Politics and Culture

McCain's gas-tax gimmick is about what one would expect from a Republican candidate, given that his party's shortsighted energy policies are partly to blame for the fix we're in today. Rather than supporting conservation measures, such as tougher vehicle fuel standards, the Republicans wasted years fighting a pointless battle to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. President Bush continued to hammer on this tired theme Tuesday, as if unaware that it would take about a decade to extract a drop of oil from the refuge and that doing so would have a negligible effect on prices.

From the dwindling Times.

Let' me get this strait:

It's wrong to actually do things that lower prices like reduce taxes and increase supply (ANWR), but it's right to mandate fuel efficiency standards (The first two would be too easy, I guess. Where's the challenge in actually reducing the price?). Typical left wing control freak.

First, any mandates would have have to be phased in over a long period of time (The last one will take place in 2020 or something), little solace to current motorists.

Second, consumers have their own CAFE standards. Anybody can choose a fuel efficient car if they want to.

Third, CAFE standards limit choice (and may hurt American manufacturing). What if Americans want/need a bigger car? Is it the government's job to tell us how much to spend on gas?

The bottom line is that, like a typical lefty, wants to manage our lives, the economy, and make the best decisions he can for us (I drive a small car and I like it. I think everybody should.).

Freedom!