Atrocious policies but devious politics from McCain:
McCain Proposes Break in Gas Taxes
PITTSBURGH (AP) — John McCain wants the federal government to free people from paying gasoline taxes this summer and ensure that college students can secure loans this fall, a pair of proposals aimed at stemming pain from the country's troubled economy.
(...)
To help people weather the downturn immediately, McCain was calling for Congress to institute a "gas-tax holiday" by suspending the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He also renewed his call for the United States to stop adding to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and thus lessen to some extent the worldwide demand for oil.
Let me make the following bets:
- that proposal is going to be very popular, given how people are unhappy with gas prices;
- it is going to embarrass Democrats, who know it's an atrocious idea, and who are going to either be accused of wanting to tax poor Americans, or to not know what they want;
- it's going to reinforce McCain's reputation as a maverick with bold ideas (swoon);
- this is going to be supported by Bush, pushed through Congress in record time, and divide the Democrats - and eventually be applied;
- the price savings from this proposal will be cancelled by the increase in oil prices it will trigger;
- rather than saying it's a bad idea, McCain will double up and propose to eliminate the tax all year long (repeat and rince the earlier embarrassment - just before the election).
As I said: devious politics.
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There is a simple answer: be bold. Call the proposal insane. Say loudly that the prices will increase to catpure the differnece, with the money going to Riyad, Caracas, Moscow and Tehran instead of Washington. Accuse McCain of financing the enemies of America and terrorists worldwide.
And bebolder: offer to incrase the gas tax in exchange for a check to all Americans based on the yearly consumption of a big pickup truck (say - 15,000 miles at 15mpg ie 1,000 gallons. Increase the gas tax by $1 and send a $1000 check to each car owner). That would be smart politics.
Why am I not holding my breath?