2008 Presidential Election
Issues Comparison: McCain vs Obama
September 2008
By Greg Petty
Here is a sad fact about America: We have ignored the multiple warnings of the last thirty years concerning our addiction to imported oil to run our economy and support our way of life. $4.00 a gallon for gasoline and prices in excess of $120 a barrel are only a start of the pain we will feel if we continue on the current path. We will not be able to fathom the environmental, human and economic costs of the dangerous global climate changes we are beginning to witness. Carbon addiction warps every facet of our national life and has had a huge impact in our foreign policies since the last century. It is time to stop. We must kick the habit and regain our independence. Nothing less than our economic future is at stake. In previous articles I have suggested that America enlist its finest social, economic and scientific minds to embark on a Manhattan-style project for energy conversion and efficiency without delay. We have to learn to live with less, conserve, and find creative, environmental friendly methods to support our energy requirements.
Energy, the economy, and Iraq/Afghanistan are issues the incoming president is going to have to deal with the day after the inaugural festivities are over. I have researched independent Web sites as well as the official campaign sites for both Obama and McCain. I have done my best to present summarizations of their proposals for the following key topics in this year's election: energy independence, Iraq, the economy, healthcare, social security and taxes. Visit the sites listed at the end of the article to obtain additional information about each candidate's position.
Energy Independence
Obama: Provide short-term relief for families with a $1,000 emergency energy rebate from a windfall profit tax on the oil companies. (Exxon just reported the largest quarterly profits ever made in history.)
McCain: Proposed a summer gas-tax moratorium but it was not enacted. Believes that Carter's windfall tax in the 80s was a failure. It was a failure because oil prices declined, as did domestic production. The huge speculation we see in today's market was not present.
Obama: Eliminate oil imports from the Middle East and Venezuela in ten years. Includes increasing fuel economy standards, one million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015, a $7,000 tax credit for purchasing advanced vehicles, use it or lose it approach to gas and oil leases already granted and not used, and responsible domestic production of oil and natural gas. Has recently spoken out to support the group of ten Senator's compromise proposal to support and strive for energy alternatives and efficiencies first and then open up offshore drilling where allowed by states.
McCain: Remove federal moratorium on offshore drilling and coordinate with the states and Department of Defense. Drill and use our huge reserves of natural gas for electricity and transportations needs, $5,000 tax credit for a zero carbon emission car, $300 million incentive for improved battery technology for use in all electric vehicles.
Obama: Cap and Trade program-reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.
McCain: Cap and Trade program-reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050
Obama: Green Initiatives-Invest $150 billion over ten years to five million new green jobs by producing advanced cars, ensure 10% of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, 25% by 2025, develop clean coal technology, weatherize one million homes annually, increase use of natural gas and build the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.
McCain: Green Initiatives-mandate higher efficiency standards to all federally occupied buildings. The government is the largest electricity user on earth. Update the national electricity grid to support electric vehicles plugged in at home and implement SmartMeter technologies.
Comments
It's a start but I give both candidates mediocre grades. These measures are "Too Little, Too Late" given the environmental and economic costs of our oil dependence. I'll pick on Obama here since he, to his credit, has more detailed proposals. One million plug-in cars by 2015? In 2004 America had 240 million cars. 143,000 electric cars a yearly barely makes a dent in the problem. $15 billion a year to begin private green efforts? Come on, we spend $10 billion A MONTH in Iraq and have already spent close to $1 trillion. McCain and Obama-please get serious. Your plans need to really push and support private enterprise to achieve some tough goals. Pretend we have an asteroid coming at us. You know, a real emergency.
Iraq
McCain: Voted for Iraq invasion. Believes it is a moral and strategic mistake to withdraw troops before Iraq is capable of governing itself and protecting its people. He has previously made the statement that he would stay for 100 years if it were necessary. He has confused his stance on this issue by saying that he thinks we can be out by 2013. He is a leading supporter of the surge that has been successful in reducing sectarian and ethnic violence and reduced coalition force fatalities.
McCain believes political progress is being made with the required benchmarks but more progress is necessary. Wants international support for economic development to restore the economy and to move young men away from terrorist activities. It is important for Syria and Iran to stop supporting violence and to become involved in the regional pact to ensure security. Also believes the American people deserve honest assessments of the progress and the risks.
Obama: Voted against Iraq invasion. He said the war would lead to "an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs and undetermined consequences." In 2007 he introduced legislation for a phased, responsible withdrawal of troops from combat operations. He also states that despite heroic efforts by our troops, the war in Iraq has strained our military resources, diverted us from the most important fight against al Qaeda-capturing Osama bin Laden and the stabilization of Afghanistan. The Taliban have been allowed to reconstitute their forces in the country and remain a threat to America.
He believes we must be careful getting out of Iraq and will do so in a responsible manner as directed by military commanders on the ground and in consultation with the Iraqi leaders by mid-2010. A residual force will remain in Iraq and the region to counter terrorism and protect American diplomats and civilians. Continue to train the Iraqi army but not establish permanent U.S. bases.
Obama believes that there is no military solution to Iraq's political differences and that they have failed to take full responsibility for political reconciliation, slow progress on completion and achievement of the benchmarks and to spend their oil revenues for their own reconstruction. A phased withdrawal will encourage them to assume these responsibilities. As with McCain, he proposes diplomatic efforts with Iraq's neighbors to provide stability. He proposes to prosecute war crime and genocide perpetrators. Congress and Iraq should ratify an Iraq Status of Forces Agreement negotiated by the Bush Administration.
Comments
News & Observer, August 22-Despite years of stating there will be no timetable for withdrawal, the Bush Administration is close to signing a Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq that would remove combat forces from Iraq by 2011 if conditions remain stable.
Next Month
Candidate positions on the economy, healthcare, social security/medicare reform and taxes.
Sources
Visit these sites for detailed information on the issues and campaign coverage:
www.barackobama.com, www.johnmccain.com, www.procon.org, www.nytimes.com
For tracking the influence of campaign money and lobbying on our elected representatives visit my favorite new site www.MapLight.org. Visit cfr.orgto read more about Iraqi benchmarks.
|
NEW THIS MONTH
Live Smart
Your Investment Portfolio:
Investment Style
Live Well
Obesity - A National Epidemic
The Reproductive System
Live Large
The Danube Isn’t Blue
Fifty & Fabulous
Triangle
Lenore Raphael
Triad
Jeff Smith
Greg's Corner
How Healthcare Reform Affects Us
ARTICLE ARCHIVE
March 2010
Where, Oh Where?
February 2010
By the Numbers
September 2009
Healthcare Reform - Part 2
August 2009
Healthcare Reform - Part 1
June 2009
What You’re Not Being Told About America’s Economic Deficits —Part Two
May 2009
What You’re Not Being Told About America’s Economic Deficits —Part One
February 2009
President Obama’s Agenda Part 2
January 2009
President Obama’s Agenda Part 1
November 2008
The Financial Market Meltdown
October 2008
Presidential Election 2008 — Obama vs. McCain
September 2008
Presidential Election 2008 — Energy, Iraq
August 2008
Presidential Leadership, Part Two
July 2008
Presidential Leadership, Part One
April 2008
What Do We Do About The Guns?
March 2008
America’s Conscience
December 2007
Inside the Subprime Mortgage Meltdown, Part II
November 2007
Inside the Subprime Mortgage Meltdown, Part I
September 2007
Wellness — First Things First
May 2007
The State of our Health Care System: Part II
April 2007
The State of our Health Care System: Part I
February 2007
The American Dream vs. The Gospel of Wealth
November 2006
Iraq: What Should America Do? Part II
October 2006
Iraq: What Should America Do? Part I
August 2006
Global Warming–We Can Make a Difference
July 2006
I am a BAD American
Visit our Archive page for more Live Well articles
|
