Of course they want them to go down now, that is why I said we would begin drilling alongside China off the coast of Florida; hell Id even be open to Alaska.
HOWEVER, we don't want to be in here 4 years still talking about it. We need to steps to make sure this problems is PERMINENTLY put to rest, not just temporary pushed off for someone else to deal with, because that isnt a solution at all. PERMINENT solutions are ideas such as requiring every new car to be sold within the U.S. by 2014 to pass the NEA test to make sure they are energy and environmentally safe, or looking for renewable energy and ways to convert the old standard ways with new, safer ones. This is all stuff NEA would be all over 24/7.
FEGA would require car companies to produce cars which run on natural gas, hybrid technology, fuel cells, electricity and biomass. They would have to offer one model of each fuel type. For example, Ford could still offer the Escape Hybrid. But it would also have to offer something like a Focus Natural Gas model, a Fuel Cell Explorer, an electric Taurus and a Ranger which runs solely on biomass. FEGA would also require car companies to raise the Corporate Average Fuel Economy to 35 miles per gallon for SUVs/ Trucks and 45 miles per gallon for sedans and smaller vehicles. We would be increasing fuel efficiency while offering vehicles which run on alternative energy sources.
Fega would not work. A cap on gas prices would be ridiculous. What about when inflation naturally pushes it over $3.50? Oil will always by a major resource in the world, you still need to think about the companies. We cannot directly change that. It is our job to try to set the circumstances so they will naturally just go down on their own; interfering would have unseen consequences we cant risk on such a major industry.
So, basically, you don't care if the burden is lifted on the middle class?
Why does inflation matter? Our country went ten years without raising the minimum wage to coincide with inflation. Why can't the oil companies suffer a bit while we keep the price of gas at a steady $3.50 per gallon?
If the American people aren't spending extra money on gas, they will be more inclined to purchase more goods to help spur the economy. The difference in earnings from the oil companies will be made up in other areas. Meanwhile, this cap may cause oil companies to re-think their energy policies. And the government incentives which will help these companies explore alternative energies will also help them out in the long run.
Capping gas prices is not only a good idea, but it is the most sensible idea. It will help the middle class, and it will help cause the oil companies to re-evaluate how they treat their consumers.
If we drill for our own oil, prices will drop on their own.
How can you be so sure? The oil companies are the ones who control the price of oil. Not to mention, drilling for oil in Alaska will take time. It will take years to build a system which would help deliver the oil. Meanwhile, our middle class will still be forced to pay outrageous prices for oil, as we hope that drilling for oil domestically will help us.
No, the only way to help the middle class is to cap gas prices and guide the oil companies into exploring alternative energies.
The Kyoto Protocols biggest problem is it does not deal with the amount of emissions that are within the atmosphere, which is what most sicentists claim is the real problem. For the amount of work it requires, the rewards are not suffieicent. 7% cut in overall emissions. There has to be a more effective way to cut emmissions in our country, but pulling a Bush and letting companies voluntarily do it is NOT going to fly in my administartion.
There is no way you can realistically cut all emissions. We have to gradually cut emissions, otherwise we will be unable to sustain ourselves economically. That's why the Kyoto Protocol is important. It will help us get on a path to reducing carbon emissions significantly. But it will immediately reduce some of the most severe emissions throughout our country. There is no way we can reduce all emissions, but if we reduce some emissions, we will still be helping the environment-- however small a step it may be.
