And We Have To Choose Between These Guys?
by rrusczyk, Oct 16, 2008, 3:21 AM
Financial meltdown, and the question in the debate is about reducing dependence on foreign oil. The answer from *both* candidates is, "In 10 years, we won't have to buy from the Middle East or Venezuela, but we'll buy from Canada and other countries we like." As if we're talking about Coke and Pepsi. Am I missing something, or is "we're not buying from people we don't like" just like saying, "I'll only buy GE stock from Merrill Lynch"?
How can we take either of them seriously if they can say this with a straight face? If we want to send less oil money to the Middle East, we have to consume less oil and/or produce more ourselves (which of course they both support, but to say, "we're going to be in a position such that we aren't buying from the Middle East/Venezuela at all, but still buying from Canada" just seems like a fundamental misunderstanding of economics). Or maybe they understand this perfectly, but just think voters won't. And sadly, they're probably right.
How can we take either of them seriously if they can say this with a straight face? If we want to send less oil money to the Middle East, we have to consume less oil and/or produce more ourselves (which of course they both support, but to say, "we're going to be in a position such that we aren't buying from the Middle East/Venezuela at all, but still buying from Canada" just seems like a fundamental misunderstanding of economics). Or maybe they understand this perfectly, but just think voters won't. And sadly, they're probably right.
February 2012
January 2012