Posted by
Young Republican on Monday, May 05, 2008 2:25:06 PM
Ah the conundrum that is Barack Obama who I am reluctantly learning to like personally, and hate more and more on policy. The issue, which I disagree with him the most, is energy.
The Gas Tax debate, an issue we are told is so important it could determine the next President. Not quite. But you have to forgive the media after the hideous job they've done the election season. When they finally get to an actual issue, they of course, pick one of limited importance and then pick the wrong side to take.
With all the media bashing aside, my view on the gas tax is one of basic economics. The gas tax exists only to hurt low-income people. It serves no other purpose and not only should we suspend it we should eliminate it on the federal, state and local level. Consumers should never have to pay a penny in taxes for gas.
The reason for this is simple, gas is a basic commodity. To put it simply, a material that everyone needs to use daily to survive. When you tax said commodity along with a no regulation as to limits of the commodity, the wealthy are unaffected and the poor are greatly hurt. It's the worse mixture of free markets and high taxes possible. But Barack the great "change" of our time doesn't care.
In fact, he tars and feathers John McCain and Hillary Clinton for their correct stand on this issue. But what's worse is how he deceives. McCain and Clinton have been honest in saying this really isn't going to change the forces behind the high cost of gasoline, this is a small step in the right direction. One we must make and follow it with many others.
Obama was asked by Katie Couric what his plan was to help the price of gasoline come down. "Well...uh...I meet Americans every day who are really hard hit...you know...they're seeing...uh...a hundred bucks out of their pay checks because of rising gas prices that could make the difference in whether or not they can pay their bills. But...uh...understand this Katie...uh...the idea of a gas tax holiday is a phony approach. It is a gimmick. Notice he doesn't actually answer the question. The man is all fluff and no substance, he makes Sarah Jessica Parker look like Susan Jacoby.
Barack Obama talks of helping the poor saying they should buy gas efficient cars and take mass transit missing the common sense that dictates that if you can't afford gas at $3.67 you cannot afford a Toyota Priuius and that 90% of this country doesn't have mass transit. Obama is not just wrong for this country; he's Marie Antoinette in drag.