You are viewing the archives of the old northcoastoregon.com. Please visit the new North Coast Oregon at: http://www.northcoastoregon.com/

Energy - Politics and Public Opinion

by Tryan Hartill

77%.

Yep, that is roughly the percentage of Americans that fear the world’s oil demand will out-strip supply.

Even more staggering is that 49% say that our energy situation has major problems and 12% think it is currently in a crisis.

But who is to blame? Well there is plenty of that to go around:

Despite President Bush’s focus on energy in his State of the Union speech, in which he said America is “addicted to oil,” those polled gave the president low marks on the issue. Seventy-one percent said Bush is not doing enough to solve the nation’s energy problems. Only 24 percent said Bush is doing enough. And Americans believe there is plenty of blame to go around, with oil companies getting an even larger share of the blame than the White House. Eighty-nine percent of those polled said oil companies deserve a great deal or some of the blame for current energy problems, compared to 81 percent who felt that way about Bush.

We know around these parts that energy is at least on the “back-burner”, but surely energy isn’t a top priority around the rest of the country, right?

From Pew:

With high fuel prices and instability in the Middle East, Americans are increasingly concerned about the nation’s energy situation. In January, 58% rated “dealing with the nation’s energy problem” a top priority, up from just 47% a year ago and 40% in January of 2003.

Oh dear.

Moving on we come to a ORC poll that asks about renewable energy and global warming:

The CSI/40mpg.org survey found that 58 percent of Americans – including 57 percent of independents and 42 percent of conservatives—are more concerned about global warming today than they were two years ago. Also, more than three out of four Americans (76 percent)—including two out of three conservatives—think the federal government is not doing “enough to address global warming and develop alternative energy sources in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

67% of Conservatives? What in the…..?

Other key survey findings: 77 percent of Americans think that “developing alternative or renewable energy sources and reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil should be President Bush’s top priority for the balance of his term in office”; and 83 percent of Americans – including 72 percent of conservatives and 85 percent of independents – would like to see more attention paid to global warming during the 2006 Congressional elections and the 2008 Presidential elections.

72% of Conservatives? Lars saw this poll and had this to say:

“Communists I tell ya! They’ve invaded.”

With all of this data, why isn’t this an issue in the 2006 elections?

One final poll that brings us back to our neck of the woods:

83 percent – including 77 percent of conservatives—said that “in the absence of federal leadership” today, they support the fast-growing number of pushes by “state and local officials to curb global warming and promote new energy resources.

Very few words have been spoken about energy in the Gov. race and not a peep from anyone running for office in Clatsop County except John Dunzer.

Why?

Mar 16, 08:37 pm | Tryan Hartill
Tags: ,
Click stars to rate this article. This article hasn't been rated yet.

3 comments on this article (post your own)

1 On Mar 18, 12:46 pm, Patrick McGee wrote:

As I am writing this an “Audi Turbo-Diesel” is leading overall in the 12 Hours of Sebring road race.

Now, legitimacy to the Diesel as a viable motorsports engine and a huge boost to Bio-Diesel we can only hope.

2 On Mar 18, 09:25 pm, Tryan Hartill wrote:

I can see where a diesel would have an advantage in the MPG dept. Just look at some of those Izuzu diesels made in the early 80’s that many of the big companies put into smaller trucks. Most of them are still on the road running at 45 MPG, that was probably in the top 5 of best engines ever made.
25 years later and we can’t improve on it yet? Gimme a break.
Looks like Audi might be finally stepping up to the plate.

3 On Mar 19, 06:25 am, Patrick McGee wrote:

It’s the torque.

824 footpounds of torque at a rev limit of 5000 rpm?

The only, minor, drawback is a very narrow powerband which simply means a little lag time if the driver does not keep the revs up but hey! that’s not really an issue for the everyday driver.

Post A Comment

(required)

(required but not displayed)



(No HTML, Textile only please. Live comment preview below.)

this is not Spam.

preview

:

Nov 19, 03:40 am


Previous Article:
« Another Dog and Pony Show

Next Article:
PNW Salmon: Part II Ocean »

NCO Reader Comments


cnabas (New Tillamook and Clatsop County Blog)
pasgettaorri (The Vote 2006!)
pasgettaorri (The Vote 2006!)
connie (Focus on 49: BOCC work session grapples with difficult legislature)
Delores (Focus on 49: BOCC work session grapples with difficult legislature)
Kristen Molina (North Coast AA Round Up Seaside April 4th 5th 6th 2008)
Madonna Carr (What does the Federal Government Do with our Taxes?)
Wallace Kennedy (More D.A. Talk)
Ollie Woodward (Fort George Brewery Coming Alive)
Augustine Sweet (CCFOG - First report on Lee recall petition signatures)
Glynn Oconnor (A gun show ... without guns ?)
Lorne Riley (notes from Clean Slate PAC meeting 2/13/07)
Clare Ruiz (Durban Group Discusses Carbon Trading and LNG in Astoria)
Stewart Hernandez (Random News For Friday)
Johnna Acosta (Measure 50....Healthy Kids...Cigarette Taxes)
Nathan Schroeder (Housing Credit Crunch: Who to Blame?)
Tammi Chase (Hands of Peace held for MLK Jr Day)
Maxine Richardson (News Sidebar)
Maryann Le (Websites...How to do links...Textpattern, HTML, Subscribe)
Daniel Estrada (Warrenton City Manager Resigns)

Recent Articles

View All Articles...

Feeds



Home | Archives | Contribute | Back to Top
Take What You Want 2008 NorthCoastOregon.com unless otherwise indicated.
Please email us with any questions or comments.
Site created by Upspring Design.