On Tuesday 15 April, 2008, Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain proposed something I thought I would never see or hear pass the lips of a politician. He proposed that the federal government suspend taxes on gasoline from Memorial day to Labor day, I’m assuming he is including diesel fuel in that statement as well.

I happen to think this is a good idea and would most likely pull this nation out of the recession it is in now, heading fast for a depression, ala 1929.

It would give the trucking industry a breather from high fuel costs, this in turn would result in lower prices at the grocery stores and supermarkets. Thus freeing up some money for the consumer to spend elsewhere. Sure, it’s the basic trickle down theory, that former President Reagan used to lower taxes, and was reviled for it. But I believe it will help us recover from the disaster we are facing now.
The lower gas prices will also encourage families to take vacations that they had cancelled due to the high gas cost. This reaction will also help create jobs in the tourism industry, we will most likely spend our vacation in the United States, as we seem to be hated by the rest of the world, this is fine with me, I’d rather see American dollars spent in our own nation rather than in Europe, where the base of US hatred seems to sit. Granted, tourism usually only lasts 3 or so months in this county, but that little boost just my pull us back from the edge of disaster.

Now detractors of McCain’s idea will scream that we can’t afford the lost tax revenue from such a vile act of giving Americans a slight break. And they just may be correct, but politicians have no problems telling Joe or Jane Average to tighten up their belts and carry on, well, let’s see how Congress likes being told the same thing from those of us who pay their salaries.
During this short tax relief, we could tell them to sell the limos and SUVs that we pay for, plus the upkeep, and of course fuel. Let them travel in working stiff’s type of transportation, Ford Focus, Taurus, Chevy’s alike models, and the rest of American made vehicles.
If you want to travel via limo or SUV, I have no problem with that, just don’t ask me to pay for it, in fact all government vehicles could be downgraded to the above cited vehicles, except for police, fire and medical vehicles, they have an actual need for speed at times, and should have it. Other government employees don’t move so fast on the job, so why should we supply them with high horse powered vehicles?

I have read that the US will lose around $10 billion if this abatement is acted on. Well I just happen to have the perfect solution to that problem. Let the law enforcement agencies in this nation do their jobs and start deporting illegal aliens from this land, this action would save us a lot more than a mere $10 billion, this action will also free up a lot of jobs for American citizens and LEGAL foreign workers, thus increasing our tax base and revenues.

At the end of the tax abatement period, it would be interesting to force Congress to justify the reimposition of the tax, and exactly why it is needed.

Now the states will scream bloody murder, as they depend upon that tax for road repair and upkeep, but I have a question about that. Where is the money from the state taxes on gas and fuel going now, and what is it being used for?
Is the federal government helping the states meet their budgets? Is this not the reason for state income, sales, water and property taxes?

McCain has a good idea, but sadly probably it will never see the light of day. Congress is just well overfed and doesn’t want to hear about diets for themselves.



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