McCain's $300 Million Prize

[kpaquett]

Just a quick search confirms that the proposed $300 million is for a new and efficient automobile battery. Nothing to do with gas/oil really.

And, of course, it's exactly the sort of forward thinking proposal I'd expect from a political candidate who doesn't even think it's worth knowing how to use a computer. (According to his own staff, he doesn't.)

How about using your computer to check your facts?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/...ion=cnn_latest

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4201682.shtml

I'm not a big McCain supporter. He's just the best of the worst this year for me. That being said, it's still a bad idea. I'd rather the government mandate stricter gas mileage requirements and offer tax breaks for companies that switch to hybrid/electric cars.

[Lord Destiny]

It's funny how Republicans (and I don't mean kpaquett) turn a blind eye when one of their own suggests (1) increasing gov't spending, and (2) intervening in the natural state of the free market.

If this is worth doing, shouldn't--by right-wing theory--the free market be developing this technology on its own?

And since the free market isn't very interested in shifting from oil/gas, doesn't this sound like McCain is succumbing to "liberal propaganda"?

[NatGertler]

Doesn't need to be right-wing theory. This "reward" is silly, because there already is a huge reward to anyone who develops a more efficient battery. It's called a patent, and an improved battery patent is just about the most lucrative thing one could have at the moment.

And one doesn't have to look too long at the sales shrinkage in the U.S. traditonal pure-petrol-powered auto market and the growth in hybrid (mixed petrol/recaptured electricity) to see that the free market is eager for alternatives to oil/gas.