Ok, let's hear your best guesses on how much energy has/will be expended on this years elections.
Keep in mind these things:
All of energy used for the mailings that will be mailed, to include the amount of energy used to cut the trees or recycle pulp to make the paper and deliver it and the energy used to make and deliver the ink used for the printing. The energy used to design the mailing. The energy used to deliver the mailings from the printer all the way through to the final recipient AND the energy used to dispose of said mailings.(If you burn these mailings then you will need to use your best judgment on how much energy you extract for the burning process which would need to be subtracted from the amount of energy it took to get these mailings to you in the first place... hehe)
All of the energy used to make the coroplast and cardboard, the metal for the frames, and the energy used to transport all of the campaign signs, again from the printer to their final posting on your lawn, your neighbors lawn, your town's parks, telephone poles, and highways and byways, AND the energy required to remove and dispose of those signs after (and before, when someone disagrees with the candidate/ballot issue! LOL) the election.
All of the energy used in creating television ads and political debates. To include all of the energy used in producing and airing the ads and debates such as gasoline/diesel for transportation and generator and grid power used for remote productions, the energy used in getting participants and audiences to and from the debates and don't forget the energy used watching those ads and debates. Along with this category, don't forget to include the energy used by people in "canvassing" and "stomping".
All of the energy used on election day, and before for "early voting", to get people to the poles and to get campaign workers to street corners and medians (and the energy they use up waving hands and signs) and all of the energy used after the poles have closed counting all the votes and arguing about "hanging chads".
I'm sure I've missed quite a few areas related to this election where energy is used... I guess it really doesn't matter. In the end it will all be written off as necessary "lubrication" that keeps what is still, arguably, the greatest government in earth's history.
