The Candidates
Zogby Interactive General Election Poll, conducted Sept. 5th-6th, 2008
- McCain/Palin 49.7%
- Obama/Biden 45.9%
The interactive survey of 2,312 likely voters nationwide was conducted Sept. 5-6, 2008, and carries a margin of error of +/- 2.1 percentage points.
Inside the numbers:
John Zogby: “Clearly, Palin is helping the McCain ticket. She has high favorability numbers, and has unified the Republican Party. The striking thing here in this poll is that McCain has pulled ahead among Catholics by double-digits. On the other hand, Palin is not helping with likely voting women who are not aligned with either political party. The undecided independent women voters decreased this week from 15% to 7%, but those women went to Obama. Palin is also helping among men, conservatives, notably with suburban and rural voters, and with frequent Wal-Mart shoppers, who tend to be “values” voters who like a good value for their money.”
McCain’s favorability rating increased from 50% favorable last week to 57% favorable now, a significant jump that indicates the GOP convention was a success. Among independent voters, 61% now have a favorable impression of him, compared to just 49% who said the same a week ago.
Nearly half - 49% - said they had a favorable opinion of Barack Obama, while 50% they had a negative impression of him. Among independent voters, 47% gave him favorable marks, compared to 46% who said the same thing last week.
Among the vice presidential candidates, 54% said they now hold a favorable view of Palin, while 42% hold an unfavorable view. While 49% have a favorable opinion of Joe Biden, 47% hold an unfavorable view of him.
Just one week ago, 23% told Zogby that they did not know enough about Palin to make a judgment about whether they held a favorable or unfavorable view of her - but this most recent survey shows just 4% were unfamiliar with her - another indication that likely voters paid attention to the GOP convention this week, which won the highest television viewership numbers ever earned by an American political convention.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Special sauce or not, these numbers are pretty good, especially the “favorability” ratings of independents. Probably a leading indicator.
Love the fact that the GOP convention was viewed by more Americans than any other convention in history.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Awesome!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
This is interesting news. I hope some of the women that haven’t warmed up to her, and men for that matter, watched her bio on FOX tonight…she was put in a pretty good light, showing her as a mother and a regular woman.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Yeah!
If we avoid missteps, we will win this election.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Apart from the fact that it is Mr. Zogby, this is good.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Gallop says that the Obama lead among women dropped from 14 points to 7 the last few days, contradicted what Zogby says here.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
“Love the fact that the GOP convention was viewed by more Americans than any other convention in history.”
And we have Palin to thank for that (and Thursday night football). The GOP was morose until a week ago.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
This is fantastic news. Obama should win this election by an measure, but we are at the moment. If this keeps up, we might even stave off some of our losses in Congress.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
wow, count in the bradley effect and it could be as much as 10
September 6th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
thing is, the media has lost the confidence of the voters, and with each media attack, she grows stronger. keep digging media!!!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
BOUNCE!!1!!1!!!!!!!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
You know, I’m trying to look at this election from the perspective of the country. What result is best for America? What ticket will provide the skills, expertise and leadership necessary in these perilous times. And I want to warn all my rabid friends on this blog that perilous times are coming. These are not the times you and I grew up in and the next decade may be the most dangerous in the history of this country.
1. Yes, Radical Islamic Jihad is on the march and is a grave and growing threat to this nation’s interests abroad and at home.
2. But, decades of fiscal mismanagement by both parties has created a financial nightmare that is almost beyond correction. The entitlements waiting to be paid are thousands of times greater than this nation’s financial resources and still growing. The massive
credit card debt awaiting repayment will make the housing crisis look like a picnic.
3. Our educational system continues to slip compared to the rest of the world, currently 24th and falling
4. Our infrastructure is crumbling and their are no plans to fix it because there are no funds to fix it.
5. We are in debt to some of our worst enemies and still borrowing.We borrow funds to pay our soldiers. We buy oil from Venezuela to fuel our tanks.
This is not a critique of the McCain- Palin ticket. The Obama -Biden ticket is just as unprepared to solve the incredible backlog of problems that are quickly eroding this nation’s strength, while we focus our efforts on success without plans, on solutions without
expertise , on guidance without direction. As voters we have become comfortable asking little from our candidates and getting rewarded with little. Problems do not get solved. They are magnified for the next campaign to speak of in ever lofty terms.
We are almost out of time , my friends. Look at the problems on the table without blinders. Tell me how they get solved by anybody or any party? Do not look through blinders, look at problems that affect you, your family and the nation. Winning the election is fine, but worthless without real solutions to real problems , not BS sound bites by both parties.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Does anyone have proof that Zogby is accurate. I am going to google for his final 04 numbers. I seem to remember he released an election day poll with Kerry winning.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
There must be a reason realclearpolitics does not use this poll in its average.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Zogby claims to be the most accurrate…
“Zogby International was the most accurate pollster in every one of the last three presidential election cycles, and continues to perfect its telephone and interactive methodologies using its own live operator, in-house call center in Upstate New York, and its own secure servers for its online polling projects.
In the 2004 presidential election, not only was Zogby’s telephone polling right on the money, its interactive polling also nailed the election as well. In 2006, the Zogby Interactive online polling was on the money in 17 of 18 U.S. Senate races (the 18th was within the margin of error) a record of accuracy that is unmatched in the industry”
However, every time I compared Rasmussen to actual results, they were the ones that I always trusted the most
September 6th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
#14, I would guess because it is interactive, but who knows…
September 6th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
The reason in that these internet polls are notoriously unreliable. Take this with a grain of salt.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
#12 Craig:
You’re absolutely right. I think you’ve correctly identified the problems that lie ahead for our nation, though I would replace Islamic extremism with China and Russia, as I believe that Islamism has a very short half-life, as it can barely withstand an honorable enemy like us, which means that it would completely cave under the pressure of an enemy who fought a no-holds-barred war against it. That is to say, imagine if China experienced an Islamic terrorist attack. Several major Middle Eastern cities would cease to exist. Islamism is incompatible with a global modern society and will die at one point or another.
In any case, the End of History that we supposedly experienced during the ’90s was the calm before the storm. The challenges that you articulate are coming and no one has a clue what to do about them. Given that Bush only had six years of governance under his belt when he assumed office in 2001, I think history will rehabilitate his reputation in a generation or two. The country is basically treading water right now but that is amazing given that we’ve weathered a terrorist attack, two wars, and two economic downturns in eight years.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Overall, this is all good news so far, but there are so many things that still need to happen so I am not counting my chickens…
1) Governor Palin needs to still do some hard hitting interviews
2) Her inquiry by the legislature needs to be dropped (they have a crazy Dem Alaskan State Senator still going after her)
3) She needs to survive the continued digging on past statements and affiliations
4) Palin needs to do well in the debates
5) McCain needs to perform well in the debates (I am not taking this for granted)
6) I have no doubt that the Republicans will have good turn-out, but so will the Dems with their voter registrations. The Republicans need to prepare for all fake voter registrations that WILL come from the Democrats. They always do come, but this time I am betting it will be much more extensive.
So while we all feel good now, there are still a bunch of hurdles to go and none of them are certain…
September 6th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
#18, I have to disagree with you. I believe McCain is correct. We will be fighting Islamic extremism for a generation, and Russia is a short-term problem, due to their internal changes (shrinking population, growing prosperity gap, etc..).
September 6th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Call me pessimistic, but I completely agree with Craig and DaveG.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Pak using US funds for
preparing for war against India: Obama
Washington, Sept 5 (PTI) Accusing Pakistan of misusing the massive American aid to fight the war on terror, Democratic nominee for the US Presidential election Barack Obama, in a sensational comment, has said Islamabad was using these funds for “preparing for a war against India”.
Senator Obama vowed to hold Islamabad accountable for the massive military aid it has received from Washington if he is elected to the White House. He said his administration will increase pressure on the Pakistan to come to terms with terrorist safe havens along its northern border with Afghanistan.
“What we can do is stay focused on Afghanistan and put more pressure on the Pakistanis,” Senator Obama said in an interview with Fox News.
He noted that the US was providing Pakistan military aid “without having enough strings attached”.
“So they’re (Pakistan) using the military aid…Pakistan…They’re preparing for a war against India,” Senator Obama said.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
2nd straight Zogby poll with McCain/Palin up.Interesting how Rasmussen can say McCain has cut into Obama’s lead among women but this shows the reverse?Also to # 19 Palin will only be in one debate and that is on October 2nd I believe.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
#12
If we are drawn into a serious war again, or a renewed balance of power buildup as during the coldwar, and the vast majority of Americans feel threatened enough where it counts to back a major change in priorities in order to invest in defense again seriously, there might be enough of a mandate to slash and burn at the federal level and eliminate the socialist programs and enormous burocracy that are bringing us down. This cutback in domestic waste combined with a strong push to exploit again this nation’s tremendous natural resources, such as oil, coal, gas, gold, silver, agriculture, and other durable commodities, timber, water, etc, could make America again the wealthiest nation on Earth. We could eliminate debts and deficits very quickly with a nationalist set of priorities. It will take a serious danger, understood well by the people, however, to affect such a revolution of policy. The partisanship and anti-americanism we see today would have to become unpopular even to the left.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
craig/DaveG/Tex,
We certainly have many challenges ahead of us but we have a card hidden up our sleeves. WE ARE AMERICAN’S!
Unless we are back to “duck and cover”, I have full confidence we can overcome any challenges we may face.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Got a link Steve?
September 6th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
19
Two thirds of your concerns focus on Palin. You’re making the same mistake the Democrats are making. No one cares about the veep except for the party bases and political junkies. As long as the veeps seem sane and likable, they aren’t a drag on the ticket. Palin is charismatic and likable and isn’t running on any of her supposed controversial beliefs. That’s all the middle will care about. When the Obama campaign attacks her they’ll tune it out, and will begin feeling that the Obama people are out of touch and have the wrong priorities.
As far as McCain and the debates go, McCain will do fine as long as he continues to sound like a non-ideological problem solver. McCain will win as long as the voters in Ohio who don’t really want to vote for Obama but who just want a little help buying health insurance have an alternative in McCain.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I’ve had at least half a dozen people tell me they didn’t even know McCain until they heard him speak at the RNC. Sarah Palin was an excellent executive decision on McCain’s part–she is the bridge to the hearts of the American people. And I guarantee you she is a highly capable woman.
I agree with those who believe Islamic radicals will continue their war. Their goal is restoration of the caliphate. A great site for info direct from the Middle East is MEMRI.
Unfortunately, I think Russia is going to be a huge problem. That country’s developing wealth and the current leadership are definitely anti-American.
best, Kay B. Day
September 6th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Tyler,
Have you read Jared Diamond’s Collapse? He details how the great civilizations of the past failed to survive when presented with certain pressures. However, it is not only the effects of outside threats(think: Russia, China, Iran, Jihad) and decreases in friendly relationships(think: Europe) that cause the collapse of a civilization, but also how that civilization reacts to these changes. Many throughout history were forced to utilize their resources at a level where the resources simply could not last. It’s called ecocide and it’s pretty much what you just described.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I am with Kris. I fully recognize the problems we face. I would rank them 1) China, 2) impending fiscal crisis from Social Security and Medicare, 3) jihadism, 4) foreign energy dependence and 5) declining family structure which is leading to decreasing population and worsening education performance among other things.
That said, I think the right leadership could lead us in a direction to overcome these problems. McCain isn’t that guy, but I think he can tackle a few of the problems and at the very least, prevent us from moving in the wrong direction. Of the potential leaders the GOP has, I think Palin, Jindal and Romney are the three leaders that could lead a Reagan-type revolution to overcome all these problems that we face.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
We need Ross Perot to jump all over the fiscal crisis with TV commercials like Pickens is doing on energy. Check out http://www.perotcharts.com to see the impending fiscal crisis, and it doesn’t even include the huge amounts of new spending proposed by Obama.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
DSkinner,
Pardon my liberalness on these issues, but they are by far the issues on which I most strongly disagree with the far right.
I understand how having a lower population will make it more challenging to compete with China, but you must realize that the human population has nearly reached its limit–if it hasn’t already surpassed it. We are heading towards a major population crash if the global population continues to rise. Though technology has greatly increased the Earth’s carrying capacity, we can only push the limits so far. Agressive efforts to curb population growth worldwide ought to be a priority if you in any way enjoy the comfortable lives we lead now.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
#12 and #18
Identifying problems is excellent — finding solutions for those problems is even better. Most of the problems you have outlined can be solved by reducing the size and scope of government, reforming that government so that it wastes less money, reducing taxes to stimulate economic growth, supporting the military and promoting a strong foreign policy.
That sounds like McCain/Palin — certainly not Obama/Biden
September 6th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
What people are failing to notice is that the world cannot afford to have America fail.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I understand, we usually locate that ‘gain of salt; when a politician makes a promise, but if there is one thing I believe, is that when John McCain says he will veto every bill with an earmark and balance the budget, I believe him.
We must all be prepared for our government to shut down under a McCain administration - Congressional battle, because on spending, I believe every word out of McCain’s mouth, and so does Pelosi and Reid.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
No to rain on the parade, but these polls are shit lol. We should care about Rasmussen and Gallup, the most accurate of the bunch Zogby Interactive is internet based.
I do think in the end we could win by 4 though!!! Tomorrow according to many accounts says McCain will grab a lead.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Do you think they are showing the decimal points so as not to say that McCain hit 50%? lol
September 6th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
#36 is correct, but I would not read too much in to the RAS and Gallup polls right now. There are too many big media days for both campaigns these last two weeks. There is just no way we can disect a 3-day rolling poll during convention time.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I read Collapse. This land is far from depleted. We are being beaten by other nations that truly do rape the land and enslave their people, and our Left wing works for them. We refuse to utilize our resources fully because we are being manipulated by the enemy through this pack of sellouts. Do what’s right for this country and this generation and stop acting out of the Fear that Diamond’s book and others are spreading.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
That was for you Texas Mac.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Tyler,
That’s a pretty strong accusation. If you truly believe that the Left wing works for nations that oppose us politically, I’m forced to question your judgment. I by no means agree with their agenda, but I think they have been presented the same facts we have been presented with and have decided to take a course opposite our own in trying to solve our problems and further our goals. I think they also have our nation at heart, even if their plans would be detrimental to our efforts. To claim that they are operatives for nations that enslave their people is an utterly ridiculous claim.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Texas McCainiac,
Think about the consequences of your statements. Shall the government control our reproduction, now? Do you want the forced birth control and abortion currently in effect in China? If not, how do you propose to control population?
I say let the free world reproduce freely. End welfare, and require that parents provide for their own. That’s the only “population control” I’d ever accept - responsibility. We don’t generally try to have more kids than we can afford. Sometimes you get an accidental one or two, but, they are more than made up for by those who for whatever reason do not have any kids.
If you can provide for them, go ahead and have them.
The poor souls in the slave states will continue to kill themselves, and I pity the millions suffering because of it.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Marie,
By no means do I support a mandatory birth control system resembling China’s. However, I think efforts should be made world-wide–particularly in second and third world nations–to educate women in family planning. Every child born is a further drain on the resources of not only the family but of their nation and of this world. Again, my opinion should in no way be interpreted as meaning I support forced abortion or required sterilization as in China, but I believe a general education of second and third world citizens, particularly women, will do a lot to help preserve our limited resources.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Marie/Texas,
There is actually ONE proven method to control population and improve the standard of living for women in 3rd world countries.
Microcredit loans.
http://www.wjfb.org/microcredit_banking.htm
September 7th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Texas McCainiac,
Have you ever heard of Malthus? Look him up. Your accusations that we are at our population capacity are so ridiculous that it is obvious you don’t know much about agriculture.
If we made no advances in agriculture and dedicated no new land to farming (billions are being invested in agriculture research and every year important advances are being made with even more genetic advances on the horizon, and there is plenty of idle land that could be put to use), we could feed at least 5 times the world’s current population just by using modern farming techniques across the world.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:35 am
This has an antique ring to it. Very early 70s Club of Rome etc.
Dude. No one believes that over-population is our problem any more. Precisely the opposite it is the case: we have a planetary aging crises—the world is turning grayer, even the third world as well as China, India, DR Congo, and Mexico which is losing many of its young people to the US. We are suddenly and as a species no longer reproducing ourselves with the same vigour.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Poorly argued. Simplistic reasoning. The best book on this subject is Tainter’s Collapse of Complex Societies.
Here is the problem with Diamond’s hypothesis: many societies survive and even thrive despite resource crashes or ecological catastrophes. In fact, complex societies are successful precisely to the degree that can compensate for or overcome these sorts of issues—further, social or societal collapse has happened only rarely in human history.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Read Julian Simon.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:10 am
I AM BLACKMAN AND I DO NOT WANT TO SEE BARACK HUSSEIN MUHAMMED OBAMA AS PRESIDENT, FOR TO VERY
IMPORTANT REASON WHICH IS: HIS POLICY WOULD BE BAD FOR THIS COUNTRY AND I AM PRO-LIFE. ALSO REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE SAY OR THE NEW MEDIA I KNOW THAT HE IS AN UNDERCOVER MUSLIM.YOU SEE ISLAM HAS A TEACHING CALL TAQIYYA. IT HOLDS THAT LYING TO ONE’S ENEMY IS NOT A SIN IF IT ADVANCES THE CAUSE OF ISLAM. THAT’S WHY OBAMA DENIES BEING A MUSLIM. IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHY THERE IS NO FATWA AGAINST HIM AS A APOSTATE MUSLIM? MOST AMERICAN HAVE BEEN SOLD A BILL OF GOODS THAT HE NEVER WAS A MUSLIM OR LEFT IT AS A CHILD. IF HE HOLD HIMSELF TO BE A CHRISTAIN UNDER THE DOCTRINE OF TAQIYYA, HE IS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE MUSLIMS WHO WANT TO TAKE OVER OUR COUNTRY. IF HE IS ELECTED ALL
MUSLIM WILL REJOY BECAUSE THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST JIHAD AND INFILTRATION IN THE WORLD. I M NOT THE ONLY BLACK THAT KNOW THAT HE IS AN UNDERCOVER MUSLIM.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:52 am
This is an online poll, and I NEVER trust online poll no matter the results.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:24 am
An undercover Muslim, all-caps guy? Interesting.
Just because a candidate is a Muslim is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for me to deny that candidate my vote. Policy, character, and personal history are what combine to determine my vote. If a Muslim ran for office who promised to lower my taxes, cut government spending, and limit the size or scope of government, I would vote for him or her.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Texas McCainiac is correct on the concept, if you become dependent on a particular resource, overuse it and have nothing to replace it with, you WILL collapse. I enlarge the term “resource” to include capital flow too. There are countless examples of this all local or regional in nature, including in the USA. What prevents collapse (so far) is our own innovation. Right now we are in a serious jam in regards to our oil situation. We are dependent a resource that is clearly not growing. Simply drilling for more wont solve the problem–just delays the day of reckoning. Innovation and implementation of substitutes IS the answer. Simply repeating the mantra “eventually something will replace (insert scare resource here) but we need it today” wont cut it. True leadership (that staves off collapse) maximizes efficiency of our existing resources, encourages increased production of those resources AND plans for their eventual replacements.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Its all tied according to Rasmussen….46-46 and 48-48 with leaners!!!
September 7th, 2008 at 7:38 am
It’s all tied according to Rasmussen….46-46 and 48-48 with leaners!!!
September 7th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Yes, that is not bad Cp, the Undecideds are finally breaking our way.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I know this post is about a poll and I like polls a lot, although I recognize that are flawed and only give momentary snapshots from which, with luck, we can extrapolate trends. But to go back to my posting above ( # 12 ), how do we as Americans get leaders through this election process who actually are competent and can lead somewhere that improves our situation? Since the time I started voting almost 50 years ago, 60 % of that time we have had a Republican President. Over the last 8 years of Bush, we controlled the Congress 6 years. What great problems have we solved? Overseas, we are at war with terrorists who use ideology to pray on the frustrations of the poor and weak and drain our national account every day. We send a $ 50 million weapon against a couple of guys with a $ 50 weapon.. Our friends, to whom we are in debt for the fuel that powers our nation, encourage Wahabism in the Madras, funded by the oil we buy. At home, the infrastructure is broken and no maintenance. We even have no funds in the highway trust fund. The SS system is essentially bankrupt. The Medicare and Medicaid programs are off the tracks. The educational system is visible failing. And Kristofer, bless his heart, says it will all get magically fixed because we are Americans. If you read Gibbon’s Decline and Fall, etc., you will read of another dominate nation who disintegrated along the same lines. Power in the Senate became just getting elected, not fixing anything. Foreign nations were hired to defend Rome. The economy fell apart.
Some of you guys are in Law School. Suppose you paid a whopping tuition and showed up for class with a Law Professor who’s real expertise was in baseball and whose resume consisted of managing a couple of baseball teams. Would you say, O.K., if I just get a good grade? If I just get elected ?
We have to start DEMANDING competence in our leaders . I am not sure these two parties really get it. They sure didn’t this year and we are running out of time. The system is not designed to give us competence….only to get elected and then, reelected.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Jerseyrepublican # 34
The world can’t afford to have America fail ? So what ? What on earth will the rest of the world do? The world consists of some increasingly powerful enemies like China and Russia, some passive friends like India, some ” neutral” Swiss type bankers like Saudi Arabia and Dubai, ancient Europe who doesn’t care a fig unless we are bailing them out and literally dozens of developing world players like Venezuela and Indonesia and Brazil who are energy rich and would like nothing better than to see a decline in American power and prestige. Listen guys, My career required me to do business in 80 countries around the world so I speak with a little bit of personal experience. Most of the world would smile, smirk, maybe grin if this economy collapses. They perceive us as weak. They perceive our system as weak and ineffectual, unable to respond to our own needs. They perceive us as wasteful and extravagant. Don’t hold your breath waiting for help from these ” clowns.”
September 7th, 2008 at 9:31 am
PeaJay, there are over 2 trilion barrels of oil in the shale deposits in Colorado and Utah. And if we would start converting coal to oil we have as much as 300 years worth of oil at our current level of consumption. The truly insane mantra is “alternate energy now.” I have a degree in Chemistry and so understand the science behind such myths as ethanol and hydrogen fuel cells. The production of either of those fuel sources requires more energy input than is produced when the fuels are combusted. And electricity for electric cars still has to be produced. Wind and solar can’t produce enough energy to make electric cars viable. The only source of energy that could make electric cars worth while is nuclear. Even then, the batteries on electric cars only hold charge for around 90 miles. Many people couldn’t even commute to and from work with those carr, let alone run any daily errands.
Compressed natural gas, which is what T. Boone Pickens is pushing, is a viable option, but it would still take many years to build the infrastructure at fueling stations to make this a viable alternative. And natural gas still needs drilling. Most natural gas comes from wells that also produce crude oil. But I think we should pursue this idea, let’s get more of these cars on the road. It is a good idea.
But all the nutcases who don’t have any understanding of either science or economics and keep screaming for alternative fuels now are as deluded as the Obama cult. “Alternative fuels” is about as empty and meaningless phrase as Obama’s peddling of Hope.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
To all the other dangers that our country is facing right now I would add two more. Illegal immigration and the Global Warming Cult. We are at our current energy crisis because the environmentalists wouldn’t let us develop our own energy for decades, whether it was nuclear or fossil fuels. And the biggest contributor to our declining economy is our energy crisis and the redistribution of our country’s wealth to other countries who are selling us our fuel.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
DSkinner & dotan,
Please allow me to clarify my positions.
My assertion that humans have already exceeded the carrying capacity of our planet was hasty and incorrect. That said, if we continue our current rate of exponential growth we will reach that carrying capacity within the next hundred years regardless of technological advances.
Not to mention, as a general rule a higher population will put an immense strain on our environment causing a depletion of our nonrenewable resources (think oil) and a devastating rate of extinction. As out planet’s ecological diversity decreases, our potential for advances in the medical world plummets. Who knows how many rain forest plant species with the potential to cure cancer we may have already wiped out in Sub-Saharan Africa or the Amazon?
The bottom line is that as our population as a species grows, the strain on our resources and environment and the likelihood of a major population crash increase.
How do you slow down human population growth? Aid development in underdeveloped and developing nations. A key step in this development is the education of women as I mentioned in #43.
The issue is not whether we should try to slow human population growth, but how aggressively.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
“if we continue our current rate of exponential growth”
1. “If”
2. Growth is already slowing.
To the degree that population concerns me at all, I am most concerned about the consequences of declining populations in Europe.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Texas McCainiac,
You really should familiarize yourself with some of the facts about the situation. You are just speculating and pulling things out of thin air.
There are huge potential gains to be made in agriculture through genetic modifications that increase crop yields, increase resistance to disease and insects, and increase the length of time agriculture products can remain “fresh” to eat after harvesting.
Also, the exact same is true in medicine where new treatments and discoveries are coming at an exponential rate. The future of all biology, including medicine and agriculture is GENETICS, not plants in the rain forest.
To help explain your flawed reasoning you may consider how silly it would be for me to claim that over the next several hundred years we will run out of technological innovation at which point we will stagnate and no longer have any new inventions. That is the equivalent to what you are saying about medicine and agriculture.