Apr 29 2008
Why I Like Obama
So, gas prices stink right now, at least relative to where they were. We’re paying $3.58 around here and it seems like only a few months ago that we were below $2.40. The idea has been floating around that the federal gas tax ought to be removed for the summer to help out the consumer, since gas prices have risen to such heights. John McCain jumped on board, saying it was a great idea. Hillary Clinton said we should do it and we should take money from Big Oil to pay for it. Obama said that we shouldn’t do it - we’re not going to be able to solve our energy problems until we understand the pricing behind them and that we’re going to have to make some sacrifices.
McCain is obviously on board with what is mainstream Republican philosophy - “economy first, environment second (or third, or fourth, or seventy-eighth)”. Hillary does what she does very well - say what she thinks people want to hear (and picking an easy target in Big Oil). Obama actually treated the American people as adults, making the assumption that we understand that there is a problem and there is not going to be an easy fix and short term relief will only end up causing pain in the future.
A politician that actually says what he thinks? And that cares about finding solutions to our environmental problems? Sign me up please. He’s got my vote in the May primary.
Obama knows that the Hillary/McCain proposals are politics — and what we need is policy.
The gas tax holiday is political heroin. It’ll make everyone feel good for just a little while, and when the euphoria wears off after three months, we’re back to having the same problems….or worse, because the expiration of the tax holiday would result in an 18-cent price hike overnight.
Unfortunately, one reason why politicians engage in pandering is because it works. I just hope people are smart enough to see through the gas tax gimmick.