VA Voter Says:
dbadass Says:

I’ll take a stab at this one.
Is it a “fair tax”?

Only one Dem supports the fair tax. So I would say it’s not their plan. Maybe they should look into it.

I suspect you’re clever enough to have figured this out, but dbadass was making sport of you.

VA Voter Says:

I asked what the Dems plan was because I have looked at the websites of the candidates. None (including McCain) seem to want to produce more energy. They seem to want to prevent it. I wanted to see if you guys had any answers. Guess not.

Seems to me like you’re seeking the answer to the wrong question.

See, this thread is about Consumer Confidence. While energy costs are certainly a part of the current economic malaise in which we find ourselves, it’s hardly the whole problem, as you seem to think.

It starts with middle class income declining (in real terms) over the two terms of George Bush. It continues with job losses, the soaring cost of keeping one’s family healthy, the collapse of the housing bubble (which sustained the illusion of Bush’ “economic recovery” as long as it did) and the weak dollar.

Energy costs are a single component of that witches’ brew that Chimpy and Darth have cooked up for us. You treat it like it’s the Golden Key.

dbadass Says:

I’ll take a stab at this one.
Is it a “fair tax”?

Only one Dem supports the fair tax. So I would say it’s not their plan. Maybe they should look into it.

What’s the Dem’s plan to resolve this issue?

And the Republican plan? What would that be? More of the same, I’m sure tax breaks for the wealthy. Because that really worked, didn’t it?

Oh, wait and there’s that economic stimulus check!

Any real progresssives who plan to resolve this issue start by evening the playing field among those who have raped the system by excessively consuming natural resources and those who are content to live a life in concert with the ecosystem.

Because consumer confidence in the past has been based on how much can I consume the real progressives are interested in changing the mindset of those who have been loudly and proudly proclaiming their lack of responsibility for the whole. The collapse of consumer confidence is the perfect feedback to show how the few cannot exist without the many’s approval.

To fix it a real progressive knows that a good beginning is a complete and total rejection of the Empire. The free market does not exist if all media, energy, pharma, and other market based tangibles are owned by conglomerates.

In order to send a very loud signal to Empire the public must choose Earth community OVER Empire. Whether the many realize it or not they are doing that right now because the economic empire has expanded beyond the point of sustainibility of the ecosystem. The few need to be brought on board as well.

Thus one of the ways to boost the confidence of the consumer is to see that everyone is participating in the rewards/sacrifices in a more equitable manner.

Enter rationing. First water, (already happening in many places), then fossil fuels, (peak oil taking place will result in rationing as well as the alck of leadership on celan enrgy sources) and soon electricity will begin to be rationed because of heavy loads and the need to cap carbon emissions.

Join in VA voter. Anytime you want.

That tells me you’re not interested in “what the Dems plan was”, you’re simply interested in amusing yourself with a sound-bite debate that you hope will devolve into a fight.

That’s why no one gave you an answer.

I asked what the Dems plan was because I have looked at the websites of the candidates. None (including McCain) seem to want to produce more energy. They seem to want to prevent it. I wanted to see if you guys had any answers. Guess not.

Seat the delegates in proportion. The Michigan Democratic party is just fine with a 69/59 split. Why isn’t Senator Clinton OK with that?

VA Voter Says:
Ok. I asked what the Dems plan was. I didn’t really get an answer.

Right. You asked on a progressive blog, instead of researching yourself what Democrats say are their plans.

That tells me you’re not interested in “what the Dems plan was”, you’re simply interested in amusing yourself with a sound-bite debate that you hope will devolve into a fight.

That’s why no one gave you an answer.

More domestic drilling.
New refineries.
Coal to gas.
Nuclear power.
More research in more efficient solar and wind power.

Most of this would only require the government getting out of the way of the private sector. Let them produce more energy. Increase the supply. With China and India becoming more technology advanced, the demand is going to continue to go up.

-Consumer health resources

-Consumer food costs

-Consumer fuel costs

I know ‘confidence’ relates to all of the above, but it’s just too easy to sum up a bad situation with 2 words.
So…what do Bush & Reagan have in common?
The lowest citizen confidence in a quarter century.

from democracy for america

I know this is completely off topic but I just got this e-mail from the clinton campaign:

Thanks for the link. I used it to send an email demanding they refuse Clinton’s dishonest request.

McWars Says:
Hmm…yes, there’s a contradiction. I think Beano would only cover gas from consuming vegetables. Since Fred eats regularly at McDonalds and Arby’s, I don’t think he’d need that. Therefore the revenues pour in.

Excellent! Tax cuts all around!