The Guy household keeps two gas guzzling trucks - one Ford, one GMC - in the driveway. But we don't support rolling back any fuel taxes, as Senators John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and a small band of shortsighted pseudo-leaders now propose. If anything, fuel taxes should go up.
That could not only encourage conservation, it would also generate a windfall of public money for investment in American energy innovation, modern mass transit systems, and basic road, highway, and bridge maintenance. Rather invest in those basic elements of civilized society over the need for new tires and alignments the pot holes raise for the household fleet because cities and states can't afford to repair roads.
Responsible conservatives understand this reality, as the right-leaning Grand Rapids Press reminded us yesterday.
But "the people need relief," says the political leadership in New York.
And a gas tax holiday would encourage tourism and boating, according to elected officials in Michigan.
Aspirants for public office in Indiana are actually running on the idea.
Meanwhile, a formidable chorus of independent-minded leaders and analysts is pushing back with common sense.
"It's a quick fix for people who believe cheap gas is their birthright," Tom Kloza, chief analyst at an oil research firm told CNN Money. "It's not a prudent thing to do."
"Somewhere down the road you have to use less," Kloza added. "As painful as it might be, higher prices do sway behavior toward a more energy disciplined America."
