Energy and Politics

Voters are deeply concerned about the economy. The components of the economy which concern them most are jobs followed (not necessarily in order) by government spending and national debt issues. This is the prism through which voters are viewing all other issues - including energy and the environment. On our website you can find a recent article from E&E summarizing a national survey we conducted for the Institute of Energy Research on a host of energy and other topics (http://www.markblankenship.com/). This is not to imply other issues are not important. Taxes, global warming, terrorism, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are all important issues to varying degrees. But when you really want to understand what issues are driving voter opinion, look no further than the economy and its various elements.

How will a particular issue impact my job? Will supporting/opposing this issue increase the costs I have to pay for a particular good or service? Does this add to the national debt? By voting for X, will it help bring stability to the economy? These are the most likely kinds of questions voters will begin asking themselves with greater frequency between now and November. Voters want affordable energy. They want efficient and reliable energy and they REALLY want the high paying jobs with benefits the energy industry offers across many parts of the country. It seems now is an inopportune time time to try and sell voters any energy initiatives with large price tags. For example, its not that alternative energy isn't important, its that right now, alternative energy designed to combat global warming is less important than other elements of the energy debate. One voter recently told me during a focus group in Los Angeles "there is only so much I can afford, literally and figuratively, to be concerned about."

The candidates, grass roots movements and issue organizations that make the best case to voters about reliability, affordability and stability are likely the ones who will be most successful come November. Of course this seems simple, and it really is. However, there are many who participate in the public debate who ignore these very kinds of voter dynamics.