Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Six Debate Questions for The Candidates

Please Debate- As John McCain and Barack Obama each prepare for tonight’s town hall style debate format, one can only hope that some of the 100 undecided voters in the room ask questions about energy policy, clean technology and conservation. Let us hope that the discussion is actually substantive and not all sideshow politics. Below are some questions I would like to see put forth to both candidates:

1) Energy efficiency seems to receive very little attention in this race. What policies would your administrations put forth to exploit this nation’s energy-efficiency reserves and create jobs in the expanding green economy?

2) If you are so serious that nuclear energy is the way forward, could you explain both how you will finance such expensive plants and additionally how you would dispose of the corresponding waste?

3) The U.S. produces a quarter of all our pollution from automobiles and trucks. What measures would your administration take to reduce this global-warming pollution beyond current levels?

4) Where do each of you stand on reducing CO2 emissions by 20% in 2020 and 50% by 2050? How do your policies get us there or better?

5) How do each of you respond to the fact that the U.S. automobile industry was just allowed $25 billion in U.S. taxpayer subsidies, when a company like Ford already has the ability to produce a automobile that gets 65 mpg?

6) As a voter I am confused. How can you both claim to support alternative energy, but the Obama campaign claims Senator McCain, you have voted against renewable energy 23 times in your Senate career. Please correct this fact if it is indeed false.

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