John McCain gas tax pandering
Posted by BrianJohn McCain has proposed a federal gas tax holiday in which the federal tax on gas and diesel would be repealed from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The gas tax is just under 20 cents a gallon and the diesel tax is about a quarter per gallon. While the proposal has one possible redeeming quality, it is poorly thought out and revealing.
First of all it a bit dubious to suggest that the government can control prices in the manner McCain is suggesting. Gas costs as much as it does because of demand. If the government removes the tax and the price decreases then demand will increase correspondingly and push the price back up. It probably wouldn’t be a zero sum game, but it certainly wouldn’t be as great as what McCain is claiming.
What I find most interesting, though, is the fact that McCain, a well known global warmitarian, would pursue a tax policy that would increase use of one of the products that his ilk loudly proclaim is bringing about the end of the world. I don’t know about you, but if I really believed that internal combustion engines were going to cause major cities to by underwater in a few decades I sure as sin wouldn’t be encouraging the use of gas. Every single warmitarian liberal who whines about gas prices or - better yet - advocates lowering them is either confused or dishonest about their real adherence to the warmitarian sect. If they were strong in their convictions they would be pushing for higher gas taxes to discourage consumption and stimulate a private sector generated alternative.
I think policy proposals like this one lay naked the true intent of the warmitarians. They don’t really want to save the world. If they really felt the world was in mortal danger they would be willing to make tough choices. If you knew that an asteroid was going to hit the planet next year and wipe out all life I doubt you would be calling for taxes that fund NASA to be cut. No, their pursuit is one of control. They are engaged in a long term campaign to encourage people to voluntarily cede their freedom and give increased control to politicians and bureaucrats.
McCain’s proposal would have one possible silver lining in the unlikely event that it became a reality. Fast forward to Labor Day. Just imagine the VERY loud cries from Americans when the “tax holiday” expires and the price per gallon increases 20 cents instantly. There might actually be a little pressure for the repeal to be made permanent.
Related content:
April 18th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Cut gas taxes? I’m for it. I see this as less ‘panderous’ than the tax rebate because it is equally applied. Plus, eliminating the gas tax IMO is about the only action the Government should take to affect gas prices. While cutting the gas tax on regular people may not have much of an effect, removing the diesel tax might have an impact on the price of goods.
BTW, I’ll probably save $20 just on my trip to the beach, that’ll be more money for Tacky Jack’s.
Also, I don’t understand why Bush, McCain, Gingrich, et al. are jumping on the global warming bandwagon - just another example of the leadership undercutting the base.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
As an election year pander, its not too bad. Plus it puts his opposition in an uncomfortable spot. Whether its realistic, this is the campaign season, fantasy and unicorns abound.
April 19th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Good point Walt - compared to both Obama and Clinton supporting new carbon (gas) taxes, plus Democrats (Dingell) proposing an additional 50 cent per gallon gas tax.