Gas Prices? Should Electric Cars be an election issue?

Question

Look, gas prices are not going to come down unless there is some serious competition. There is technology out there that will allow a lithium battery powered car to go 300 miles on a single charge. Should we pressure the government to mandate such technology so that we may have an option apart from gas powered cars and the hybrids?

Answer 1

No, the oversupply of money and credit, the federal budget deficit and the Fed's interest rate cuts that enabled it should be THE election issue.

http://mises.org/story/2999

Retail gasoline prices per gallon are up  by $2.    Oil industry profits per gallon of gasoline are up by about a nickel.

It's not a question of bargaining power fo the suppliers.

Answer 2

It should definitely be an election issue along with alternative energy sources.  Electric cars should get serious government subsidies and R&D money.  The good news is that the technology is advancing rapidly (see link below).

Answer 3

Yes, I think this will become the case since the current rise of gas costs have risen dramatically within the past week.

However, I think the real question we should ask is why the government has avoided pushing for the use of alternative energy for so long ago? A hand full of countries have already become less dependent on foreign oil. The car manufacturers in the US have long been ready to release hybrid and alternative energy vehicles. Yet, what is holding them back?

At the same time, the government seems more interested in the price of Haliburton stock (whose price has increased along with the price of gas). Makes you wonder about the political ties between large corporations and the government, and its effect on alternative energy...

Answer 4

Yes. The reason why it was not an issue before was because Bush was affililated with the oil companies.

Answer 5

this could be interesting. first of all, we need politicians who are open minded and not bought and owned by the oil industry. we really need to get in the faces of politicians and DEMAND changes. California was on the right track with the zero emissions mandate. and look what happened. actually, watch the movie Who Killed the Electric Car. electric cars are a viable alternative.

Answer 6

Great question!  

Evidently, it could be effective environmentally as an election issue.  Especially,  if people don't voluntarily switch over to electric cars.

Answer 7

I think we need to push for electric cars. People need to stop buying gas powerd cars!