Most of us have felt the raising gas prices at the pump. As we fuel up our favorite car, we drain our wallets. We wonder when Washington will do something about the gas prices. Well, the time is now, and the person is Ill. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.

Gas prices have been on an upward trend for years now, and it seems like there is no end in sight. Gas prices for the state of Iowa are at an average of $3.805 per gallon. Last year at this time, gas prices were $2.946 per gallon, which was above the national average.

John McCain is not the answer for alleviating the problem of rising gas prices, as he has voted against raising fuel efficiency standards. If elected president, Barack Obama will increase the fuel efficiency standards of our vehicles.

We have the technology, but the automakers just need the incentive to do so. Barack Obama told automakers in Detroit, the Mecca of car manufacture in the United States, that if he is elected president he will raise fuel standards on vehicles. Barack Obama is willing to work with other world leaders to help solve the volatility of the oil market.

He wants to sit down with China and India, the largest new consumers of oil, and invite them to join the International Energy Agency. China, India and the United States can then work to control the demand of oil, which will hopefully drive down prices.

Finally, Barack Obama plans to invest time and money into developing advanced vehicles that use little or no oil. With Obama as president we can put more funds into these new cars to increase their efficiency and to help change the infrastructure that supports them. This election is too important to just sit on the sidelines. Barack Obama is the change we need to fix the problem of raising gas prices, not John McCain.

Wesley Yates

Alumnus

Political Science