The Tire-Gauge Solution: No Joke

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The Tire-Gauge Solution: No Joke - TIME

How out of touch is Barack Obama? He's so out of touch that he suggested that if all Americans inflated their tires properly and took their cars for regular tune-ups, they could save as much oil as new offshore drilling would produce. Gleeful Republicans have made this their daily talking point; Rush Limbaugh is having a field day; and the Republican National Committee is sending tire gauges labeled "Barack Obama's Energy Plan" to Washington reporters.

But who's really out of touch? The Bush Administration estimates that expanded offshore drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 bbl. per day by 2030. We use about 20 million bbl. per day, so that would meet about 1% of our demand two decades from now. Meanwhile, efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%. Many drivers already follow their advice, but if everyone did, we could immediately reduce demand several percentage points. In other words: Obama is right.

Not only is Bam right on this issue, he's pointing out things that help us NOW. Little things that take the edge off and save families a few bucks here and there.

Drilling? In twenty years you won't see any savings because our energy needs will have outstripped the new resources. But that's not the Right's plan. Wanna know the plan? Take a look at McCain's recent lobbyists and campaign contributors. Look where a good 30% of OUR oil, oil that we produce, is going.

Hint: "Energy corporations" and "exported to other countries" are the two correct answers.

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@Sabz5150,

Raising MPG standards on car production would be another solution.....that the right completely ignores.

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@Fatal Freedoms,

Fatal_Freedoms;58549 wrote:

Raising MPG standards on car production would be another solution.....that the right completely ignores.

Oh hell no! They don't like anything that helps you use less oil. That's the trick... they'll work HARD to get you more of it (offshore drilling, war, etc.) but NEVER do they want you using less. If the demand goes down, so does the price and so do the profits.

That's why the "tire gauge" attack is happening. A quick, cheap way to effectively save money at the pump? Bad! Bad idea! They didn't buy off-- errr, donate to McCain so that we'd reduce their profits!

Because remember... if they were REALLY concerned with America's well being instead of the thickness of their wallets, they wouldn't be exporting 30% of their petrol. Think about THAT, if the OilCos were to halt their exporting and use that fuel here domestically... why, you'd see gas prices plummet!

And that's why they don't do it. It's the classic way to string an addict along.

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The Tire-Gauge Solution: No Joke

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