Gas Price Solution

As I take a look at Hillary's "Gas Tax Holiday," its clear that it's arguably the dumbest "solution" to a problem ever. Even an article in the Wall Street Journal (Rupert Murdoch's pro-capitalism rag), quoted an economist as saying:

<<"The gas price break scheme is stupid," said Mark Nielson of MacroEcon Global Advisors.>>

It occurs to me that there may be a more simple solution.

Remember when gas stations offered different prices if you paid cash or credit? What if the Bush Administration lobbied the gas companies to return to this policy. Okay, the idea of the Bush administration doing that is laughable, but perhaps the Obama administration would be interested. Anyway, imagine a gas sign that reads:

Cash: $3.89.

Credit: $3.99

The theory is that the extra ten cents the gas company charges you is to cover the fee credit card companies issue. Essentially, you are asking the company to pass along their savings from not having a credit card fee to the consumers. 

Not only does this save just as much money as eliminating the gas tax, but it also will encourage Americans to live within their means and not further enter debt by charging their gas purchase.

Realizing that Bush is in the pockets of the oil companies AND credit card companies makes this a tall order...but could it work if someone who wasn't corrupt occupied 1600 Pennsylvania?

ABC Special

Okay, I hate blogs. I  mean I don't hate them...some are very useful (http://www.insidesocal.com/kings is a good source for LA Kings info...okay the only source for LA Kings info), but most are blah. But, since I have a blog now, I feel like I should populate it and as it just so happens I felt compelled to write about what I just saw on ABC and I had no other forum for my anger since Kelly is out tonight. Alas, you'll have to suffer in her absence.

So I Tivo'd this ABC special about secret messages Michaelangelo may have hidden about religion in the Sistine Chapel. Anti-religious messages blatantly on display in a church? Count me in! 

Anywho, as I was Tivoing through I see a "Viewer Discretion Advised" warning. I rewind because I can't wait to see what's so controversial. Is there some long lost interview with Michaelangelo where he drops the f' bomb or perhaps Michaelangelo going to church with Reverend Wright? Nope. The warning read as follows:

Viewer Discretion Advised. This program contains Renaissance Art images that depict nudity. 

IS THIS A JOKE?!?! I mean seriously. Are we sooooo beholden to the FCC and the lunatics on the Right that we have a warning about this? It's culture people. The depiction of nudity in art is just that...art...culture...whatever you want to call it. Anyone who is so ignorant to complain about nudity in a Michaelangelo painting is an idiot and should have their television taken away from them. 

What's next? Ratings at museums?

 "I'd love to take my child to the Degas exhibit, but it's rated PG-13 and I'm afraid those tutus on the ballerinas are too revealing." 

OR

"That Dali painting is rated NC-17. I will not expose my child to this! Now if you'll excuse me, the family is sitting down to watch CSI."

In a country where John Kerry was too educated to vote for or Barack Obama is too elitist because he can't bowl, do we really need to further go down this road of cultural ignorance to the point of this mild form of censorship? 

The irony is, the last segment of the special was about how when Michaelangelo finished the painting, parts of it were so graphic that some (see: Catholic Church) want the nudity covered up. A compromise was reached and years later clothes were painted on them. It wasn't until a restoration centuries later that the clothes were removed and returned to how Michaelangelo intended them. Can you imagine a politician covering up nudity today. Oh wait, John Ashcroft did it. 

Why not drop ABC a line and let them know what you think. Only, not that they showed nudity, but that they insulted our intelligence by having that warning. They can be reached at:

http://abc.go.com/contactus.html?id=ABCCOMGlobalFooter&lpos=CONTACT

My First Blog

Okay people. It's go time. So many people have said to me "Benjamin...why don't you have a blog? You're charming, funny and I'd really like to hear your opinion." Okay, the only person to actually say that was my dog Mufasa and I'm 100% sure he can't really talk and that I made this whole thing up. In any event, it is my plan to post on this blog when something pops into my head or if  notice something in the world of entertainment, sports, politics that catches my fancy. So, in the immortal words of Mufasa, "here goes nothing."