The Democrat and Republican wrote out their thoughts on innovation,education, stem cells, and a host of other issues including, of course, climatechange.Both candidates asserted that human actions were responsiblefor global climate change. Obama said there is no doubt “human activities areinfluencing the global climate,” while McCain more authoritatively states that greenhousegas emissions “threaten disastrous changes in the climate.” The replica Chopard watch solution tothis quandary? Both men favor a cap-and-trade system, where companies would be givenpermits that allow a certain amount of emissions. Since these permits could bebought and sold on an open market, companies would have a financial incentive to increase theirefficiency.
The cap-and-trade system is more marketable than a carbon tax,since it uses market forces, and since it does not include the word “tax.” Obamafavors auctioning off the carbon permits to companies while McCain’s responsedid not specify (though his website says the permits would be “allotted”). The debate about whether permits should be given freely tofirms or auctioned off rages in the cap-and-trade world. If they are givenfreely, replica Concord watch some fear that the companies could get huge windfall profits, whileauctioning them off would create government revenues. Also, if the governmentdecides how many permits each company gets, it could come down to who has thebest lobbying firm. On the other hand, if they are auctioned off it could favorwealthy and established companies.
(To address the issue that auctioningpermits would hurt the economy, look up “negative externalities.”)The candidates agree on an intermediate goal of reducing U.S. emissionsto 1990 levels by 2020. By 2050 Obama seeks a reduction of 80 percent from the1990 level, while McCain says he would want a reduction of at least 60 replica Corum watch percent.Both see a role for nuclear power in our nations future, though McCain spendsmore time elaborating on it. Obama emphasizes working the U.N. and other globalpartners, while McCain mentions using clean coal, strengthening penalties forviolating CAFé standards, and a $300 million prize for the development of asignificantly improved, commercially viable battery package.Another thing to note, both candidates mention thattechnological innovations to help fight climate change will increase efficiencyand ultimately help the economy.--Micah Cratty
