When I heard about Hillary lining up with McCain on the “gas tax vacation,” my stomach literally started to turn. It is such an absolutely idiotic solution that even the Bush Administration disagrees. That takes a lot for an administration full of idiots. I read yesterday that suspending the gas tax would save the average American $30 over the course of the summer. $30. And no talk about reducing consumption. Just continue on your ridiculous path of ultra consumption and continue to bury your head in the sand about the repercussions and the state of this nation. When I think we cannot get any dumber as a nation, we go and illustrate that we can. Oh yes, we can get so much dumber. And that is a scary place to be.
Thomas Friedman says it much better than I do…
And if I may, can I please urge you to donate to the Obama Campaign today? We are down to the wire on this. We are so desperate for an actual intelligent leader in this country. One who can say the less popular thing — because it is the right thing. As evidenced by his stand on this “gas tax vacation.” Seriously with $30 extra bucks in your pocket, that’s going to be the only vacation you get all year. Oops, I forgot about the “Stimulus Package,” where we get some extra coin to stimulate… China’s economy.
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I have to agree with you that repealing the gas tax for the summer is no long-term policy solution. I must respectfully disagree though, that the answer is to “not do it.”
I read Friedman’s article. It’s a good one. If you go back and read through my blog you will find I want to find a way to implement wind and solar energy at my house as well. The real problem is, wind and solar doesn’t address the immediate need.
I would like to challenge you here. Would you be willing to share what you believe is the “non-idiotic” solution to the near term crisis (Families that can’t afford gasoline right now.) The challenge is not trivial. We want to discourage increased consumption, encourage transfer to more efficient vehicles, and yet not force “middle class Americans” who are being squeezed by the (not yet by definition) recession to have to go even further in debt to either buy gas, hybrids, or both.
I am not being flip. I am seriously curious about what solutions you might think would work in this crisis.
By Steve (The Original!) on 04.30.08 2:13 pm | Permalink
Of course McCain/Clinton don’t talk about a reduction in consumption b/c the predicted response of the American public at-large to their hair-brained schemes is increased consumption. ‘Oh look, Honey. Gas is down $0.20/gallno. We should celebrate by driving cross country on our new found savings!’ Brilliant.
By Samilja on 04.30.08 2:55 pm | Permalink
Seriously, I think I could come up with one hundred ways for the average American family to cut back on gasoline usage that would save way more than $30. I was going to write them here, but maybe it’s worthy of a post where we could all add to it…
And as far as Ralph Nader goes…I agree that he does have some good ideas and he is bright. But I can’t get over what happened when people voted for him and the outcome was that GW was elected. No matter what, I can’t do that. And I feel so much more strongly about Obama than I have for any other candidate in recent elections. Is he perfect? Nope. But in this crazy political machine, how can anyone be? Let me rephrase that, how can anyone with the necessary credentials and money to be president be perfect enough? (totally rhetorical, no massive discussion required…)
By imperfectmommy on 05.01.08 3:15 pm | Permalink
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