Boat U.S. - January 2009 - (Page 52)

then Bill Clinton’s early greenhouse-gas restrictions. In the last few years, George W. Bush’s tax cuts may have left more money in some folks’ pockets to invest in boats, but world events shaped by his economic and foreign policies diminished Americans’ freedom to travel abroad, and made imported boats less affordable. The point is, even when U.S. presidents aren’t focused on boaters, their high-altitude decisions can directly shape our lives down here at sea level. To make any prediction, we have to glean from what Obama has and hasn’t done and said, as he’s seldom addressed recreational boaters directly. The new president was not a member of the Congressional Boating Caucus that, during his tenure on Capitol Hill, comprised 22 senators and 146 representatives. Still, we can learn much from what he said on the stump. In the following pages, we’ll look at Obama’s pre-election intentions. Then, in subsequent magazine issues down the line, we’ll Readers spoke up on offshore wind farms. Those favoring outnumbered those opposed 4 to 1. See page 4. check back to see how the 44th president is doing on his marine-related objectives (see “Obama’s Marine and Coastal Agenda”). Speaking in September to a consortium of scientists, Obama signaled the large-scale differences he intends to bring to the U.S. government’s stewardship of the marine environment. “Oceans are crucial to the earth’s ecosystem and to all Americans because they drive global weather patterns, feed our people, and are a major source of employment for fisheries and recreation,” he said. “Protection of the oceans is one of the many reasons I have developed an ambitious plan to reduce U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.” At a different gathering, he said, “We support a comprehensive solution for restoring our national treasures — such as the Great Lakes, Everglades, and Chesapeake Bay — including expanding scientific research and protections for species and habitats there.” Barack Obama has pledged to invest $150 billion over 10 years in renewable energy, including solar, wind, and storage. That’s $15 billion per year, compared to $1.18 billion in Bush’s 2007 budget — a figure that was roughly equal with the 2001 budget. Assuming the money is available, what could that mean for boat owners? Improved onboard battery and propulsion technologies, for one thing. Probably also a changed seascape, as wind farms and oil rigs grow along the coast; Obama came to favor increased oil drilling off the coast. Speaking to the League of Conservation Voters during the Democratic primaries, Obama made this assurance: “I will require that fuel-economy standards are BoatU.S. Magazine January 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - January 2009

BoatU.S. - January 2009 Contents At The Helm Reader Forum BoatU.S. Reports Brokerage Boats Invasion Of The Access Snatchers Don’t Move A Mussel Tech Connection BoatsGearWheels A Defect And Its Aftermath Obama Onboard? Fast-Water Fly-Fishing How I Got That Shot A Loop Through The Heartland Why Boats Sink At The Dock Install Your Own Trim Tabs BoatU.S. Exchange At Your Service/Mbr. Benefits

Boat U.S. - January 2009

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