Senator Bernie Sanders is our guest on the next Vermont Edition. Host Bob Kinzel talks with Sanders about the farm bill, gas prices and whether a global warming bill will be strong enough to get Sanders’ support. And we take your phone calls and emails. (Listen)
Also in the program, Democratic superdelegate Billi Gosh. Gosh was an early and ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. She talks with Bob Kinzel about how Clinton’s Vermont supporters are taking stock of Barack Obama’s status as the presumptive Democratic nominee. (Listen)
And the Discover Jazz Festival is entering its final weekend in Burlington. Festival director Brian Mital tells us about the live music acts that people can still catch. (Listen)
AP Photo/ Brendan Hoffman
Comments and questions from listeners:
Paedra in Bridgewater Corners:
Why is no one talking about hydro-power – small units and micro-hydro. Why are there no grants for micro-hydro?
Megs in Huntington:
[I have a] concern about the "cap and trade" proposals, which seem like a give-away, and full of loop-holes for profiteering. A better system would tax air pollutants. If this adds to consumer prices, it is a fair transfer of the
real costs, and can be more transparent. Similarly, if tax credits are put up for sale right from the start, as opposed to being giving for free, then the real costs of air contamination are reflected in the marketplace. The fees
charged for the credits should be directly earmarked for non-polluting alternative energy research and development.
Peggy in Craftsbury:
For Bernie Sanders: Will you endorse Anthony Pollina for Vermont governor?
Nicholas in New Haven:
Might Sen. Sanders explain why he voted for a farm bill that gives huge subsidies to wealthy agribusiness companies farmers (not too many in Vermont)? That gives subsidies to the race horse industry, to energy-wasteful ethanol production, etc. etc? I realize that those making more than $1.5 million a year don’t benefit, which is some comfort, but still, how can this be justified? I realize that Sens. Leahy, Obama, Clinton, also voted for it. McCain did not — was he wrong, and if so why?
Bob in Underhill:
Drive at a moderate speed. This is the biggest factor. You may have to
be a little patient, but driving at 55 mph instead of 65 or 75 will
save you money. When we increased the Camry’s highway cruising speed
from 55 mph to 65, the car’s fuel economy dropped from 40 mpg to 35.
Speeding up to 75 mph cost the car another 5 mpg. One reason is that
aerodynamic drag increases exponentially the faster you drive; it
simply takes more fuel to power the car through the air. It appears,
based on the data we could as a nation save fuel by reducing the speed
limit on our nation’s highways. Should we consider lowering the speed
limit on our nation’s highways in an attempt to save fuel?
Bruce from South Burlington:
I would like Senator Sanders to rethink his response to the federal 55 MPH limit. If enforced, it will guarantee at least a 14 percent decrease in fuel use on the Interstates. A majority of drivers exceed the posted speed limit and the legal speed limit in many states is 70 or 75 MPH. The actual savings will be much greater most likely closer to 25 percent if everyone drove 55 MPH. Everyone wants cheap gas, they want their costs to go down but they aren’t willing to sacrifice anything. They want the government to force the price of gas down. This country can not afford to waste energy simply for the personal convenience of some people. Sadly, that is the American thought process: I want do do it so I should be able to do it.