Go Obamaaaaaaaa :)

Wow, the first thing I have to say, is that I am very surprised. While the two candidates are very different in many aspects, this project really forced me to sit down and analyze the grit of each candidates proposals. Their were some differences, but I also found an amazing amount of similarities.

McCain

He is overwhelmingly a market liberal. His website states, "John McCain will establish a market-based system to curb greenhouse gas emissions, mobilize innovative technology, and strengthen the economy". He is also a technological optimist, believing that somewhere, with the right research and development, technology will be discovered to make the environmental problem less substantial. His method for market control is the Cap-and-Trade method, in which commodities and permits to use them will be bought and sold in a market setting. Therefore, carbon credits and various other credits will be bought and sold, and major factories and corporations will need these credits in order to emit carbon.

For his energy policy he favors new technology and alternative fuel sources. I would say that McCain's environmental platform fits into the market liberal category for its reliance on markets and technology to solve the problems. Market liberals focus on economies, and do not necessarily see a dooming environmental crisis. They feel that overall, the economy is growing through its use of markets, science, technology and ingenuity. The way forward for market liberals is through new market policies, and market based incentives. With all these in tact, new green technology can be encouraged.

With regards to the economy, McCain wants to modernize labor laws to allow more flexibility, He wants to reduce the price of oil and also our dependence on it, especially foreign sources. McCain would also like to reduce the tax on oil, and eliminate wasteful spending. Lastly, McCain would like to utilize nuclear energy to a better end, creating another alternative energy source (scary!).

These proposed policies are also from a market based approach that deems to fix failing market strategies. Overall, I found McCain's platform to be overwhelmingly about energy, and less about the environment in totality.

OBAMA

I was struck by the similarities between the two candidates on this issue. First, Obama wants to fund private efforts to stop climate change and emission of greenhouse gases. He wants to invest in hybrids, renewable electricity and also the very same Cap-and-Trade method that McCain also endorses. The Cap-and-Trade method is a market based solution, and on this point, I found Obama to be a market liberal. He also agrees in the power of American markets, and their strength to rectify the situation. He wants to reduce our emission by 80% of 1990 levels, the level scientists say we need. If McCain is listening to scientists and other experts about the exact levels of carbon we need to reduce, he is also a bio-environmentalist. He also proposes taxing the Cap-and-Trade, and funneling that money directly back into climate change. Yet, he also attacks big business such as the oil companies themselves, a fact that McCain did not. Obama proposes taxing companies that made record profits, Exxon Mobil, and delivering that reduction right back to Americans, with up to $1,000 per middle class family. McCain also endorses the idea of an energy rebate, but the money will come elsewhere.

Obama admits expressly the damage being done to the environment when he says, " As a result of climate change, the polar ice caps are shrinking causing sea levels to rise; extreme weather is wreaking havoc across the globe, droughts are becoming more severe, tropical diseases are migrating north and numerous species are being threatened with extinction". He actually admits a bio-environmentalist viewpoint when he references the polar ice, the extreme weather and the loss of biodiversity.

From an institutionalist standpoint, Obama also wants to work with the UN to bring the change and U.S. model to other countries as well. He wants to promote green technologies, increase motor vehicleand fuel economy standards, increase renewable energy sources and also nuclear power (another similarity).

His economic plan is also market based, in which he will cut taxes for middle class Americans, amend NAFTA agreement, create green jobs, invest in manufacturing, invest in science, protect the freedom to unionize, raise the minimum wage, expand the family and medical leave act, and give 24 hours of paid leave per year, per worker to attend child's activities. Some of these propositions are similar to McCains, but I would say that while McCain is only market liberal based, Obama tends to dabble a bit into the others as well, no matter how small.

I think these classifications are really important to help us understand the different policies people might propose to fix the problem. While I do agree with what Simon said in class, that no one fits exactly into any mold, I think it is useful to generalize where the majority of your opinions lie. For this reason, I think that Obama is making the most sense about the environment. His platform is not solely focused on energy and renewable energy. He admits we are causing climate change, losing biodiversity and risking global warming. He also combines the different classifications in the best way, allowing for the best result. I do not feel that only a market based approach will work. I do agree in the power of American markets, but I think we need to combine that strategy with increased funding on wildlife, etc. It can't be only the buying and selling of carbon credits.