Ken
JoB
No one is saying it is not *effective* pandering, just that it is stupid.
They don’t call it populism for nothing. The Athenians found that out pretty much the same way we have.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080420213333AAsADzu
By ceding power to the most belligerent “tyrant” who promises safety and tax relief in a time of war.
I calculated the saving on what I drove in NC in the 80’s, 40 miles one way to work.
I saved 55.00. in 90 days.
Sure it sells with those who cannot do the math or don’t understand the realities of the manufactured shortage (no refineries built, middle east war, dollar dropping vs world currencies, shift to euro from dollar on oil futures market) You know, all the things forecast by non DLC democrats from Wes Clark to Jim McDermott and Russ Feingold.
Also note the important part. The tax revenue from gasoline sales stays steady regardless of the price since it is collected per gallon. The more you pay for gasoline, the lower the percentage of the price you pay that goes into the highway fund for the required maintenance and infrastructure replacement. And the higher the profit per gallon for the oil companies.
Only reduced consumption or a pie in the sky full scale pander fest can effect the tax revenue stream required for upkeep on the nations roads and bridges.
Diesel fuel in WA is taxed at the same rate and the same way as gasoline, but other states vary wildly in the differences in gas and diesel tax rates per gallon. The federal tax on diesel is about 6 cents more than for gasoline.
Propose a diesel tax roll back if you like and the price will (in a perfect world) go back to where it was march 10th of this year.
This article does a pretty god job of putting it in perspective.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/beyond-the-barrel/2008/5/1/the-gas-tax-vacation-a-cheap-holiday.html