Gas Tax Holiday? Who's the Real Elitist?
It was bad enough that Sen. Clinton signed on to the plain-as-day-pander to suspend the 18 cent-per-gallon federal gas tax for the summer months, but her continued allegiance to an idea that has been universally (except for her and Sen. McCain) derided offers a couple disturbing insights.
In the face of overwhelming evidence that the suspension would suck anywhere from $9 billion to $10 billion from the treasury, encourage more driving -- which leads to greater pollution and an increase in demand that would drive prices back up to pre-tax suspension levels -- and deliver even more obscene profits to the oil companies, she was back on TV today saying she didn't hold much truck with economists. That "if we did it right" she would see that it would be implemented effectively.
That, said Gail Collins in Saturday's Times, "turns a proposal that was unlikely to ever get passed into one that could not make it through the Senate if Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy both rose from the dead and hand-carried it there."
And despite the senator's assertion that she's going to "reverse the trends I've seen in our government and our political system," what she's actually peddling is more of the same.
It's the Iraq war resolution vote all over again -- and it's a page out of the George Bush playbook: make a mistake, and by God I'm gonna stick by that mistake because I'm resolute. That's not reversing the system, that's perpetuating it.
And the subtext to the whole gas tax suspension -- critics-be-damned, she knows better and she's going to take care of all of us working folks out there -- strikes me as more than a little elitist, frankly.
A pat on the head and 30 bucks in the wallet might sway a few folks, but the truth is it's more of the same misleading, elitist, top-down Beltway nonsense that's gotten us into the mess we're in.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
It says more about her supporters than her. They are buying this and it's absolutely amazing that they are but then again they don't have any respect for the rules and most can't count because they keep calling this a tight race. If Obama was in hillary's position, he would have gotten out with dignity.
you must be rich to turn your nose up at a tax cut. no one thinks the gas tax holiday is a long term solution, but what's obama's big idea for the gas price problem? everyone buy a prius? build your own wind farm? get solar panels? who the frak can afford that... oh, yeah, rich people. rich people buy organic toilet paper and drought resistant gardens, but poor people kinda like 30 dollars. they kinda like anyone who understands the value of 30 dollars. and that's why obama attracts rich. white. people.
When did Senator Obama say any of those things? That's like me deriding Senator Clinton's long term policy goal of using alien technology recovered from the Roswell crash and stored at area-51 to reduce our foreign oil energy dependency.
Its ok though, who needs that tax to fix our infrastructure? I'm sure the people who died in that bridge collapse don't mind aging and unmaintained infrastructure right? That's ok, when this plan gets passed (and don't for an instant think it's going to tax the gas companies to make up the loss to the highway fund) and there is even less money for maintaining the infrastructure, everyone will be able to complain about those elitists who don't understand poor people who can't afford to fix their car after it falls into a pothole and breaks in half.
FYI it's laughable to attempt to insult anyone who isn't for this stupid plan by calling them rich. There are many of us who are living very far from a comfortable existence but we're still able to realize the folly that Senators Clinton and McCain are trying to force on us.
I have told the story of a girl in my childhood neighborhood who used to swap nickels for dimes with her little brother. He would be so delighted because the nickels were bigger.
It sounds good to get $30 unless you understand the complexities of the economy which make it clear you will not be at a $30 advantage. You will have your pocket picked (by oil industry, by increased deficit spending, by continuing infrastructure degradation, by dollar valuation decline, etc) with the thief handing you the loose change ($30 dollars).
If you get enchanted by the jingling change, you will not only let them rob you blind, you will be holding the door for them as they make their clean escape.
I know some of this is complex, which is exactly what Hillary is counting on. She needs the uninformed and the undereducated to buy the "big nickel is better than little dime" theory.
Hillary is fooling you. It will work if you let it.
Right... it can't possibly be because it's a bad idea, it won't work, and if anything it will make things worse.
Nope... can't be that. It's cuz we're LOADED!!!!! I roll in money every day! I light my fat cigars with hundred dollar bills and have my personal servants wipe my a** because I'm that f*cking rich!
Oh wait... I'm a college student taking a semester off to make money, living in a studio apartment with an old analog TV that has 1 channel, limited hot water, and a cheap futon I like to call my bed. This internet? I found a stray wireless connection. Guess I'm just an elite rich white person.
It isn't a short term solution either. Let's assume for sake of discussion that the bill passes (which it wouldn't). The only way the gas tax holiday works is if the oil companies lower prices after the tax cut takes effect. Do you think oil companies will lower prices? They'll have to do it altruistically, because the tax holiday does not include a price cap. Oh, right, they've already held the price of gasoline down for the benefit of working people and the good of the country.
Tax holiday =higher profits for oil companies
Let me make this simple for you. When gas prices go down demand goes up. When demand goes up, then the oil companies raise their prices. So in the end, we'll pay the same price or more for gas. But the tax money that we use to fix our roads and repair bridges (remember that bridge that went down in Minnesota last year) will now be going to the oil companies. That is what is most likely to happen.
Hillary promises that she will tax the oil companies' windfall to make up the difference and support the roads. The only problem is that before coming up with this boondoggle she already promised to use that tax for her other programs.
Even if we overlooked all of the flaws in this plan and conceded against common sense that it would work as promised, we would still only be reaping $30. Why not put the effort that it would take to get this bogus deal done into doing something meaningful for those who are suffering the most. Like how about raising the income bar for eligibility for food stamps and increasing the amounts availlable for each eligible family. Food is getting more expensive and it's going to be hard for lots of families to feed their kids this summer. Or how about some additional finanancial relief for Americans that doesn't require us to consume more gasoline to get more relief?
The sad thing is that her pandering just might work.
I think several of the comments already here prove that this pandering does indeed work. Which is a very frightening fact.
Hillary Clinton is busy appealing to her demographic base, the undereducated, who are most vehemently supporting her.
The same demographic that thought GWB was a swell guy, but are confused and bewildered why things are going so badly in the country right now.
Wouldn't it be great if we had an educated, intelligent, honest media --you know, one worthy of their First Amendment protection-- to inform the public instead of feeding them a steady diet of gossip, sensationalism, and corporate-sponsored spin?
YY2H8-
great post....i agree completely with you.....it
"oh boy....gay
but you're right about sitting confused and bewildered
The same demographic base that will go to McCain in the fall.
Hillary Clinton does not need to listen to any stinking elitist experts.
She is acting very presidential. Just like President George Bush, she has the right to ignore anyone who has facts and knowledge on their side.
Hillary - running to be our new "Decider".
Why do you call lying "misleading"? Even Clinton knows she is lying about any gas tax holiday and yet she gets credibility for wanting to "help" the downtrodden. Clinton insults our intelligence and why she gets away with it says something about the character of the people who buy into her lies and support her.
In fact, most economists are elitist. It doesn't change the fact that this time they are right.
You hit the nail on the head regarding a niggling thought that was playing at the back of my mind. What else was Hillary doing that is so similar to George Bush? Of course, that's it. She won't back down from a mistake. This woman is George W. Bush in a pant suit and beads.
..and that is the LAST thing and person that the USA needs.
In reality she is a pandering coward. She is not looking out for my best interests. No more Clinton Bush dynasty.
Yeah that offering of 30 bucks in my pocket is not enough to be a cup of starbucks, being that I am an elitist b/c I have a college degree! (I don't even drink Starbucks!)
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
