Five Questions You Should Ask the Presidential Candidates
by Greg Haegele, Sierra Club 
on 01. 3.08
This next week is all politics, what with today's Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primaries on January 8. Most Americans are probably already tired of the election coverage, but we're hoping people stick it out and ask the these presidential candidates tough questions. Now is the time to make your voice heard.
The Sierra Club is on the ground in Iowa, New Hampshire and many other states making sure candidates talk about global warming and smart energy policies. Our local organizers and chapter members are attending the candidates' debates, press conferences and speeches - and the candidates are taking notice of the many people asking about these issues.
Our volunteers in New Hampshire told us that at one event, John McCain thanked them for bringing up clean energy policy. At another event, Bill Richardson noticed one of our organizers holding a clean energy sign. The organizer said that, "throughout his speech (Richardson) mentioned 'Clean Energy,' and at one point, after being asked a question about global warming said something to the effect of 'It's just like this sign here says, 'The Clean Energy Future Begins in NH '08.'
Just in case you get a chance to ask any of the candidates a question or five, here's a list to get you started.
Five Questions You Should Ask the Presidential Candidates
1. How would your administration plan to reduce global warming emissions?
2. How will your administration work with other nations to reduce global warming pollution worldwide?
3. How would you balance federal funding for public transportation and road construction?
4. How do you respond to industries who try to argue that we have to choose between jobs and clean energy?
5. What are your policies on new coal fired power plants and new nuclear power plants?
Global warming and clean energy are important topics and the candidates are paying attention. Polls consistently show that a majority of Americans think global warming is one of the most pressing issues facing the country.
Our major goal in 2008 is electing a president who will take major steps in combating global warming. We also want pro-environment state legislators, and those who will work at the local level to protect the environment.
It's time for a change - it's time for the U.S. to take significant action against global warming.
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
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What incentives would you offer to private citizens looking to employ alternative/sustainable energy choices to power and heat their homes?
What incentives would you offer to companies that look to power and heat/cool their facilities with alternative/sustainable energy choices?
How would you curtail 'red tape' for firms looking to implement wind farms or solar farms?
Do you see the need to develop alternative/sustainable energy options for our country as a 'man on the moon'- scale endeavor?
What incentives would you offer the Big Three to get viable electric cars into production?
Would you put dowen the script, tell us what you actually know, and stay on point and answer the questions for once??
Would you create a high level department who's soul purpose is getting the country off the fgn oil habit? ... and fossil fuels in general? - - - and ensure this person has experience in this area (and makes TH a favorite on their browser :)) ?
Those are my questions for today's wannabes.
vsk
A question for voters:
Do you vote for who you agree with on the issues?
Surprisingly, most people would answer no. They vote on who they think looks the best, or who is the best speaker, or who seems like a regular guy, or who - most disturbingly - the powers that be deem "electable."
Because of these people in power deciding who is "electable" in their minds, and broadcasting that message, they limit the potential of alternative candidates by making people say, "Well, I would vote for candidate A, but he isn't electable, so I'm voting for candidate B, who I don't really like that much."
But what if everyone were to vote for who they agreed with the most, not who they thought was the most electable? Then there would be no need to question whether a candidate is electable or not, because everyone would have an equal chance from the get-go.
So this election season, I ask one thing above all else from voters (especially those in early primary states): Vote for who you agree with, no matter what their standing in the polls.
We review the Republican's views on clmate change at www.mygreenelement.com
maybe add one more question:
-are you easily swayed by contributions from large companies?
Ross:
That is why I support Instant-Runoff Voting. I refuse to give in to voter terrorism, where people feel forced to vote for the "lesser of two evils." I can't stand how both the Democratic and Republican parties' leadership have developed a habit of choosing their party's candidate before the primaries. Look at the last Pres election: John Kerry was by no means the best choice, but the impression in the media and in general seemed to be that he was the only choice.
We need to either restructure or eliminate the electoral college and institute IRV across the nation. Then Americans will feel free to vote for who they trust the most, not who they fear the least.
A website I've found, that has many answers to these questions:
www.lcv.org/voterguide
In his speech last night I heard Obama mention gettting off oil and global warming ... mabe he reads TH ?
vsk
My questions...
Tell me your plan to reduce the size and waste in government.
How would you protect the best health care system in the world from government takeover?
How will you get our guys out of Irac and how will you continue to protect us from terorists who want to see us dead?
Will you allow oil exploration and drilling in and around the continental United States?
How will you help private producers and inventors come up with alternate fuels?
Will you encourage the building of proven safe and clean nuclear power generation?
Hello,
In your questions above you lump coal power plants and atomic energy together. Do you think they are the same? How much worse off is our environment today due to efforts to stop atomic energy by environmental groups over the past quarter century.
I have a question for Trehugger, if you made a mistake would you admit it?
I'm behind most of your cause and wish you the best of luck,
Dan
No one has asked this question. Why isn't the government forcing the utility companies to protect the populace from dangerous radiation eminating from high voltage transmission lines, cell towers, and other high tech inventions currently making industry alot of profit? Large, coal fired plants require that these lines be built to move the power to far away places . The people underneath these lines are in danger.
The Bioinitiative Report, August 31,2007, details the latest, global ,information on the public health issues involved. This report is available on line at www.bioinitiative.org and should be studied by everyone.
The DOE has recently declared that it has the ability to bypass state law and force the states to allow construction of large high voltage transmission lines wherever the utility companies want to place them with no concern for public health. The law signed by President Bush NEEDS REPEALED that allows this environmental injustice to be forced on us all. Please read this report, and address how the government 's energy policy will deal with this issue.
As an organic farmer and scientist, I will favor the candidate who will promise to improve the overall national air and water quality, followed by a detailed plan for the implementation of funding for start up organic enterprises with stricter standards and definitions of the word "organic".
I f I can't get a straight answer on any of these issues...I will breathe selectively when necessary and purify my air with essential oils, I will continue to collect rain water, distill it, and add pure balanced minerals so that I know what I am drinking, and I will buy only heirloom seeds and plants, thereby avoiding genetic "monsters" I have purchased from places like Walmart, while maintaining my God-given right to grow my own food and know what is (and, perhaps more importantly, what is NOT)in it! It's not that difficult and even a little makes a difference in your health. If more people did this, our national health would improve and it would promote improvement in the quality of our food.