Local IN Channel: Voters Not Impressed By "Gas Tax Holiday"

[osvaldojapan]

Hillary is always copying Obama's words!

Her campaign is clearly running out of money and she's not winning! If cant figure out, its time to QUIT, then she is a BAD politician! She is not worried with you! Its ALL about BUSINESS to her! She needs to pay back the lobbists.......thats clear! And if u elect her, then America is the DUMBEST nation in the world and u deserve all u get!

[jwilliams080]

I have read a couple "the economists most be stupid" post. This may be the quintessential example showing the problem in America today. Everybody has their own ideological views, and nothing, not science, expert analysis, or any other sort of hard evidence will convince them otherwise. Why is intelligent design still around? This is why America is falling behind. Our minds are closed which also hinders us from electing good leaders.

[CoffeePleaseNow]

The economist who are agaist this are the same economists who have been giving Bush economic advice all along. Most of Washington is paid off by Big Oil lobiests. No one has the courage to upset Big Oil, except Hillary.

[jwilliams080]

No, no, no. but thank you for your individual ideological views of why Hillary is superior. The problem is Bush did not listen to the economist either. I think Barack, who doesn't take any lobbyist money, would stand a better chance against Big Oil.

[ih8music]

The Clinton campaign cannot cite a single economist who thinks this "holiday" would result in any meaningful change for consumers. Not a single one.  Surely every economist in the country cannot be wrong about this?

It's a political stunt that even her own campaign admits cannot happen (Bush would surely veto any bill imposing a windfall profits tax on oil cos). To think otherwise is being delusional.

[Lampropeltis001]

We need longterm solutions, not a finger in the dyke! (OH SNAP! An awesome Hillary joke coupled with a great point.)

[JHdez360]

18 cents per gallon is nothing. At this point, I don't even really bother to look at the exact price of gas anymore. A few cents is just a drop in the bucket compared to $4/gallon. It's not like I can do anything about it. Well, I did buy a Civic last month, which will save about $150/month in gas. That makes a much larger difference than a "tax holiday."

[eljefereal]

As a side note. I think we (Americans) as a society are so individualistic (there's a 50 cent word) that mass transit simply can't catch on here the same way it does other places. Also, our time is so compressed that having ourselves at the mercy of a bus schedule or a rail stop simply isn't appealing.

We need a way to MODIFY our current vehicles to be more fuel efficient. Simply putting more hybrids on the road won't solve anything.

[peterchang78]

Hillary does not seem ready on Day One.

[gymclassshroxx]

I haven't heard the correct answer from any politician yet - only economists & media; raise gas taxes!! This would assist shifting from SUVs to high mileage/alternative powered, autos easier. America has a large # of employers who provide transportation subsidies (tax base funded) for public transportation, vanpools, etc. but the majority of the employees aren't aware of this benefit!! The increase could help to improve our rail system & bring it into the 21st C!!

[eljefereal]

And you won't hear it. Anyone who would say that would be laughed off the stage. Besides, oil is 11.5 times what it was 10 years ago. If that alone doesn't help us realize we need to do something, then society becomes the issue, not prices.

[cubeOfat]

Raising gas taxes would have disastrous effects on the economy and on the working poor. However, raising fuel economy standards to match those of Europe would both help struggling US automakers, and lower demand for oil, which would lower it's price.

[leepakim]

USA is too FAT...start riding bikes!

[ambientdiscord]

"well they are stupid... and idiotic..."

hahaha best expert analysis ever.

[moejardines]

Furthermore, fuel is the most important resource to rural america. Physical distance is the problem, you can't ride a bike 50 miles to work at maybe the only good job in your county. There is no bus or train. The tractors/harvesters suck up the juice. Us greens have to make peace with the reality of life in such a vast country. We painted ourselves into a corner constructing everything around motor vehicles, there's no option right now. People in cities often don't get it, we have options.

[moejardines]

The idea that we can significantly reduce consumption of fuel is simply ridiculous in the short term. Our society is constructed around the automobile.  Suburban dwellers are simply forced to consume huge amounts of fuel, because their communities aren't physically close enough to anything they need. The grocery store is out of walking range, they often lack sidewalks, the arterial roads are super dangerous for biking or walking, and work is often 20 miles away with no mass tranit option.

[stevenmirelague]

If "economists" are saying it would actually be better to RAISE gas prices, then the "economists" are dumber than the politicians.

[sharshur]

The thing is that the pressure on the market is so strong, that even if the price didn't go up, the demand wouldn't allow the price to go down. So basically it's giving 18 cents more per gallon to the stations and oil companies while at the same time cutting out funding we need and putting people out of work.

[HaloedG]

They say that because if the petroleum gas prices rise, then it will pressure more green alternatives. People will be more likely to go out and buy hybrid vehicles, which will spur the economy. Automakers will be pushed to innovate better technology and fuel efficiency as well. Students especially should be looking at buying scooters and cities will invest in mass transportation. Americans are obsessed with SUVs and Hummers and then wanna complain? Its their own fault. I say raise the tax.

[annarboriter]

Clinton seems to want to differentiate herself from Obama more and more. I wonder whether she and McCain are working together on this plan.

[StraightShooter01]

This will go down as the "Hillary Holiday Flop" and will make a very loud THUD as Americans realize just how much Hillary thinks of their intelligence.

That tax, Hillary, funds construction & repair projects for our bridges & highways. Americans have already DIED from bridges collapsing. Thousands will be put out of work while these underfunded projects are put on hold. Then as this "Hillary Holiday" expires there will be a price jump, just in time for school.

Wake up America

We need CHANGE

[FeelFreeToArgue]

There should be relief, but it should not be a quick bandaid. It should be serious relief that attacks the real systemic problems. We need to encourage green technology and build up our mass transit infrastructure, as a couple of starts. I think taking away the gas tax is pandering, a perfect "starve the beast" tax cut. I'm not as sure about Obama's proposal, but I don't want either candidate trying to win me over w/ gifts. Talk about our damn problems and how you're going to fix them for good.

[mike50333]

This plan is going to cost $12 Billion Dollars from the Highway Construction Fund,and would cost 312,750 Highway Construction jobs.  People really have to do their homework before jumping onto a blank check of a plan.

[Deweydecible]

Yeah, this "gas tax "holiday""(I thought I would double up on the quotes for "holiday") insults my intelligence.

This may have worked before the age of accelerated mass media. Now, anyone can get online and see that every economist has come out with the hard numbers on why this is bullshit.

Panderfest.

[captaincracklins]

Gas more than doubles in the past few years, and politicians think they can woo us by tossing a few pennies our way? This is the test of which candidates are bullshitting us. This is the test of which candidates are truly elitist and condescending.

[snarkwaupaca]

The problem is not the cost of oil but the way bush and his friends have de-valued the US Dollar. Fix that and Gas gets cheaper.

[776281]

Peak oil is here, demand is exceeding supply. Prices will go up and up, how about $5 gal this time next year or about $180 bl.

Look at the state of the fields, where they are now drilling for oil, the cost of processing tar sands.

Put the whole picture together and it's ugly.

[FeelFreeToArgue]

This is not peak oil - this is good old-fashioned gouging. There is plenty of oil for the forseeable future. The Saudis have tons of the stuff, the US has sizable reserves. Iraq has the 2nd largest reserves, which is why there is so much interest in having it not pump to keep the price up. Read Greg Palast's book Armed Madhouse for a more in-depth explanation, but what it boils down to is helping the Saudis keep Iraq pumping at a very low level to constrict the supply and keep the price high.

[776281]

Gouging can only work temporarily, this is permanernt. If GWB targets Iran then the price will skyrocket overnight.

Forget the Prius, sell the SUV and buy a moped.

[dscglfr00]

OPEC says they want to raise gas to 10 dollars a gallon and raise the price a barrel to $200.. ppl need to stand up against the oil cartels...

[HaloedG]

People need to innovate. Let the oil tycoons have their oil. The sooner the US devotes time to invention, mass transportation and cutting emmisions, the sooner we can get out of war, save our economy and make the roads safe again.