Re: Bill Richardson and Oil Independence

I answer Bill Richardson's question about the best way to help solve America's dependence on oil.

Sorry for taking so long this week (and the bad editing and lighting). I have been very busy lately.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Energy
• YouChoose
• Alternative
• Climate
• Global
• Warming
• Oil
• carbon
• tax

[balbu01]

Don't you mean remove the substitutes and the taxes from the gasoline, let the free market take over? I don't think it should be taxed more, but I do think the market should reflect the price and not the government. It would also encourage better/different technology.

[Razela]

No because there is market failure. The market's price is lower than the actual price of gasoline because no one absorbs the costs. The market only works on its own when all the costs are absorbed by the buyer. In many cases of external costs (environmental costs is a great example) this doesn't happen.

[drzhava73]

You're right, money talks...makes people think twice. Having studied petrochimical processing as a chemist, i was always amazed at how little a gallon of fuel costs when considering the amount of processing involved from the well to the pump not to mention all the fuel required to transport the fuel. And, like you said, we're not even talking about the total costs on enviro/health etc...

[SuperHoodlum]

hi, i enjoyed your response regarding the issue of oil independence. I would like to recommend checking out "richard clough's" book about high fuel prices and alternative solutions. People who actively propose new solutions should brainstorm and network, and perhaps something will be done in the future. Keep up the good fight.

[DClaudeKatz]

Jamie, I would guess that you are familiar with Greg Mankiw's blog and the Pigou Club. If not, you should check it out. (I won't give you links, but Google can find some appropriate links in a second or two.)

[DClaudeKatz]

I'd like to separate the point about rich vs. poor from the point about rural vs. urban. The tax will impose costs on rural people because they are already imposing disproportionate costs on the rest of us. To the extent that it's more efficient, people will be encouraged to move to the cities. That's a feature, not a bug. The rich vs. poor issue is one where economics reaches its limit. At least it could be partly redressed by making the existing tax system more progressive.

[nathannis]

totally awesome!

[nathannis]

no offence that is a bad idea a sin tax doesn't lessen a problem it stays and the only difference we have ten dollars to add to our price. a good idea to help support alternative fuel is to get rid of company support for a politician so they can be more open to new fuels rather then being paid by the currrent oil companys and maybe we can get rid of haliburton too.

[ResidentGrouch]

You dont need new taxes

or fancy fuels like hydrogen or propane

See this video: Air car from France part 1

[MikeJames6]

More taxes and more taxes that is the Democrat way. And then after the election the Democrats ask? Why did we lose yet another election?

[penxv]

I think you are cute... but you shouldn't encourage the politicians to tax us more.

Because they will anyway.

[LingusUSN]

If you want to add more tax gas. So be it I will follow you, but you have to be confident about your decision. By saying "This is why your not a politician," you are backing down on your own arguement which causes your audience to loose confidence in you.