I would propose a hefty, and I mean HEFTY, tax on every gallon of gas. Something like $10.00. Before you panic and crank up your flamethrowers let me explain. Even with gas at its current price too many of us can afford to fill our tanks and drive our vehicles without giving much, if any, thought to the cost. So much of the money we spend on fuel goes directly into financing our enemy's desire and plans to destroy us.
The problem with my tax is that I can't decide what to do with the money. Certainly don't want it going to government, at any level. We know what they would do with it.
Regardless of how we think we got into this mess, or the theories about “big oil”, etc. and the conspiracy theorists, the fact is we are doing ourselves and our country great harm with our current energy policies. It's got to stop or the consequences will be much worse than a $10 a gallon gas tax. I hear the matches being struck now to start the flame throwers.
Any number of things could cause the price of gas to skyrocket overnight. Hurricanes, Mideast political shenanigans, terror, etc. Far better to pay the really painful cost now, at the time of our choosing, than when we have no choice.
I keep beating this same drum, but if we were to reduce the demand for fuel across the country by just a few percentage points the price would come down. We pay what we pay today because we will, and it will keep going up until the market meets resistance.
I am not seriously proposing a $10 per gallon fuel tax, just pointing out that prices are going to continue to rise until we curb demand or find new sources.
“I not seriously proposing a $10 per gallon fuel tax, just pointing out that prices are going to continue to rise until we curb demand or find new sources.”
You must be living on another planet. How can we possibly curb our demand for gasoline in the wake of incredible population growth? NOBODY I know goes out and drives unnecessarily. Everyone I know is saving as much as they can on gas. I know some who really regret buying that SUV and they are really paying the price now. We cannot in the short term reduce our demand for gasoline without totally destroying our economy. It is late and I really lack the energy to respond to your point about giving our enemy the money. Well they had plenty of money at 10-15 dollars a barrel and we will never see than level again. Adding a tax to gasoline at this time is MADNESS! You must not have a job or a family or maybe you live in a urban area and can take mass transit. Maybe you are young and can use a bicycle to get about. Most of us need to use a certain amount of gasoline just to get by and these prices are killing us! Later
I’m not sure why the issue of tax comes up for you. These new power plants pay for themselves. Am I missing something? As we bring on nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, whatever... the power is sold to the customer. The government doesn’t have to spend any money. Private investment forks over the start-up.