The audacity of politicians with shallow election year proposals - preying upon the emotions of the masses - shame on them all!
Okay I have done the math - our household will likely pay $62.50 worth of federal gas taxes between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Even if that is the same for every driving household in America, the problem of gasoline prices would not be resolved. In fact it would be worsened. Consumption would increase due to a false sense of "hey - gas is on sale - let's drive somewhere for the heck of it because it is cheap!" Consumption goes up - demand goes up - supply goes down - price goes up. This is not rocket science - it is the immutable law of market supply & demand. What new problems would be introduced as a result of the gas tax holiday? That is simple - the account that funds repair & construction of Federal highways and bridges (the Interstate Highway System) would come up short and work would need to be rolled back or another source of tax funding would need to be created to make up the shortfall - cool - a new tax. There is no free lunch, America!
Gotta Reduce Consumption, America!
The only (emphasize ONLY) way to reduce the price of gasoline at the pump is to reduce consumption over the long haul. If a politician wanted to solve the problem, the focus would be on reducing consumption, not finding more supply (by the way - if we decided to go after the oil in Alaska today, it is estimated we would see the oil in about 2014) or playing with taxes (fun topic - could we please pay more?). So . . . what might a clever government do? What does the government really have control of? Hmmmm . . . remember the mention of the Federal highway system - yes, the Interstate Highways in America. Those are the highways that we use everyday to get from one place to another at a high rate of speed. Their purpose, however, is to allow the military to move resources from point A to point B during a national emergency. They are controlled by the Federal Government. Here is an idea - instead of a 3 month gas tax holiday, how about a monthly one-day closing of the Federal Highways? Huh? How can this help?
Ah - let us count the ways! Americans would need to alter their lifestyle one day a month. They might stay at home or in their own neighborhoods and discover alternate activities such as gardening, playing games with family and friends, walking with neighbors, visiting local parks and playgrounds, discovering the natural beauty of their immediate surroundings vs. that found 40-50 miles away enabled by the Interstates and a 35 minute ride at 65mph. What would the residual impact of this monthly closing day? Oh my, well, let's see . . . . um . . . that list might include increased family & community interaction, reduced pollutants released into the atmosphere, improved health of nature and humans, reduced stress, increased support of local "mom & pop" businesses . . . the list is seemingly endless. The impact upon gas prices at the pump? Well, the inverse of the gas tax holiday strategy, of course - consumption goes down - demand goes down - supply goes up - prices go down. Once again, the immutable law of supply & demand.
Okay - let's review this idea of a Federal Highway holiday (NOT a gas tax holiday):
- Lower gas consumption, lower demand = lower prices
- Lower pollutant emissions = improved environment
- Increased family / friends / neighborhood time = greater communication, reduced stress
- Improved climate for local, small businesses = improved economy
Okay - the reality is that all Americans can decide to just stay off the Interstates one day (or more, for that matter) each month and accomplish the same thing without government intervention. However, as we all know, we just aren't that concerned or committed to the ONLY solution. Thus, we need our elected officials to watch out for us - sad, but true. And all this can be accomplished via Executive Order - yep - the President could order the Federal Highway Holiday Program without our dysfunctional Congress - pretty cool, huh?
I know, I know - you think it just wouldn't work because of this, that or the other thing. Really? That is what exceptions are for - yep, public transportation and emergency response vehicles could continue using the Interstates on the Holidays. Maybe (just maybe - gotta think about this one) even food hauling 18-wheelers. Pretty cool, huh? Now you are seeing the possibilities, aren't you?
In the overall scheme of things, it is a bi-partisan get well plan for America. It would reduce dependence upon oil, create demand for alternative products such as short-range electric vehicles (new jobs), improve the environment, boost small businesses (the majority of America) and re-introduce families to themselves - anybody really have a problem with any of this? Talk it up, folks. Thanks for listening!
