Personally, I think Obama’s plan to put $1,000 back into the hands of lower income families is the ticket.

Really though, as long as we get a president who will keep pressure on the oil companies to stop manipulating the market and possibly release some of the strategic reserves, it will make an impact.

When you combine this with research for alternative fuels and high mileage standards, it will make a greater impact.

I think a solution with various components is the answer here, and although I think either democratic candidate is capable of doing something about gas prices, Obama is winning. He will probably be nominated. He will probably be elected (if he gets nominated soon). And if that’s the case, he will definetly do something about this problem.

I think a man in his forties who just paid his student loans off a few years ago has a lot to say about lowering the price of gas.

Jack,
I don’t think any of them do, they all at first have good intentions, then they see how much money is involved and it’s back to the usual game plan. If i sound bitter at all politicains, i’am.
Carl in Illinois

I honestly don’t think ANY of the candidates have a real “plan” for continued higher fuel prices.

I’m waiting for one of them to tell the OPECers, esp in the Middle East, that the United States will no longer send them any food which is what this country should have done during the first “oil shock” in the early 70’s. tell them them they can “eat their sand and drink their oil” and see how fast the oil price comes down. the United States should form a “Cartel of Food Producers” with other major food producing countries to put the squeeze on these gougers.

but of course that will NEVER happen because the “Five Families” oil companies are making huge profits and they obviously control the American govenment.

Obama and Hillary have better plans than McCain. However, Obama has the best plan given that he does not perpetuate the problem by increasing demand. Lets understand this Jack, Hillary and McCain’s plan will not pass, so the tax cut is not going to happen. The senate, congress and Bush have said this. Second, Bush took office at $20 a barrel and now its $120. What you are talking about is above $200 a barrel, it may not be what McCain said about war over oil but it looks good for Bush’s pockets and his oil friends. Third, saving 18 cents on gas is a joke, given that gas prices are increasing that much per week. When we talk about $7 a gallon, what we need is national boycott days for gas, or encourage people to stay home on the weekend.

None of them. They are all paid off by the oil companies and profit comes above all else. They better have a plan on dealing with the coming depression and total collapse of the economy. Armageddon is coming!

Hi Jack, Your my kind of guy, If Hillary insists on continuing to run, and she needs more money……If she really believes that she will win.. why doesnt she use some of her own 100 MILLION dollars!!! p.s. I cant vote, but if I could I would vote for Obama… I love him.

None of the candidates have that plan. So I suggest we as individuals form our own plan for that circumstance as I see it as a real possibliity.

Who has the best plan? Obama does not have a plan.
The manipulations of the market needs to be stopped immediately and the Oil price will drop to 75.00 barrel. It’s the Super Rich stealing from the good decent people of the world again is what is going on at this time.
Joan B
Chicago, Il

None of them offer a plan to prevent such prices. The only candidate saying we should ‘take on’ OPEC has been Hillary Clinton, who never took on OPEC in the past 15 years. Perhaps that is why she is no longer considered the nominee.

But one thing is for sure. If McCain is elected, The Oil Club remains in charge of the U.S.

Even the best plans cannot get us out of this one - feel free to blame your generation for this. The candidate who pushes for the highest fuel-efficiency standard increases, ditches corn-based ethanol fastest and invests the most in algae-based fuels has the best plan as far as I’m concerned.

I want to see a renewable energy arms race between the two parties. I guess it’s up to the “politically apathetic” under-30 demo. that I’m a part of to get us out of this one.

do any of them actually have a plan? i certainly havent heard one. clinton and mccain offer short term gas tax relief, but no long term solution. obama just calls everyone else’s ideas stupid but offers no viable option for the long or short term.

The price can actually stay the same as it is today. All the oil companies need to do is invent the smaller gallon, Maybe 80 Ounces instread of 128.
The food producers have done that with mayonaise for example, lowering a quart to 30 oz. Ice cream in now in 1 and 3/4 quarts instead of a half gallon, and how abuot the 36 oz can of coffee that used to be 3 lbs. A 1 lb bag is now 12 oz. Their marketing wizards call it the “new convenient easy to store” size. Ain’t advertising great…..? Look at how many quack medicines we wouldn’t know about.

All this bleating about gas prices, Jack, have a look at what Europeans have to contend with. In oil-rich Norway the government forces us to pay 9 and a half bucks a U.S. gallon!!! Love seeing you on Wolf Blitzer’s program.

What! You got to be kidding right? Ain’t no way that’s going to come about. I’ll buy a horse or I’ll grow some wings to get before I pay that much money for gas.

Hillary speaks the strongest as far as using alternative energy and financing it. Of course the best answer is conservation but you will not find a politician with the gumption to advocate that.

This group of bozos has no valid plan for anything. They will flounder around in the dark and hope that an answer will come from on high.

The only person with a plan is Al Gore — He wants to take away our cars. Short of that — Nothing any of these idiots say or do will make much of a difference. We built America wrong It runs on cheap oil or it does not run. Time to redesign our entire culture, economy and infrastructure. Like most of our citizens, none of the candidates seems to have a clue on this issue. What I can tell you — everything I have heard the candidates say — is stuff that just makes things worse. When Americans figure out that we do not have a God given right to cheap gasoline… is when we will start to turn the corner to becoming more energy efficient in our lives and in the way our country is constructed. For some reason, using less energy is always at the bottom of the list of ways to solve an energy crisis. The first step in fixing things is to place energy conservation on the TOP of the list, not the bottom. And, that is a CULTURAL change, not a political change. America’s energy problems will not change until WE as individuals change our understanding of energy. The answer lies with us — not the person sitting in the big chair in the oval office.

A plan? There can be no plan until one of these candidates is ensconced in the White House. Much of this oil problem is essentially an allowance to occur. George W. Bush, an oil man, is allowing the oil companies to gouge the US citizens. He could immediately stay the course of this absurd oil gouging. He allows the continued “oil rape” by the oil companies, period! The candidates can do nothing until the winning candidate can take office. Bush has so maligned the dollar that the reserve currency has merged its value with the value of oil. Witness Conico’s stock value commensurate with the price of oil. The value of gold is essentially the value of the dollar undevalued. Bush still continues to put oil in the strategic reserves even though the reserves are at or above 97% capacity, thus, allowing the oil companies its market influence. Once there is a new democratic president, this oil pattern will change. Until then, oil will continue to go up, with a continued fall in the US economy. Apparently, George is getting the goods while the goods are there to be got! George W. Bush is looking an awful lot like Richard III in Shakespeare’s play and we all know how that turned out but that was called the War of the Roses. This one is ‘flowered’ with an oily mess!

Jack, why should there be a plan to face gas at $7 a gallon? In Europe, gas prices are at least $8, in some even $10!
If we want to continue to pollute the environment and keep buying foreign oil, then heck, we might as well pay the price for it!

Nobody has a plan that will “deal” with $7/gal gas, Jack. However, Obama is the most realistic and will therefore spend the next 2 years steering the US away from oil dependency and accelerating research and development of real alternatives to soften the blow when it arrives.
I also believe he is best suited to deal with OPEC, oil companies, car manufacturers and trading markets to postpone that 2 year projection.
What I KNOW is that he WILL NOT pose the same old Washington non-response response that Hillary and McSleepy would.

Well all candidates have outlined there plans but we don’t know yet whose idea will work better to deal with the high gas price but I do prrefer Obama is plan.

We can have mandates on our auto industries to actually start doing better than our foreign competition.

The Force is with Obama.

Who has the best plan? Dr. Ron Paul, of course. He’s the only one speaking about the role of the dollar in all of this, and has been preaching for years of the importance of sound money, and limited government. He is the MAN…

I do. Open up the ANWAR Alaska Reserves as well as offshore drilling. There is plenty of our own oil to be had, and keep it in-country. Tell the environmentalists to take a hike!

None of the above. If you really want cheaper gas, drive less and drive at 55MPH or slower. Ride a bike. Walk. Of course, all of that will reduce the price of gas and cause it to be more attractive, making people buy more, raising the price of gas…a vicious cycle that will only be broken when we decide to get off. The long term solution: Live closer to where you need to go. Don’t live 100 miles from work.

I don’t know but I wouldn’t wait for a politicians to decide for you. Start looking for a hybrid or a hydrogen car like the Honda coming out this year with its own fuel station that fits in your garage and powers your home when it isn’t making hydrogen for your car.
We can not wait on the government to save us. They have had many years to do that and they have done nothing. The democrats banned oil drilling in America for 30 years so now we have to buy it abroad. The politicians are the ones that bent us over the oil barrel. All that oil we buy abroad making other countries rich we could be getting off our own coast or out of the ground right here at home giving jobs and tax dollars to America. I have lost faith in our politicians to do the right thing or to lead this country anywhere except into a grave.

Hillary is the only candidate that has a plan for reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Obama says nothing about it. McCain is just going to continue with Bush’s way of doing things. I don’t hear any CHANGE ideas coming out of Obama on this one.

Obama, we seriously need to give up our dependence on foreign oil and Obama has the best plan to do it. Jack, this country needs fresh, new ideas to help save it as well as the world from World War three over natural resources. Obama in 08.

When gas hits $7 per gallon, I’ll buy an old deisel and modify it to run on french fry grease.

And then I’ll camp out at McDonald’s once a week and fill up for free - until the cops come, that is!

Obama has the best ideas but no one’s ideas can be put to work until a person is in office. Bush will do nothing because his history is written in oil. We the people are the biggest factor in oil prices by not conserving energy and not using mass transit when possible. our leaders and elected officials are the blame for high prices because they have not taking action on energy in the past twenty years when the problems started. we should fire all of them.

Jack, if gas goes to $5 a gallon I will start walking, biking and maybe even buying a horse with a buggy. In my mind Obama has the best plan, he wants to go green, he wants to pump money and oil profit tax into renewable and alternative fuels. Plus he plans to force auto manfactures to produce vehicles with greater fuel economy. He has talked about this over and over again from day one.

Why, Obama of course. Obama is the only candidate who addresses the deeper need of changing our gas-guzzling culture . He doesn’t pander to the voting public by deluding us into thinking we can go back to the good old days. He’s vowed to protect our land and conserve our resources while challenging Detroit to get back in the market with more fuel-efficient cars that run on alternative forms of energy. We ALL need to particpate in the solution and this is Obama’s greatest strength for he makes no promises to fix America but instead will lead us to fix ourselves.

none…we have to get rid of the corporate big oil interests…tax their windfall profits…drill for oil in the USA and stop producing gas guzzlers…we voters have to do something … the politicians and this administration will do nothing … as usual

I don’t think any of the candidates have a plan for 7-8 dollar gas, but I do believe that if it gets that high the situation may just cure itself.

The oil companies - they know exactly where to spend the money to ensure future congressional support.

Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Obama How many other ways can I say that Jack

No one has a plan. And that bothers the hell out of me. Going green is a necessity, but so may be allowing additional drilling, approving more nuke plants, figuring out how to burn clean coal, develop alternative fuels which don’t starve people, and convert folks to a new way of thinking over the next 10 years. My guess is that Obama would try to nationalize the oil industry and Clinton would tax them (and a lot of us) out of existance. Only Mccain has at least said in his speaches that we need to do something strategic and tactical about this.

No one Jack. Basically, this country will be screwed if that happens unless people change their way of thinking and change the life style. If Europeans can do that we can too. But I don’t think any president can do much about it.

Nuwan from Houston, TX

Jack,
None of them have a plan. It would be so politically incorrect to even mention the thought of $7 a gallon gasoline. Until one of the candidates has the intestinal fortitude to address this national crisis, take on big oil to increase production, and governmentally mandate a ceiling on gasoline prices–we’re looking for our society to suffer severe economic hardships for years to come.

Hillary is obviously the candidate who can afford to pay the $7 a gallon, but Obama will be the one to actually do something.

I think we might have to go back to the guy who invented the wheel.

Jack, The best plans laid by man are going to fail. Only God can lower gas prices and He’s more interested in saving your soul, not your pocket book. Pay up America, pay up.

He or she or they will be the darling(s) of OIL lobbies. There’s a whole lot of grease to keep Washington well lubricated. Partisan games will continue and the wrangling between branches will continue delays of alternatives which will keep the big bucks flowing in. The plan is the same; only the faces change.

While the candidates all offer plans for reducing prices, the real burden lies with us. Americans have always been obsessed with their cars, their freedom to drive anywhere, and comforts of living in the suburbs. As a nation we need to take greater steps toward conservation of what oil we have, invest in alternative fuels (which doesn’t include food into fuel!!!), and realize that prices are probably never going to come back down in any significant way. Waiting for the government to take the necessary steps is a fools errand. As for the candidates, I’m banking on Obama to at least point us toward a new future free of dependence on foreign oil.

Jack, Obama the Uniter, will just have to ask the Oil Companies to please lower the price. He will change the way Washington does business. He promises to talk to everyone, he will merely have to ask and it will be so.. Change you can believe in? Too bad we won’t get to find out, all of those Obamacians will vote for McCain.
Charlotte
Clovis,Ca

None of them have a real plan that will affect anything within 2 years. It will take a while to reduce our dependence on oil. Clinton’s plan doesn’t do enough. Obama’s plan will take more than 2 years though he does offer a slight tax break to help. McCain has no plan.

Our problem is refineries and power plants - we lack enough capacity and it takes many many years to expand or build new ones due to regulations.

None of them. No one is going to admit that 7 or 8 dollar gas is even a possibility. Even though it will be a reality.

How does anyone KNOW what any of our politicians will do. I doubt that any of them has a plan nor will they have one. It has gone way too far for that and we just have to learn to live with the high prices like other countries. We can try to conserve but it will not be enough because not everyone will. Greed has caused this whole mess and unfortunately the less fortunate pay the higher price.

ouch!$7/gallon?that hurts!well let’s see.hillary and mccain have had 20 to 25 years to do something about this problem,and they have sat on their hands.let’s give the new guy a chance.

Jack, I don’t think any of the current candidates on either side of the aisle have a clue what is coming. The mess that is going to awat the “winner”? in January left over by the dynamic due Bush/Cheney will take way more then one term to clean up if it is even possible.

This administration has been so secretive with little to no oversight by Congress that I am sure if the Supreme Court was not Republican they would already be planning to indict both Bush and Cheney on Crimes Against Humanity plus an assortment of crimes which I am sure will come up after the next administration gets to check the books.

Both parties should be hiding their heads in Shame. 7-8 dollar a gallon Gas???? Where can I purchase a Horse and Buggy?

None of three really do. Everyone must face that the cost of gas is manipulated by the rich and powerful and that the continued conspicuous consumption of it is a detriment to the environment and therefore to every living being on earth. I’m hoping Obama becomes president and uses his intelligence and leadership to initiate the promised changes in Washington that will end our oil dependence. If he does, it will take more than two years to make a significant impact on the short sightedness of a couple generations.

WE NEED TO GO GREEN
HEMP FOR FUEL NOW

Obama has it, and is ready to share. His long-term goals are sound, and just the threat of a windfall profits tax and diversified sourcing will cool the oil speculators that are currently enjoying their “treasure baths”. The only problem is that they will do anything to avoid this outcome, and we have to work to make it happen as citizens (see: electric car, effeciency standards, et c.).

I think Obama does have an understandable plan. For a fact you cannot oil producer from selling at a particular price. the only solution are what Barack has outlined on his website. Some of which I have listed below.
Improve Energy Efficiency 50 Percent by 2030.
Set America on Path to Oil Independence.
Increase Renewable Fuel Standard.
Support Next Generation Biofuels.
Double Energy Research and Development Funding.
Invest in a Skilled Clean Technologies Workforce.

Sam, Massachusetts

None of the above Jack,

These people are good at one thing and one thing only…Getting Elected! They are not critical thinkers or strategic planners. But to answer your question. I suppose McCain and the rest of us from Arizona have the best shot at dealing with $8 per gallon gasoline. We know how to saddle up and ride a horse.

YeHaw!

Jack, your question assumes that some type of “fix” is possible in the next two years. Why would anyone think that a problem that’s developed over the past 30 years can be “fixed” in two years? The real question is who has the political courage to find a long term solution to our energy problems while stablizing the economy and dollar (lower interest rates means a less valuable dollar which means more expensive oil)?

It won’t happen. Americans are lucky with the prices you have I am a Canadian we have our own fuel here and we even sell it to you and we are paying $1.21 a litre pr 4 times that for a gallon. Our gov’t does nothing for us to relieve fuel costs they don’t even talk about it. Every holiday the prices rise and they insist that the oil companies are not in bed together and have studied it at least a hundred times. I wish we had someone like Obama in this country no lies about having the oil companies pay, just honest facts.

None of them have a “plan” for the gas prices. No one has a plan .They don’t control the oil industries so how could they have a plan?!
America needs to rely on it’s own energy resources and stop being indebted for supplies to countries that hate our guts.

Senator Obama`s idea rings best. The Holy Bible says the truth shall set you free and he obeyed and told his story with all honesty. Hillary Clinton talks of our lord for votes and lies at the same time to the nation and same faith that commandeth thou not to lie. Honesty is not always the best policy in politics but he who dares tell the truth, need not fear nor fall and this it the living reality of elections `08.

Jack, None of them do. Neither candidate has solved the issue of $4.00 a gallon gasoline yet and pandering won’t fool everybody.

…and the American people just roll-over, and take it in the rear…

Oddly enough President Bush is in the best position to make a move to get the oil industry and auto manufacturers to quickly find alternate energy solutions and retooling requirements that will have America free from dependence on foreign oil within five years or sooner. Enough time has been wasted on corn based biofuels and inadequate refinery construction. The windfall profits of corporate transportation giants is a full blown national security issue and the President has to act now to correct the problem. We can’t wait for the next President to make the tough choices.

Frankly, I have not heard any real plans to solve the oil problem. If I hear one more politician talk about solar and wind again, I’m just going to scream. In case no one has noticed, wind and solar will not replace oil, unless, of course, we start driving cars with big windmills on the hood. This is a serious debate, that is going to take serious answers, not just pandering.

Obama has the only plan that makes sense. He says there is no quick, easy fix. It will take a well thought-out energy policy to stimulate development of other environmentally & economically sound energy sources. Remember, he said he would be honest & tell the American people how it really is, not just what we might like to hear. He is doing what he said he would do.

Clinton and McCain, on the other hand, are just pandering to the voters with the “gas tax vacation” that cannot be delivered by this summer. Even if it could, investors & speculators would likely bid the base price up. If not, lower prices would probably spur increased demand thereby raising prices. As to Clinton suggesting the oil companies use some of their huge profits to pay the gas taxes…..
IN HER DREAMS!

So, who is really THINKING of the good of the people?

Jack
The fact that no one has a real plan scares the hell out of me. The best plan WE should come up with is stop being so wasteful, plan our trips better, service our cars more frequently and drive 55. Getting rid of and not producing these big gas guzzlers would be another idea. lets work on lowering the price of diesel so the independent truckers dont go out of business.

Jack the best way to reduce price is reduce demand, obama has the best plan so far! he wants immediate investment in alternative fuels,and raisingf the fuel efficiency standard on vehicles, meaning, if we make the necessary investments in a few years, prices will go down and America will stop sending our hard earned currency to rogue nations who hate us!!!

Jack,

I do…Lets all get a flintmobile like Fred Flintstone. We’ll get excersice and save a lot of money, not to mention no polution in the air.

Moses,
Ca.

I don’t think anyone in any party has come up with a viable solution. We need an effort similar to the Apollo space program that put a man on the moon. If that can happen in 10 years using primitive computer technology, surely there are great minds who can figure out how to run a car without gasoline.

Dealing with $7 gas in the short term isn’t the right approach. What needs to happen is a comprehensive move away from oil dependence.

We need the government to set aside cash rewards for automakers to hit efficiency milestones and shift towards renewable sources. Tie that money to making sure those new cars and technologies are built in American factories and you not only reduce our oil consumption, but help our auto industry and provide a number of new jobs.

Jack, No One has a plan against $7.00 gas. The problem is that no one wants to accept that the cost of living is going to up & that wages are going to have meet that cost of living. Soooooooo get up off your big fat profits & your big fat tax breaks & pass the money along to those that work for you, that’s what “Trickle Down Economics” was supposed to be about.

Jack, remember the Alaskan pipeline? Where is that oil going? Back in the 70’s when the oil was short, there was drilling all around here. I own some land, with the mineral rights, and there were several people wanting to drill on my land, I wouldn’t let them for several reasons, but there hasn’t been anybody around her this time, Why? I still would not let them, but what is the reason? I don’t know, but there is something that we don’t know. The truckers and all of America need to stay home for a day or two, all at the same time, and maybe we could stop this nightmare. And don’t let the Mexican truckers in!!!! On my roads that they have not paid for.

Mr. Jack, NONE of these brilliant minds has a clue. One may call for the opening of ANWR, as if that is the magic bullet. If so, then why is American oil priced the same as Saudi or Venezuelan oil? It won’t have one iota of an effect on gas prices. None of these folks will ask We The People to conserve as if we are at war, which we are. We are the only nation to ever fund our enemies. Gov’t should do its part by mandating all Gov’t vehicles be Hybrid vehicles; Lead by example, for a change. And the big box stores could do their part by selling lawn mowers that don’t use gas, ala Vermont made Neuton mowers. But none of these elected brainiacs have a clue. They are all out of touch.

Ed of Manilla, IA

Jack, if gas does go to $7.00+ a gallon, this will open opportunities for alternative fuels and technologies to be further developed and brought to market. I also think the exodus from the cities to the suburbs that begun in the 1950’s will reverse itself. This will revitalize the inner cities and people will travel more by public transportation and avoid car ownership when possible.

Hugo Chavez as the best idea, create a state operated, nonprofit oil company that produces $.25 a gallon gasoline. Yeah Jack, you might call it big government, but you’ll be the first one cut in front of me at the gas station to get your greedy old hands on that $.25 and a gallon gas.

None of the candidates can do anything to stop the increase in gas prices. By the time they take office, gas will be well over $4 and rising. By that time, America will be in a deeper hole with increasing grocery prices, as well. They will face an impossible situation.

And honestly, the president cannot do much about the economy, anyway. The only thing the president can do is influence the fiscal policy by creating the budget. But Congress tinkers with it so much that the president can’t claim sole responsibility. And monetary policy is controlled by the Fed, not the president.

America needs to find an alternative source of energy. Fast. The candidates cannot do anything about rising costs when they take office. Only America as a whole can do something.

New York

None of the candidates has a plan for this issue because we are a reactive society; too little too late. Until we as a society stop wasting this precious commodity for our own pleasures we will run the well dry and then face the consequences and then blame the government.

Jack,

It’s time for Americans to suck it up and stop wasting so much fuel. Instead of keeping on keeping on, we need to learn to cut consumption. Heck, the Europeans have been paying much more than us for a very long time. They drive smaller cars and walk a lot. Sure wouldn’t hurt us to do that.

No one could have a plan for that price of oil. Americans have to decide to live differently - first learning all the ways we are dependent on oil, not just for gasoline, but for other products as well. When we have the information we can begin to make real changes in life style. If Obama can keep lobbyists at an arm’s length like he hopes to do in Washington, perhaps we can get through this without a complete economic collapse.

Jack,

I believe that Barack has the best solution for dealing with rising fuel costs. In the near future, the $1000 tax cut goes right back to consumers and long term, the emphasis on improved mileage to aid in the reduction of consumer usage and demand.

Malta, NY. Jack, after the crisis in the 70’s, our politians did little to prevent a future crisis. Now, our candidates can only whine and cry with the rest of us, seeking scapegoats and claiming ignorance. Thank God, we have no accountability in our government, else we’d really be in great trouble. Politians are going to be useless in averting this crisis. We can either transform our society to be less dependent NOW or take out large amounts of debt to pay for the gas use no matter the cost and once we are bankrupt and conquered, then we can seek hindsight and wonder how we could have gotten to this point.

Bush thought using corn was the answer and that has blown up in his face. The world is starving and I don’t think McCain nor Hillary can do it so lets give Obama a whirl. He is willing to talk to all parties and not tick them off.

That would be “D” none of the above.

I don’t know what their individual plans may be for prices this high, but the one who cares not to put a potential 300,000 plus people out of work may at least be trying to think beyond the bandage.

Obama has the best long-term plan here. There is no short-term fix that will work. Obama wants to work towards requiring better fuel-efficient vehicles, more research in alternative fuel sorces, and strengthing the value of our dollar. I live in Texas and honestly we could all help ourselves as a nation if we quit buying the vehicles available here with the worst gas mileage on earth. Texas is a big state and all I see around me on the roads are Hummers, SUVs, and large trucks. We are shooting ourselfs in the foot here. Lets run a stat on which states have the worst average MPG for personal vehicles and make them feel ashamed.

Jack, I’ve read that sales of beer goes up when economic times are
hard, as $7-$8/gallon gas would surely drive them to be further.
So I’d say that John McCain has had the best plan, he married
into multi-million dollar beer distributorship.

The Chinese, and India, they are contributing to this fiasco

None of the above. Nor do any of them need a plan. The market is self correcting. When prices get high enough, alternatives will become cost competitive and will take more market share. As demand goes down, so will oil prices. It’s just like the housing price appreciation a few years ago. Eventually the bubble will burst.

The fact that several administrations knew that we were dependent on foreign oil and didn’t even start making provisions in this country to provide us with our own oil, is a disgrace! The fact that the current adminstration is turning their heads the other direction with the out-of-control price of gas, is a disgrace! Meanwhile Opec is moving right along with continuous rising prices of crude oil and nothing is being done to stop it! These three presidential candidates just want to give us a bandaid and that does not correct the problem!

None of the candidates have a plan to deal with the real problem. Anyone with a basic understanding of supply and demand will tell you that you need to increase supply or reduce demand to get the price down. I have heard one candidate speaking to conservation which would reduce demand but have not heard any candidate speak to opening up new areas for drilling to increase our, that’s the US, supply. Oil reserves in Alaska, off the CA coast, and in North Dakota are waiting to be tapped. Thanks to Bill Clinton’s farewell of conservation land designations in Alaska we haven’t been very busy there. Without movement in the appropriate direction on both of these items we face $7.00/Gal next year.

Let’s just do this by the process of elimination, eliminate the 2 who want to have a gas tax holiday. They lose all credibility by pandering on an issue this important. I guess that means Barack Obama would be best.

The most honest reaction has been that of Obama. A gas tax holiday, is absurd. Given the right amount of time, and some good political advisors, I believe he can come up with a good strategy to wean us off of fossil fuels. It’s not like this country doesn’t have options. Over the years, there are many inventors and people who know how to produce a vehicle that can run without gasoline. We just need a strong intelligent leader with some cahonies!

none. very little can be gone to stop or slow the rise of oil prices. any political or legislative plan proposed for the short term won’t change the principle of supply and demand. short of finding saudi arabia under alaska, long term solutions are the only options.

For several reasons, I believe that Barack Obama has the best plan:
1) He rejected the quick fix “gas tax holiday” and stuck to his guns about making REAL change in Washington.
2) He is the “greenest” candidate we have out there. Since much of his plan involves investing in renewable resources and new and greener technology, I think he would be able to start initiatives that will move us toward a less oil-dependent future.

I’m still amazed that people don’t realize what an opportunity we have to change the world and help the planet and ourselves in the process. If we start investing in solar power, wind turbine technology, geothermal heating, etc. we might be able to move away from oil and coal (which, sadly, will run out some day).

Obama, we need you to help our country, and our world.

No one will go public at this time with the plan that would address it because Americans don’t want to hear the reality. Drill for more oil on US soil and conserve short term, then put some serious money into the development of alternative fuels for the long term.

guess I’ll have to get rid of the lawn mower and buy a goat

Jack,

D) None of the above?

The candidates seem to think this problem will go away over time and it won’t. The United States…who am I kidding, the world, needs to start treating this like the major issue it is. There needs to be massive investment in things like alternative energy sources for the power grid (wind power and solar), there needs to be massive government investment in getting people to start adding solar panels to their homes, and more money for R&D. At least with this kind of investment the gas will be there for cars a little longer….but the truth is we need a new way to power our cars, and plugging them in isn’t the answer because WE STILL BURN FOSSIL FUELS TO POWER THE HOMES WE WOULD NEED TO PLUG INTO!

Jack,
That’s a no-brainer, Obama! He’s the only one listening to the economist’s and looking to the future. Clinton and McCain might as well be joined at the hip on this issue. They both have no long term plan and are trying to con American’s into believing that every economist and even their own advisors are wrong about how the oil companies will just force the difference on us. In my opinion one would have to be quite stupid to believe either McCain or Clinton’s proposals have America’s best intrest at heart. But then I’m no genious. Just a simple, white, unemployed, formerly middle class American who knows B.S. when I hear it. I yearn for honesty and that’s why I vote Obama.

Saudi Arabia

Jack,

D) None of the above?

The candidates seem to think this problem will go away over time and it won’t. The United States…who am I kidding, the world, needs to start treating this like the major issue it is. There needs to be massive investment in things like alternative energy sources for the power grid (wind power and solar), there needs to be massive government investment in getting people to start adding solar panels to their homes, and more money for R&D. At least with this kind of investment the gas will be there for cars a little longer….but the truth is we need a new way to power our cars, and plugging them in isn’t the answer because WE STILL BURN FOSSIL FUELS TO GET THE ELECTRICITY FOR THAT PLUG!

The Republicans and their candidate have the best plan, Jack. They call it “Ignorance is Patriotic”. It goes something like this…

Politicians will keep taking money from the energy lobbyists. They will continue pushing to open ANWAR and new off-shore drilling locations, and pandering to the farmers by pushing dirty corn-based ethenol that not only pollute but jack up food prices worldwide, while ignoring clean renewable energy sources. Then they will print large American flag decals with the GOP elephant on them and hand them out to every patriotic American who buys a large SUV.

Best of all though, for the really patriotic Americans who blame the $7 or $8 per gallon gas on the Democrats, the Republicans will provide them with a beautiful flag lapel pin to wear at all times.

Jack, ……….let’s see, Clinton wants to give us 18 cents a gallon for three months, McCain wants to give us the same 18 cents and an oil market free from any government regulation with more tax breaks for the oil companies…..we have yet to hear anything of substance from Obama.

I think we need to stop exporting food to the world, this would bring down our food prices and make more grain available for biofuel. Let the oil rich countries grown their own food , use their $120 a barrel crude oil to irrigate the desert and grown their own crops.

non of them have the plan.. 8$ a gallon gas would be meaningless if we had an alternative fuel like biodiesel to fill our tanks. The only solution is alternative fuels

I guess it’s up to Obama since the economists said that the “gas tax holiday” was not going to work. Thirty to seventy dollars in savings is not going to make a big difference to most people. Obama looked a lot more presidential in going against the Clinton & McCain political pandering.

My solution seems so simple there must be something I am not thinking about or it would have already been done.

If maximum speeds not only in the U.S. but also Canada aren’t any higher than 70 miles an hour then why wouldn’t the governments of both countries legislate all vehicles be fitted with tamper proof govenors to limit each vehicles speed to this maximum.

If both governments could get together and make this a North American policy then sooner or later automobile manufacturers would realize there isn’t a need for such high powered engines and build a much more economical and sensible vehicle better suited to everyone’s basic needs.

Of course certain vehicles would have to be exempt e.g. police, emergency & off road like race cars etc. but why does the public need a vehicle to do 140 mph?

Jack the best plan to deal with $7 gas prices comes from a little company in texas called EESTOR. They are designing a battery to put in cars that gets you 250 miles on a 10 min charge. Zenn motors will be briging out the car in fall 2009. Goes up to 80mph.. Get ready!

NO MORE GAS IS NEEDED.

None of the candidates has a plan ready for 2 years out. Our politicians can’t even plan for two months ahead. When gas hits $4, $5, $6 the politicians will running around declaring there is problem and then stick their heads in the sand to ignore any real debate about a solution. It is better politically to tell you about the problem, fear the problem and assess blame than to solve the problem…just look at Social Security and MediCare funding for proof.

I doubt if any candidate has a viable “plan.” If you want a “plan” to combat high gasoline prices and reduce dependence upon foreign oil try this: Economic incentives for local (within U.S. and offshore) oil and gas drilling combined with a very high tax on imported oil. Tax incentives for more U.S. refinery capacity. Tax incentives for alternative energy development. No short term “plan” is going to help; this country desperately needs a long-term “plan.”

As gasoline increases in price, Americans will adapt and adjust to the new market conditions . . . as we have in the past to changing economic conditions. In fact, it is not likely Americans will attempt to adjust until gas does reach $7-$8-or $10 a gallon.

I believe that Obama will address this issue the moment he steps into office by looking at alternatives to oil. If it comes to having to pay that much at the pump then it’s time to get a subscription to National Geographic and just look at where I can’t afford to get to.

Roy
Olympia, Wa

Jack, I’m not sure who has “the plan”, but I for one would suggest a 2500 lb weight limit, and 50 mpg bio-diesel fueled car for starters. In a few short years, plug-in electrics can be added to improve performance, as the fueled cars downsize further when wind/solar electric generation boosts our electricity capacity. Europe has 80-100 mpg cars now, and we need to tell Detroit to eat their 300plus HP cars they push down our throats now.

Jack - none of the candidates have a substantive approach to dealing with the growing demand for oil, the instability of the oil producing nations and the greed of the American Oil companies. However, like any commodity Gas prices are inextricably linked to demand. With that in mind, the solution lies in changing the habits of the American public. The next leader will need to inspire “we the people” to demonstrate the courage that Americans have always possessed so that we can wean ourselves from an insane dependence on foreign oil. Like any addiction the nation will under-go a painful and gut wrenching withdrawal. This will be accompanied by a total contempt for the person(s) staging the intervention ( the President and his administration). Only one candidate has indicated that he has the confidence in the American people to attempt this kind of courageous plan; Barack Obama”.

Senator Obama has the kind of inspirational leadership and galvanizing vision to inspire America to make the necessary changes.
His plan has always been to bring us together so that we can acheive extremely difficult and seemingly impossible objectives. From what I’ve witness during the recent campaign season, this plan is working. America is making progress, we are going to unite and face the future. TOGETHER!!

Andre,
Miami, Florida

Obama has the plan. It’s about communicating across the aisle, coming up with long-term solutions and as he says in his stump speech, telling us what we NEED to hear, not just what we want to hear.

Boise, Idaho

During the crisis in the 70’s I’ll bet someone asked the same question. We had a chance to start fixing the problem then and we did nothing. We have really created a mess with our oil based suburban lifestyle. We are in deep trouble and there is no way out. We use 17 million barrels of oil per day and even if we had the reserves from ANWAR that would only give us another one million barrels a day. The answer for Americans is never to conserve, but to find more oil. It is endemic in our society. We are consumers, not savers. If the price for gas will double in two years, then the only choice for consumers is to buy a vehicle that will double your miles per gallon. At least you will be even. Don’t wait for Washington to help. They are too busy trying to either get elected or re-elected.

Who cares about plans! Congress has hundreds of plans that are not being voted on. Its about leadership! Obama is the one who can lead us out of the troubles we face. Be it high fuel prices, medical insurance, war, border security or corporate greed, Obama is the guy who can motivate this great nation of ours to get the job done.

Just give us a leader who is all-inclusive in his vision for a better America.

jack

Mr. Obama has talked alot about how to fix this problem. He has thrown out green fuel(not ethonol), he talked of gas freindly cars, most important on many issues as well as this one he talked of personal resoponsibility. I is our job to walk to the market, work, school, beer store. It would save gas and money on health care. He talks alot about being repsonsible and he is 100% right. I think this is why he has a hard time with the elderly they do not like people telling them they helped brake it and they are going to personally have to help fix it.

Obama has the best plan. Having said that, I paid $5.2l a gallon at the gaspump here in British Columbia yesterday - and Canada is an oil rich country. Go figure. Last month I paid nearly $l0.00 a gal in the UK..

none of them have a plan that will work because almighty oil rules. oil companies pull the strings and all the little puppets jump. by the time oil prices come down, george w bush will be sitting on a pile of money in crawford laughing at the stupid american people.

None of them do, but Obama has the closest. We need to stop buying our fuel from the people who hate us. When we are really down on our knees, they will give the remaining supplies to China. We have to immediately develop solar, nuclear fusion and figure out how to burn coal with little environmental damage. We NEED to completely end any and all dependence on oil period. Unless we start now, we are toast and the Chinese will eat our grandchildren for breakfast.

Nobody. It doesn’t matter. As soon as whoever is elected takes office, they will fall in line with the oil companies and blow smoke up the publics backside making them believe that they’re doing something about it. Besides, it will be McCain and Republican’s don’t believe in supporting the general public.

Jack, like the other morons in newsroom, you slant the facts to obsfucate the truth. Clinton has been tauting a plan as has Obama. Get out of Iraq., develop alternative energy sources, bio-fuels, solar pwer, wind power and other consevation measures. Obama supports nuclear power. I like both candidates programs. But why would you slant your story to say the tax holiday is her entire energy program?

The candidate who pushes for the development of solar powered automobiles. Oil has no future. Just as the US of A got to the moon, we can develope solar powered vehicles. Just commit the resources of the free human mind in this great country, and we will be there sooner than all the pessimists think. The sky is not falling. The sun will come up tomorrow. Lets be there to capture its unlimited power. Peace.

Jack,

The problem isn’t who has the best plan to help with the high costs of gas. I will bear the burden and deliver the bad news to America. High gas prices are here to stay, no matter who is President, and will only increase as China, Russia, India, and other countries continue to increase their energy use. The right question is, who has the resolve to address the solutions necessary to free us from fossil fuels and move America into the renewable energy future while simultaneously doing that little thing of saving our planet. If you have been watching the campaign the last few weeks, you know exactly who the man is for that job!

Barack comes closest to having a plan, in his campaign he has emphasized clean coal, alternative energy and hybrid or electric vehicles. In any case, he has addressed us honestly and made it clear that there is no easy fix, like a gas tax holiday. This problem has taken a long time to reach this point; it will not be solved overnight.

None of the candidates have come up with a plan for handling the rising price of gasoline. Every American should be doing something to help. Car pools are a good idea, thinking ahead about what errands you need to run and do them all at one time, stop riding around for fun, put off that road trip for a year. Companies who use plastic to cover everything need to come up with new packaging. Our dependency on oil is not all in our gas tanks. Look around you at all the things that are made from petroleum. We can’t just sit back and wait for the auto industry to solve our dependency on oil. Americans must take the first steps to stop using so much oil and set an example for the rest of the world who is becoming more dependent on oil.

Not Obama he has no plans but to copy somoene else that has done well. he has no backbone of his own. He is a fake and people need to start reviewing what he has done how he came up. You wouldn’t be that impressed then

Nobody has a sufficient plan for the energy issues in this country.

Obama is focused on a long-term strategy and Clinton and McCain have short-term solutions, but we need both short-term and long-term ideas!

We need to begin drilling in ANWR and start building new nuclear plants right now in order to start weaning us off foreign energy and we must continue to develop and implement wind, solar, fusion, and other renewable energy technologies for today and the future. In addition, we do need to start being more responsible about our energy consumption; conserving power, driving less when possible, and buying energy efficient appliances are great starts that anyone can do beginning tonight.

I think Obama’s plans are superior and are a step in the right direction, but they’re still not enough.

It is time to start manufacturing synthetic oil and using it as often as possible. It has to be cheaper to make than we are paying now, and the mere threat of it was enough to send OPEC running scared the last time it was seriously considered.

We are being extorted, and we need to do SOMETHING.

I don’t think it is the job of the candidate to take care of gas prices. Prices will, and SHOULD go up 8,9 10 dollars a gallon because of simple laws of supply and demand. It is the only motivation that will catalyze the rapid development of cost efficient alternatives. When gas loses its monetary appeal than cleaner sources will make there way into the American mainstream. This, this is the foresight required by a candidate to tackle these energy issues. The carbon in fossil fuels should be used for things such as plastics, it should not be carelessly put into the atmosphere. The faster gas prices increase, the faster a green future will be come a reality. Mr. Obama is far better equipped than either of the two remaining “choices” which have demonstrated next to no thought process in their gas/energy policies.

None of them. Did any of them suggest re-introducing the electric car?

Jack,

McCain. He plans to invade Iran. Oil will go to $12 a gallon.

Bob Fleming
Louisville, Ky

Obama’s learned staff should quit criticizing proposals and devise a plan of their own so the candidate does not look stupid. Monday morning quarterbacks are a dime a dozen.

If McCain were elected, he would have to do whatever the oil companies told him to do, just like the Shrub. I don’t think consumer pain figures into their decision making. Hillary would try to force the oil companies to give back the money. Fat chance.Obama seems most likely of the three to at least try to seek long term solutions. We can’t negate the law on supply and demand. We can’t achieve oil independence by buying from American companies, if there is such a thing. It doesn’t work that way. We have to look at our demand and consumption. We have to develop other senergy sources as much as possible. We have to look at other petroleum based products and reduce those. We have to change our transportaion attitudes, maybe our work schedules, leisure activities, mass transportaion alternatives. There are lots of things to do, but no magic bullet.. It will take time.

None of them. Not right now at least.
I think they are all looking at plans and will be deciding on their course of action soon.
I respect Obama for not trying to pacifty the masses with a pointless measure that wouldn’t save American’s much money.

IT is past time to have electric cars, Bikes, and walk more. That will not happen as long as we have a little money,We will buy gas at any price and they know that, Till people start starving and don’t have (ANY MONEY) it will not change and politicians know that.

nobody you think obama will he will just blow smoke like the rest them the people of this country need to wake up all we get is promises they cant keep

President Obama will look into alternative to fossil fuel, encourage us to walk and car pool, make public transportaion affordable, easy, and available; he’ll stop buying oil from our enemies, he’ll install solar panels on the White House, and stop using AIr Force One for transportaion ….all of this will magically take place the day he takes his oath, so I don’t think any of us have anything to worry about.

None of them. Jimmy Carter reduced the speed limit to 55 mph to save gas, and Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana is already supporting the development of technology to turn coal into synthetic gasoline. It’s non-polluting, produces usable byproducts, and costs less than one-half the price of a gallon of oil. America is blessed with untold coal resources. Why isn’t anyone talking about this?

I do. Take all taxes off gasoline sales in the USA and Canada, and add a compensating sales tax on goods and services. In Canada that would involve putting our current GST of 5% back to the former 7%. In the USA it might involve introducing a national sales tax in that range. This gives the average person a chance to budget successfully for their gasoline needs, and places the discretionary income back into the rest of the economy. But prices of many goods will go down because of the lower gas prices.

No one. Congress just passed a law that increases the ethanol that is put into gasoline through 2022. Ethanol has not been the “proven” non-pollutant that most scientists thought it would be. According to recent reports, it sounds like if you take ethanol out, no more polution will occur. This will drive down prices as it is expensive to add ethanol and drive down the price of corn and other ethanol based products, which means less demand, and even lower prices. I would also support a wiping out of gas taxes altogether, while raising taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, junk food and drinks (and I love junk food and Pepsi), fast food and other non-necessities. Necessities, like gas, should not be taxed. Non-necessities should be. This is why I plan to run for office in two years. We need a real change.

“Plan” is a strong word, Jack.
I believe either of the democrats would be better at developing a plan than McCain; but I don’t think a real, viable PLAN exists for any of them right now.
However, Senator Obama’s principled stand against the ridiculous pandering support of both McCain & Clinton’s proposed “federal gas tax holiday” leads me to believe he would at least be realistic. I believe he would/will develop a plan that actually fixes our energy problems rather than pretends to fix something by proposing legislation that doesn’t help average Americans much and doesn’t have a chance in hell of being passed. (i.e. oil company “windfall taxes”

There are no easy answers, but Barack Obama has the best plan to deal with this. His plan is to first understand the totality of the problem. Then to consult with both sides of the political aisle to find a solution that will be supported by a majority. However, it will take some political courage to come up against the oil companies that are getting away with economic murder. It was just reported that the Texas state budget suddenly has over a $10B surplus when not too long ago the budget was in deficit. And, believe me the state of Texas does not like to tax oil companies too aggressively, so you have to conclude that oil companies have a windfall of profits from the last year.

Jack

None of them.

We need a leader in this issue. Private industry should be charged with trying to find alternative energy solutions and the governments should help to finance it. I think a windfall tax should be put on all profits for gas companies who do not put in a certain amount of money to research and development towards alternate energy solutions. Anything above a certain amount will be put in a fund and will be used to grant new companies to put the time and energy the government doesn’t have the expertise to do.

Obama could be a leader to do so, Clinton and McCain are bought and paid for by the oil companies no matter what they say so they will not solve the problem. But sadly unless we get rid of the influence that was created by the big oil man in office now it will never happen.

John E
Carlsbad, CA

When more than half of the voters who voted for Clinton say that they won’t give Obama their vote if he wins the nomination, it means the Democratic party will lose if Obama is the presidential candidate. She should go independent.

Carlos
Puerto Rico

I haven’t heard anything from Obama accept what he wanted to do 3 times before now is a bad idea . At least Hillary is trying to do something.
The one that gets out of the ecologists pockets and tells them to back off and makes the oil companies uncap wells we already have that can start producing right now here and start building refineries or the gove’t puts gas and oil back into regulation like it use to be, then that is the best person.

Jack we need someone in the Whitehouse that can bring about real change. We need a long term plan to wean ourselves off of foreign oil. Someone who is going to invest and reshape this country with a new direction towards things like Hydrogen fuel cells or new technologies to be able to cut our ties with the Middleeast. We’ve been talking about this for thirty or forty years and if we don’t start doing something now I am afraid we wil be talking about the same thing in twenty more. That’s if we do go bankrupt first. The person to lead the way for this change is Barack Obama!

At $7 a gallon, it is probably time for hari kiri.

Ray
Lubbock, Texas

None of them. I m yet to hear someone tell cooperations to stops outsourcing American jobs to places like China and India. They are the same people who under value their currencies to gain advantage over us and create unnecessary competition for oil. Let it be fair trade not free trade. Since we didn’t get the WMDs why don’t get the oil. I hear they have lots of it.

Jack, isn’t $7 a gallon gas a Republican plan?

Jack, I can’t answer this question, and nobody else should be able to either. You know why? Because there’s one candidate who keeps slipping under the radar and getting away with just attacking others while not suggesting ideas himself. That’s Obama of course. Before he criticizes Clinton or McCain’s gas tax holiday again, he needs to clearly state his own answer to rising gas prices. He may be winning, but that doesn’t give him a free pass to say anything he wants.

Senator Obama does not seem to have any concrete plans for dealing with anything. He simply dances around any real issues so he will not help people with the high gas costs. I think that Senator Clinton will be better helping Americans with this and other domestic issues. Senator Obama will just throw more tax money in for living costs such as food, housing and health care. He is a real socialist but not a excellent leader.