quote:
Originally posted by teyates:
The problem with gas taxes is that it is a percentage, not a fixed price per gallon. The more gas goes up the higher the collection of tax on the gallon at the pump. There is no reason for the government to step in. Bush has absoultely no control over the price of a gallon of gasoline, and neither will the next president. If you are voting for the next president and thinking that heor she is going to save you money at the pump, you are sadly informed.
Actually you are only partially correct. A president does not have direct control over gas prices, true, but the policies of an administration does have affect.
For example, an admin can give tax credits on only the largest most gas guzzling suv's, which would encourage more gasoline to be used. I must admit only an idiot would do such a dumb thing, but that was one of the first things Bush did.
An administration (along with congress) can invade a country for no legitimate reason, and finance the entire thing by borrowing money from China running the national debt up the the highest level it has ever been. This record debt causes our dollar to loose value in relationship to other countries currency (like the Euro), meaning commodities purchased on the foreign market such as OIL cost more dollars. I realize only an idiot would consider doing such a thing to his native country, but wait ....
A congress can refuse to increase CAFE standards to include the most popular vehicles being sold, causing more and more demand in the gasoline market for few and fewer miles driven. Such a foolish thing you would think would never be done, but the Republican Congress in the 90's did exactly that.
A president can insist that the illegal occupation of a country in the part of the world where the MOST OIL lies, using 1/2 million barrels of oil per day, while insurance companies are charging enormous premiums on shipping companies who export oil from that region. True, only an arrogant stubborn idiot would do such a thing, especilly when most of the people of his own country oppose that occupation, but then an arrogant stubborn idiot may not give a damm about his own country and may do just such a thing.
Only a simpleton for a leader would take tax dollars (actually borrowed dollars from China) and give price support for a country he invaded which has the second largest known oil deposits in the world, so they can have gasoline at cheap prices (bless their invaded hearts) allowing them to burn more gasoline taking that much off the world market.
How stupid would a country's leader have to be that after being attacked, he advises everybody to "sacrifice" for the war effort by going on a shopping spree, and travel , and then virtually stop perusing the perp of that attack so he could start his own little war against the judgement of most of the rest of the civilized world?
Yes, the policies of an administration can and do make a difference. I hope what I have said here help you to see that, but if not, well , what can I say.