<<"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?
4 comments:
Doesn't work. Not your idea or anyone elses. We need to take a look at places like Japan and England. If we make a toll to drive into the cities, more people will take public transportation. Not to mention the initiatives Japan is taking at the moment to have sustainable trains accessible for the majority of their country. Fewer people driving means that our air is cleaner and that transport is more affordable for the masses. I saw huge amounts of buses in LA, yet most people don't consider that as a possible alternative. Make it more expensive to drive and more convenient and cheaper to take the bus and things will begin to change. Not to mention that buses and other forms of transportation could be run on recycled cooking oil and we're well on our way to reducing our waste and air pollution.
Not to mention the fact that there are hybrid buses already on the streets that release little to no emmisions at all. I am a fan of public transportation when it is convenient, even if it does take a bit longer than wheeling around in your own car. Plus, no car = no car insurance, no gas to buy, no oil-changes, no maintenance and repair = A+ in my wallet. I'd shell out the 50 bucks a month for a bus / train / metro pass in a second because I'd have the added convenience of not having to drive all the time and worry about getting into a fender bender because of some other stupid driver on the road. I'm all for public transportation and want to see it make it take over.
Clearly I'm all for public transportation, but my issue addresses the more immeadiate need of a compromise to the "gas tax holiday." If politicans are so hard up to find a temporary fix, then wouldn't this be a better soultion?
As for the gas prices in other countries, I totally agree with you. If gas were 5-6 dollars a gallon you would see people stop driving much more. However, the reality of the situation in American politics is such that people won't stop driving, Washington will just approve drilling in Alaska, digging into our emergency reserves and further getting into bed with OPEC. We need a strong policy of education on gas conservation, balanced with a reasonable price point.
What about alternative fuels though? Restaurants go through enormous amounts of cooking oil which can than be recycled and used as gas. Would be cheaper, and it would be less wasteful all around. Government incentives for having converted cars could be one step and the government could tax this oil, yet it would remain cheap as it is recycled waste.
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