Obama: We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72

Stylerod · 05-18-2008, 10:11 PM

Pitching his message to Oregon's environmentally-conscious voters, Obama called on the United States to "lead by example" on global warming, and develop new technologies at home which could be exported to developing countries.

"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK," Obama said.

"That's not leadership. That's not going to happen," he added.

AFP: Obama camp spies endgame in Oregon

So does this mean he is going to try to prevent us from driving what we want to drive, eat how much we want and have government control our thermostats? What the fuck is he actually saying here????

kombayn · 05-19-2008, 02:11 AM

^Yeah, good point? If I'm paying for 72 degree Air Conditioning, I want it... Alright? If I can get good food or unhealthy food, I should be able to eat it. We're not the World's Saviors, politicians need to stop acting like we are. Our country is great because we get to do what we want. Obama needs to change the rhetoric because I like him less and less when he talks policies.

Ardentfrost · 05-19-2008, 06:56 AM

Sounds like he's just saying that if we do those things, how can we expect other countries to do better than that?

That's what I got from it.

Scrum · 05-19-2008, 08:20 AM

I love the total overreactions to things like this.

Yes, once elected he's going to take away your food, your SUV's and your air conditioning. It's part of his grand plan.

SoFlaJDM · 05-19-2008, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

I love the total overreactions to things like this.

Yes, once elected he's going to take away your food, your SUV's and your air conditioning. It's part of his grand plan.

he's gonna turn every courthouse in the country into his personal madrassa

Stylerod · 05-19-2008, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

I love the total overreactions to things like this.

Yes, once elected he's going to take away your food, your SUV's and your air conditioning. It's part of his grand plan.

How am I over reacting? I'm quoting what he said. I want to know what he means by it. What is he going to do as president to fix these things?

And what does the approval of other countries matter in how we heat/cool our homes, eat and drive?

JaJae · 05-19-2008, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

I love the total overreactions to things like this.

Yes, once elected he's going to take away your food, your SUV's and your air conditioning. It's part of his grand plan.

Quoted for trufth.

We went to Saudi Arabia and complained about fuel costs. We complained to India about food costs. India basically said if we want our food costs to go down we shouldn't be so overweight. Why should we expect other countries to not consume as much so we can have our cheap food and our cheap oil? We need to stop using so much before we go around trying to convince other countries to help us. And he's right. It's a joke for us to try to convince other countries to help us get lower costs on gas and food when we're using so much more than they are. We're their problem, yet we act like they're ours.

TankRizzo · 05-19-2008, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

I love the total overreactions to things like this.

Yes, once elected he's going to take away your food, your SUV's and your air conditioning. It's part of his grand plan.

Again, it's more the attitude of it. People don't like to be told "you can't". We're americans, we'll do what we want!

Stylerod · 05-19-2008, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Quoted for truth.

We went to Saudi Arabia and complained about fuel costs. We complained to India about food costs. India basically said if we want our food costs to go down we shouldn't be so overweight. Why should we expect other countries to not consume as much so we can have our cheap food and our cheap oil? We need to stop using so much before we go around trying to convince other countries to help us. And he's right. It's a joke for us to try to convince other countries to help us get lower costs on gas and food when we're using so much more than they are. We're their problem, yet we act like they're ours.

Everyone bitches about fuel costs, but hell, I pay a lot more for a gallon of Dasani bottled water then I do a gallon of gas! We still pay a lot less then most nations in the world. And it seems most Democrats blame "BIG OIL" on gas prices anyway, not other countries.

And who complained to India about food costs??? What do we get from them? Some rice maybe and what else?

So is he just saying to shut up about high prices and deal with it? I need to see his whole speach in context to see what he means maybe.

JaJae · 05-19-2008, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Everyone bitches about fuel costs, but hell, I pay a lot more for a gallon of Dasani bottled water then I do a gallon of gas! We still pay a lot less then most nations in the world. And it seems most Democrats blame "BIG OIL" on gas prices anyway, not other countries.

And the only way we can control costs is to control our consumption.

And who complained to India about food costs??? What do we get from them? Some rice maybe and what else?

George W. Bush.
Bush's food-price remarks infuriate Indian pundits - Salt Lake Tribune

So is he just saying to shut up about high prices and deal with it? I need to see his whole speach in context to see what he means maybe.

No he is saying if we want to save money we have to cut back. There is nothing wrong with saying that.

He was saying in that speech that we can't keep living like we do, then go to other countries and complain about OUR costs. It's not going to work. All it's going to do is piss them off as it did India and Saudi Arabia this week.

Check this out:

Taking note of the kingdom's recent decision to raise production by 300,000 barrels a day, the president said the United States must act, too, to ease the gasoline crisis. He mentioned steps such as developing alternate fuels, improving conservation and expanding domestic exploration.

"We've got to do more at home," the president said on a lawn of a resort overlooking the Red Sea. He spoke after a private meeting with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.

...

"So I was pleased they had increased production by 300,000, but I'm also realistic to say to the American people, we've got to do more at home," the president said.

Bush says Saudi oil boost doesn't solve US problem

Bush is saying the same thing as Obama, yet it goes unnoticed. All Obama is saying is we have to conserve more and can't expect other countries to bend over backwards for us when we're not doing anything to help the problem.

thewise1 · 05-19-2008, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

I love the total overreactions to things like this.

Yes, once elected he's going to take away your food, your SUV's and your air conditioning. It's part of his grand plan.

Well, I think it's definitely an overreaction... but that's definitely the path we're going down. Even if it couldn't happen during his term - and I think it potentially could - we're headed there.

IminWonderland · 05-19-2008, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

I love the total overreactions to things like this.

Yes, once elected he's going to take away your food, your SUV's and your air conditioning. It's part of his grand plan.

If the GOP would have said similar things, indicating that Americans lead lives of excess and it's detiorating the fabric of our culture as well as our economy and environment, they would be hailed as progressive thinkers who want what's best for our country.

But, I don't think they would have the balls to say that. But Obama does, and I like it.

Because it is true.

IminWonderland · 05-19-2008, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by TankRizzo

Again, it's more the attitude of it. People don't like to be told "you can't". We're americans, we'll do what we want!

Even when it's killing US and EVERYONE around us!

TankRizzo · 05-19-2008, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

Even when it's killing US and EVERYONE around us!

wouldn't have it any other way.

David Octavius · 05-19-2008, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

So does this mean he is going to try to prevent us from driving what we want to drive, eat how much we want and have government control our thermostats? What the fuck is he actually saying here????

Heavy is the head that wears the crown?

kombayn · 05-19-2008, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

I love the total overreactions to things like this.

Yes, once elected he's going to take away your food, your SUV's and your air conditioning. It's part of his grand plan.

Yeah, but he was a big backer of Ethanol which is over-pricing food for the poorest of countries. I know Obama isn't going to force his way into people's SUV's, food supply and air conditioning but why do I need a lecture on that stuff? I don't need a lecture. I'm talking about how his rhetoric implies that America should be the World's Savior, I'm sick of hearing that from politicians, we're not the World's Savior and the world prefer us to stay the fuck out of everyone's business. I don't understand how that is a hard concept to grasp and how it can piss off a few Americans like myself.

motivez · 05-19-2008, 03:37 PM

He's 100% right, Americans are going to have to make some sacrifices if they want anything to be different

I know some of you disagree with the whole global warming thing, but we can't begin to combat it as long as Americans are willing to drive gas guzzlers, use way more energy than they need, etc..

I've looked for ways around here to cut energy costs other than switching to fluorescent lightbulbs, and one of the easiest things I've found is to unplug stuff when I'm done with it.. for stuff like the tv, computer area, etc.. I've bought power strips that kill all 'residual' energy consumption, I don't leave chargers plugged in.. etc.

Living in an apartment there's not too much more I can really do, but when I finally get around to buying a house in the future I'm gonna go as far as I can, not just because it's good for the environment, but I think it's a good financial investment

I think food prices has a lot to do with this whole biofuels thing, but it's not the only cause. With oil prices going up, everything is more expensive. It costs more to grow and harvest, it costs more to process, it costs more to transport.. the cost is passed on to us, that's basic economics..

IminWonderland · 05-19-2008, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by kombayn

Yeah, but he was a big backer of Ethanol which is over-pricing food for the poorest of countries. I know Obama isn't going to force his way into people's SUV's, food supply and air conditioning but why do I need a lecture on that stuff? I don't need a lecture. I'm talking about how his rhetoric implies that America should be the World's Savior, I'm sick of hearing that from politicians, we're not the World's Savior and the world prefer us to stay the fuck out of everyone's business. I don't understand how that is a hard concept to grasp and how it can piss off a few Americans like myself.

I don't think his rhetoric is about the rest of the world, it is more about AMERICANS.

For years, our mass production ways of life and government have failed abroad, and we are now starting to reap havoc from what we've created.

Obama may have BEEN for ethanol, but do you think he is still going to support it, even though it has raised corn and biodiesel production, devistates land and farmers, uses huge amounts of energy to produce, and lacks a decent carbon footprint? Do you really think this is STILL his idea of what we need to do about energy reform?

Just because someone ONCE supported something, is supposed to equate to something bigger to their picture. The world is so different than when ethanol was being pushed as an alternative, and I would rather have someone try alternatives, than just tell Saudi Arabia to pump more, or point to some gorgeous mountain and tell a corporation to get their shovels.

I plan on having as green as a house as I can. And it's not about global warming, its more like morality. I want to live with the either, not just on it. Because obviously the crappy choices PEOPLE and BUSINESSES have made, have made this world a bit sh8ttier than it used to be. That's not progress, it's destruction. And the whole cop out of "But I am just ONE person, I can't make a difference" is bogus, because doing the right thing is contagious.