John McCain's Gas Tax Plan for Relief a Bad Idea and Bad Politics

John McCain's gas plan is a slap in the public's face. Yeah it sounds good at first to anyone who is not knowledgeable about the countries current and projected economic status. The fact is that any money being taken from our transportation system funding is just ridiculous. I know I would rather pay 18.4 cents even 28 cents more for gas then drive over an already crumbling transportation infrastructure. If the roads fail then the price of gas is not an issue. We need not be reminded of the recent Minnesota tragedy. John McCain really just put a plan out that is illogical and not very forward thinking. American people need to wake up and smell the petroleum. Politicians need to learn that American people are getting smarter and savvier. The Internet age we are currently in provides everyone the tools needed to see through the bull, all pundits and jokes aside.

Is this good policy or just good politics? The answer is neither. According to The American Association of State and Highway officials motorist would only save an average of $28 dollars during the proposed tax holiday. That is not enough money on an individual basis to "devastate highway and transit programs". According to the same source the highway trust fund is facing a 3.4 billion dollar shortage as soon as 2009. I think a better idea would be to put more pressure on the petroleum industry. The buying power of the United States should be enough pressure to cause a change in the heavily over valued market. Perhaps we need to start playing the hand we are dealt better, what happened to America's poker face? Sure the economic situation is bad and a gallon of gas is now, the same as a gallon of store brand milk.

There must be at least 20 other immediate options to "help Americans hurting from High gasoline and Food costs". For example raise tax in some other non essential area by 18.4 cents. Or dole out 18.4 cents to each American from the political campaign funds of candidates. As for the future, green is where it is at. Ethanol is certainly a potential candidate for relief from the never ending rise in gas prices. Talk to Bill gates he is quite the philanthropist. Better yet give the American people a kit to convert their car to e85 and ask the EPA for an Emissions rules holiday. According to FlexTek most cars 1998 and newer are designed to run on the 10% ethanol that is currently in our gas. People can run a mixture of e85 and regular gas up to around 30/70 for most vehicles safely. This alone is a savings of more than 18.4 cents a gallon with e85 averaging 2.89 cents a gallon. Compared to 3.42 cents a gallon of regular unleaded. Make a mandatory flex fuel vehicle bill for the year 2010. I love digital television but was a bill to make the over the air broadcast signal digital mandatory by 2009 really a necessity in light of our current fuel problems. OK now it is up to you to decide on what policy should be enacted. Just remember due diligence is the key to educated decisions.

Sources: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/b61edf42-a65d-4c4d-b038-6123db8fc2a5.htm

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-15-2008/0004793593&EDATE

http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/

http://www.flextek.com/links/article.htm

http://e85vehicles.com/e85/index.php?topic=626.105