The fact that Obama even has an impact at this point is impressive enough, and it shows just how useful he will be with the full power of the presidency at his disposal. The time existed not terribly long ago when a US president was a force for real good in the world; a man who could solve disputes and end violence instead of start new disputes and exacerbate violence. You have Obama, a junior senator who has overcome the greatest political machine in America, already doing good overseas versus Clinton and McCain, whose international experience involves warmongering and empty tough talk.
Clinton is right--the gas tax holiday coupled with the windfall profits tax is good public policy. Most Americans are pinching pennies in all aspects of their lives and they are reducing gasoline consumption. The price of gas is hitting Americans in the pocketbook and I think Americans realize we have an oil consumption problem and they are changing their behavior. SUV sales peaked several years ago and hybrid and compact car sales are growing. The gas tax holiday might decrease the price of a gallon of gasoline from $3.60 to $3.40 and I do NOT think this will result in more irresponsible consumption--the vast majority will only drive when it is necessary so demand will not increase and Americans will be able to use the savings to buy groceries and other necessities. This is not a long-term solution, this is a temporary adjustment that might put a few bucks into people's pockets. Now, for the long-term solution, I have faith in the American people (and we have been slowly moving in the right direction), but I also acknowledge that the long-term solution will require leadership, and that has been lacking the last 7 years, although the American people do share the blame for our current situation.
The fact that when we were sending people to the moon, or cheating the automic bomb. It was going to affect real businesses in our economy. Do you think the oil companies won't spend millions lobbying against cars that get 100 mpg? Or detroit automakers who lobby against every fuel efficenecy standard increase? Or environmentalist who don't like nuclear energy? Or drilling off the coasts and in Anwwr?
A three-month 18-20 cent/gallon reduction is more stupid than the stimulus payments. Bread and circuses and nothing more. Not to mention she already tagged the windfall profits tax for something else.
you can't prove one way or another if gas prices would rise to the same level as the tax, if it was temporarily stopped. We don't live in a vacuum. I don't understand why the federal tax on gas is a fixed amount anyway. i would think they would prefer a percentage anyway.
