Last week we blogged about the US presidential candidates’ stance on climate change, and concluded that Obama and Clinton were very similar, although we thought Clinton was somewhat more advanced because of her views on nuclear power, which she rejects unless improvements are made.
However, No Impact Man has written a blog that got us thinking differently. He mentioned an editorial in the New York Times that said:
Senators John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton have hit on a new way to pander to American voters: a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The proposal may draw applause and votes from Americans feeling the pain of nearly $4-a-gallon gasoline. But it is an expensive and environmentally unsound policy that would do nothing to help American drivers… Fortunately, Mr. Obama has not caved to the rising calls for cheap energy and has refused to follow his rivals down this misguided path…
No Impact Man rightly points out that the proposal clearly indicates how McCain or Clinton would treat the climate issue if they became president. That is, not seriously at all. Decreeing a tax holiday on gasoline is like offering cheaper liquor to a recovering alcoholic. Not a wise idea.
So, congratulations to Obama for not lowering his politics to such a populist and irresponsible level. Clinton and McCain have betrayed the best interests of the American public and the world at large.
