Gas Attack

[level_head]

Charles Krauthammer has written favorably of adding more taxes to the cost of gasoline:

For 32 years I’ve been advocating a major tax on petroleum. I’ve got as much chance this time around as did Don Quixote with windmills. But I shall tilt my lance once more.

NB: 32 years ago, Dr. Krauthammer was a speechwriter for Walter Mondale, bitterly

Comments

[firebyrd]

I always marvel at this idea that raising gas prices is going to help anything. Yes, I'm sure that with gas prices down for a few months, everyone is just going to dump their current vehicles and get gas guzzlers! And I'm sure if we raise gas prices back up, people will just decide to not go to work because they can't pay for gas, right? Right? Sheesh, I'm pretty sure that after years of $3-$4/gallon gas, everyone has cut their driving as much as they reasonably can, if driving habits have changed at all. With our terrible public transportation, driving simply isn't a choice most places. Even if the buses go where you need, time is valuable-adding hours of time onto an errand because of public transportation simply is not reasonable or viable.

[level_head]

I've gained even more appreciation for transportation issues in recent times. But basically, adding $1 to 2 billion in new taxes per week to consumers, with this economic crash-inducer being described as a "win-win," boggles the mind.

It is hard to credit Dr. Krauthammer's thinking here; he's quite good in some other areas.

==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[ext_1399643]

What is maddening to me is that Krauthammer has us worrying about the wrong problems.
1. We need to reduce the size of government. We need to reduce taxes, not switch taxes.
2. Saudi Arabia cutthroat pricing and the Great Recession has cut prices and cut demand for fuel. That jeopardizes all the companies that started the oil-fracking boom in the United States. We should be protecting those companies unfair competition, but we are not.

[level_head]

I would have to disagree on point 2, my friend. Let market forces sort that out. Such protectionism triggered the Great Depression, for the noblest of causes.

But I am absolutely with you on point 1.

==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[ext_1399643]

Half a loaf is better than none.

I understand your advocacy for a free market. I have a tendency to agree, but I hate to see the folks who fought tooth and nail to get that fracking technology working losing their shirts.

[level_head]

Some will fail. Some will adapt. And the demand continues to grow. The net result will be better for the country than keeping those companies that donated to Democrats artificially afloat.

The Saudis (and Russians) have a limited impact on this. Most of our oil comes from Canada and Mexico.

==============/ Keith DeHavelle