Gas Tax Holidays and Energy Policies

John and Hillary are in agreement on one thing -- we should give Americans a break this summer from the gas tax. As I said earlier, I think that this is a really stupid idea. The point of the gas tax, besides paying for roads and bridges, is to spur us toward changing our energy usage. Hillary goes to a gas station in an F-250 truck and says, wow, look how expensive gas is. Remember that the last time Hillary drove to the pump was probably 1992. Yeah, its expensive, which is why I drive a Ford Focus and not an F-250 truck. Obama has taken some grief for his position, but really it's the only responsible one.
I realize that many progressives don't like Tom Friedman, but I do. I may not always agree with him, but he understands the world we live in and often makes very important comments. On energy he's been preaching for some time the need to raise gas taxes and use them to support development of alternative energy sources -- like solar and wind. Today he calls the Gas Tax Holiday a pretty dumb idea. Why? Because it doesn't deal with the real cause of the increase in gas prices -- our demand. We keep driving big cars and wonder why the prices go up. Hillary talks about breaking up OPEC -- how is she going to do that? As long as we're buyers they're going to sell to us at prices they determine.
Friedman's NYT's post is really needed. So, just to get you started, read:

It is great to see that we finally have some national unity on energy policy. Unfortunately, the unifying idea is so ridiculous, so unworthy of the people aspiring to lead our nation, it takes your breath away. Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon, for this summer’s travel season. This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: we borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks. What a way to build our country.

When the summer is over, we will have increased our debt to China, increased our transfer of wealth to Saudi Arabia and increased our contribution to global warming for our kids to inherit.

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