home
Hillary's Indiana Ad Criticizes Obama on Gas Tax | 169 comments (169 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Is that way possible this summer... (3.00 / 2) (#5)
by Addison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:09:27 PM EST
...with Bush as president? Bush isn't going to veto a tax on oil companies?

No. It's pie in the sky. And still a pander.

[ Parent ]

Time for the Dem leadership (5.00 / 4) (#16)
by Stellaaa on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:20:21 PM EST
and Obama to show some backbone.

[ Parent ]
FIrst of all (5.00 / 1) (#147)
by BernieO on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 06:22:52 AM EST
there is nothing wrong with pushing for something just because it may not pass. That is what is wrong with the Democrats. This is an election season and the gas prices are fueling inflation so there is a chance that the Republicans would go along with this if only to help themselves in the fall. Because Hillary also includes easing the supply crunch through releasing some of our stragegic oil supplies, it may actually work. It should take some of the pressure out of the futures market which is responsible for a lot of drive up of the prices. Since gas prices are behind a lot of the food price increase it should also slow that down.
This is smart policy and politics.

[ Parent ]
global warming (none / 0) (#194)
by diogenes on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 03:15:27 PM EST
I thought global warming was a problem.  Reducing gas prices to increase demand will help this?  Maybe if she supported a permanent suspension of gas taxes to take effect January 21, 2009, this might help a little, but even then if demand goes up due to lower prices it'll be a wash anyway.
Pander bear and triangulation-the Clinton way.

[ Parent ]
Yes. There is no way we will (none / 0) (#151)
by lilybart on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 07:47:28 AM EST
get a windfall profits tax passed anytime soon, and maybe never.

I am not sure how you quantify "too much profit" in a capitalist system.

What needs to happen is an elimination of tax breaks and subsidies, since clearly, they do not need them. And maybe penalties for extracting energy in America, but offshoring your profits to avoid taxes. THAT should be stopped.

Otherwise, this gas tax holiday is pure pander.

[ Parent ]

lilybart, too much profit means (none / 0) (#165)
by lookoverthere on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 10:39:14 AM EST
you're making money and I'm not. Heh.

Yep, it's pander, but I have to tell ya, our food bank has sent out another call for donations ahead of schedule. People (mostly single moms) are already having to choose gas over groceries and are going to the food bank to make up the difference.

As summer comes, a lot of those single moms are going to have to hire babysitters or get daycare for their kids.

I know quite a few truck drivers or people who hire out as heavy equipment operators are having a hard time paying for fuel as well. Our local farms...well, we're losing our family farms, like a lot of places.

This ain't no longer term answer, but a gas tax holiday may ease the burden for some for a bit.

[ Parent ]

No it won't. (none / 0) (#167)
by lilybart on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 10:52:50 AM EST
I get that people are hurting but this gas tax will not result in lower prices for more than a few days until the summer demand drives prices up again.

Save 18cents by cutting out processed junk food, like the gallon of Coke people drink.

There is no reputable economist who thinks this is any kind of good idea.

[ Parent ]

lilybart, you think the people I'm talking about (none / 0) (#185)
by lookoverthere on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 12:04:48 PM EST
buy Coke?

Are you kidding?

They go to the local liquidation warehouse to buy dented cans and busted boxes of whatever they can get their hands on. They don't sell milk and fresh fruit and vegetables at these places. And the local farmers' markets don't sell fresh fruit and veg cheap, either.

I agree with you: a tax holiday is not a long-term solution. But it's something and right now some people need a little help over the summer.

[ Parent ]

But Hillary says.... (none / 0) (#190)
by lilybart on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 01:04:51 PM EST
Hillary has endorsed it so don't try to talk sense to anyone here!

[ Parent ]
No, it is showing that the Dems get it! (none / 0) (#171)
by alexei on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 11:11:57 AM EST
If this doesn't happen because of a Bush veto and no override due to Repubs intransigence, then the Dems win.  This is a big issue to Americans - the Repubs either are for us or agin us on this and if agin us, then, watch out in November.

This is good politics and good short term policy.  A gas holiday paid for by the oil companies and a stimulus to the economy is good.  Of course, if Clinton didn't also have medium and long term plans, I would be against this.  But, she does.

[ Parent ]

Hillary's Indiana Ad Criticizes Obama on Gas Tax | 169 comments (169 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

  • Premium Ads

  • Blog Ads

  • Contribute To TalkLeft

    donate to TalkLeft