Gas Up the Pacer

So...McCain suggested today a reprive from the federal gas tax. Like Little Johnny said about his sister getting knocked up, "That's beautiful. Just fucking beautiful."

For the summer driving season, no less! Not at any other time of the year, mind you, when 80% of all the supposed real work is performed with oil...but the summer! When we vacation! Give the common man a break on his vacation season! I'd bet that 92% of the US population would agree with this tax break. Do whatever is needed to mask the inevitable: that oil production has plateaued and our consumption has exceeded our own domestic production since 1970 and has increased year over year since.

Why, exactly, should we be reducing any taxes when our national budget is unbalanced? And is there any more just cause than taxation on oil? A largely imported, limited, non-renewable resource?

I suppose one could argue that it's government spending that should be reduced, not taxes. OK. Eliminate the $12 billion a month on an ignored war, use that to subsidize the 11.5 billion gallons of gas the U.S. uses every month, so we get about a dollar reduction per gallon. Gas becomes $2.80, and people will still bitch about the price!

What about redefining the gallon? If we redefine the gallon as now being equal to one quart, we could immediately see a 75% reduction in the price of fuel overnight. Overnight. Or how about a pint? The gallon is now, overnight, re-defined as a pint! An 87.5% reduction in price!

Now wouldn't that be good for the economy? I've seen gas stations in the Sacramento region stuck on $3.79, $3.89, & $3.99 for a week now -- damn! They just can't cross over that psychological $4 barrier. So take whatever losses are necessary, jack up the price of Doritos and other sundries sold at gas stations, but don't raise gas over four bucks. But imagine their sales if gas was $2.79! And how we would all re-consider that summertime trip to Pittsburg or Orlando. Or -- imagine if at a new gallon-is-a-pint standard, now $0.47 a gallon! Gas up the Pacer, we're goin' to Disney World!