Political Parties And The Environment
What party is weakest on environmental protection?
In one sense when we're talking about environmental protection the tension is between environmental protection on one hand and economic growth or prosperity on the other. And that's a perceived tension. So the Democratic Party seems to be more willing to favor more often environmental protection over economic growth. The Republican Party is more willing more often to favor economic growth over environmental protection. So it's less willing to put restrictions or regulations on businesses that could cause those businesses to not grow or to not grow the economy in favor of protecting the environment whereas with Democrats its vice versa.
Which party is pushing for alternative fuels?
Generally I could say that the liberal side of the political spectrum, or the democratic, which tends to vote more democratic, is more willing to prioritize alternative fuels. They are more willing to divert resources and money towards developing those alternative fuels. Formerly the right side of the political spectrum and the Republican Party is certainly for alternative fuels, is for reducing our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and getting us out of that region. And formally is for reducing the pollutants produced by fossil fuels. However, they are a little less optimistic about the return in investment of putting resources and energy into alternative fuels. They're more suspicious of the potential payoffs of in particular alternative fuel ideas or pass.
What party sees energy independence as a top priority?
Both parties see energy independence as a top priority, especially with the war on terror and our relationships with the Middle East. Both parties use energy independence to promote different issues. Democrats and environmentalists use energy independence to promote alternative fuels more. Republications use energy independence for things like searching out for more oil in the United States, such as ANWR in Alaska. So they both definitely say energy independence is critically important but then they kind of use that to push different approaches.
