shale in Colorado, and by drilling off shore. We should mix that oil with ethanol to make it stretch further. We need to continue to push for increased use of wind, solar, and hydro sources for domestic energy. We need to build new nuclear power plants. In addition to all of those, we need to become more efficient in our use of energy.
I’m sick and tired of hearing that it will take 10 years for the oil in ANWR to make a difference in the price I’m paying at the pump. Well get going because I’ll still be around driving my monster SUV you morons. Every day we wait, is another day wasted.
Windfall Profits Tax for Oil Companies
I don’t understand why Obama and most liberals are so hostile to energy companies. Now I don’t want to be gouged, but these oil companies are profit at about 8% after reinvestment in new energy sources and exploration. Is that really out of line?
This gets to some of the most troubling comments Obama has raised repeatedly in his campaign. When he talks about the evil oil company and their gross profits, he’s talking about every business in America. It’s easy to look at the gross profits and use class warfare to create division in our country. We need to look at the net. That tells the real story. There are a bunch of truckers out there whose gross profits look pretty good these days, but they are hurting because their operating costs have skyrocketed.
To solve our energy crisis we must become energy independent. We can not accomplish that goal by increased fuel mileage, properly inflated tires, gas tax holidays, and sending me $300 of my own dollars back to me. We need to simply state that the US will be energy independent in 10 years. As mentioned above we unleash American ingenuity by allowing companies to drill, build refineries, use oil shale, expand our use of wind, hydro, and solar, build new nuclear plants, all while making a commitment to be more efficient. We also need to encourage private industry to do this, not the government. You do that by not being hostile, raising taxes, and creating unnecessary road blocks.
If America shows the commitment to become energy independent in 10 year, prices at the pump will probably fall right away. No matter what, the time is now.
Around the blogosphere
Sporer does have cute puppies, I just don’t know if I can handle the softer side of Sporer.
Grant Young has moved on from Jared Allen and now is focused on the Nature Boy.
Flyover has a nugget about Steve King.
And Emily Geiger at BattlerGround is taking on sports shock jock Marty Tirrell about the Univeristy of Iowa scandal.
Excellent post. I share the "do everything" principle. For example, Iowa should be creating generous property and income tax deductions and credits for construcing and remodeling renewable and cleaner energy tech.
ReplyDeleteI don't think government needs to tell Detroit to dramatically and quickly increase fuel efficiency so whatever either side's point on that issue ever was is now moot.
Iowa could also come up with some creative solutions like tax credits/deductions for buying biodiesel in Iowa that is refined in Iowa by vehicles purchased in Iowa. We'd be the trucking capitol of North America and virtually every tax dollar would be found money-e.g. the sales tax on all those big rigs that are purchased in Iowa, the homes by the thousands of trucking and freight companies pouring into Iowa. Especially good for POlk County 'cause of that I35/I80 interchange.
An increase in fuel efficiancy standards would not have any type of effect on fuel consumption or prices for at least ten years. How many Americans can honestly afford a brand new vehicle...let alone much of the democrat constituency. I'm all for better fuel mileage but let's face it, most of the average Joes out there would need to wait for vehicles with better mileage to hit the used market since they won't be able to afford a brand new car. When will the demorats remove their heads from whatever anal cavity they are stuck in?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the reign of His Excellency President for Life Field Marshal Barak Hussein Obama. It's going to be a sight to behold. Crazy socialist whackjobs in every position of power and the unbridled destruction of the American economy and military.
ReplyDeleteIt's gonna be great. Zimbabwe great.
We'll join the ranks of other nations with similarly great leaders like Sekou Toure, Hissene Habre, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Mandela, Mengistu Haile Mariam, Idi Amin Dada, Omar Al-bashi, Charles Taylor, Siad Barre, Laurent Kabila, Jean-Bedel Bokassa.
Yes, in just a matter of months the name of His Excellency President for Life Field Marshal Barak Hussein Obama will join that illustrious pantheon of heroes.
Woooooooooooo!!!
ReplyDeleteToo bad Democrats are economic illiterates. It's basic economics that increased supply reduces cost.
ReplyDeleteWe need supply and we need to get it wherever it's available. We also need strong oil companies who are willing to take the risks looking for that oil.
Anyone falling for this "windfall" profits tax business is an economic illiterate. That will decrease supply.