Business Insider

By Charles

May 5, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

Write your Congressman and Senator to support drilling for oil in ANWAR and offshore, the building of new refineries/nuclear power plants and any other measures to make us more energy independent. Until technologies like fuel cells, solar and other alternatives become more reliable and efficent we need to take advantage of our own resources (responsibly of course). The Al Gores of our society have made the weak-minded into ‘chicken littles’.

By robo

May 5, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

” It is time we invest in our transportation infrastructure so that we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil, so we can slow down the growth of congestion and so we can have energy-efficient choices on how we get around.”

You must be kidding. You want Americans to park their grotesque SUVs and mini-vans, with the ridiculous video monitors in back for babysitting little Johnny. Then, you have the nerve to suggest something that sounds like the communistic rapid rail that has been sucessful in other countries. People would have to sit next to, the horror, other people that are different from themselves. Plus, no video babysitter. That in itself is intolerable, because parents would actually have to speak to their kids.

You, must me un-American, and definately not a patriot to suggest such blasphemy.

By Carl Boodram

May 5, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

Ms Saporta: I relocated from Boston and I totally agree with you; until the decision makers materialize your idea we would have more complex problems with traffic in the city; the infrastructure for expanding the rail is there; this is a win situation for all: make people walk more(better for their health, less pollution, attract more business/tourist in the city, decrease the dependence on oil; I miss Boston for that rail system especially for that choice of transport; enjoy your articles; don’t stop writing; Carl

By Einstein

May 5, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

first we should consider not voting two big oil men into the white house. then we should consider not following every con man that comes along and says they are a patriot, says they are Jesus’ best friend, or says they give a damn about your kids, just because they say those things, doesn’t make it all automatically true. to hurt so many American families with everything that has been done to manipulate oil prices for huge profits is not patriotic, it’s also something Jesus wouldn’t be in favor of, and if it hurts ourt families, then it hurts our children too. bush and cheney should be seen as people who have seriuosly hurt this country for reasons of power and greed. to support them now for any reason is counter-patriotism.

By robo

May 5, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

To you ANWAR drillers out there:

How is it that oil produceed there will make us anymore energy independent? Do you actually believe the lie that this oil would somehow stored, refined, and stays in the U.S.?

Just like the oil currently being produced on the north slope, the ANWAR oil would be sold as crude to Japan or N. Korea. The producing oil companies make far more profit that way, than transporting it to U.S. refineries. Less overhead, and the price is right.

The only new, possible domestic source that even has a chance to “stay in the U.S.” is the Bakken oil field, and it is huge. However, the developing oil companies will drag theit feet for obvious reasons. If you put the Bakken on the market, the bottom falls out of oil and profits fall too. Then, and only then, will the U.S. be able to be oil independent.

By Dave

May 5, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

Charles is right! We are in this mess because we have voted in the wrong people to run this country. Every congressman who has voted against drilling in ANWR or off the coast, has hurt this country. Instead of being energy independent, we are paying $4 a gallon for gas, and sending trillions of dollars a year to other countries to buy oil. We need to wake up and take care of ourselves.

By Motorcyclist

May 5, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Couldn’t agree more. I couldn’t agree more. We need to move to oil independence, more effective mass transit and smarter communities with shorter drives or walks. The place to start, raise the gasoline tax. And legislate that ALL fuel taxes must go to reducing our fuel dependency (not some pork politics). And all the while I enjoy filling the tiny tank on my motorcycle while all of those in their land yachts b*** about the price of fuel. Get a clue people.

By ron

May 5, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

The tax on gas needs to go up not down.The tax to register vehicles that burn excessive gas needs to be increased to the point where the vehicle is worthless.This was just done in Great Britain and all the older gas guzzlers are very expensive to register.Their value has declined so much that no one will buy them.The money collected needs to be invested in alternative energy.I don’t mean ethanol either.Fuel cells,electric vehicles,nuclear plants,all need to be put on the front burner.

By John

May 5, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

Motorcyclist- I have known too many people to be run over by ignorant drivers. One of which was my father who was run over and killed three years ago on I-75. An ignorant driver made a sudden lane change, he didn’t have a chance. Gas would have to go to $20 a gallon before I would put that much risk on my life to save a few bucks…

By doorknob

May 5, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

First of all, drilling in ANWAR is a win-win solution; its very logical you see, the oil in ANWAR regardless of how much is there, WILL by definition make us energy independant. Only true patriots can comprehend that. Secondly, we need to stop funding our roads with gas taxes and start using sales tax or divert money from education to build roads. There are people out there who do not own a cars or do not drive often, these people are not buying there fair share of oil and are not paying enough in gas taxes. Just because they dont use the roads does’nt mean they should pay for them.

Remember, this November write in our dear leader George W Bush for a third term.

By zeke

May 5, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

NO! NO! NO! Rail is not the answer! Building homes on top of each other is not the answer! Trolleys are not the answer! HOV lanes are not the answer!

The liberal democrats, radical environmentalists, the sierra club, the aclu and others have prevented us from taking advantage of our abundance of natural resources including oil for the past 40 years! We have enough reserves, if allowed to use them, to be totally independent of foreign oil! There is reported a million barrels per day available from ANWAR alone! That is enough to replace all the oil we receive from Saudi Arabia! Add the outer continental shelf, the northern plains deposits and others and we can be independent! Our main suppliers are Canada and Mexico! We must tie our aid and support given to them to a fair priced uninterupted supply of oil from them! Same for alll others, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kuwait and all others! We must, in a slow planned chage, move away from the other items that require huge amounts of oil, mailnly plastics and other synthetics derived from oil! Finally, WE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PUT A COLLAR ON ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENTS AND FORCE THEM TO BE LIMITED BY THE CONSTITUTION IN ALL AREAS! This includes, taxing, reulation,socialist entitlements and others!!!

By GeezGuys

May 5, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

It wasn’t the federal government that voted down MARTA when offered to the hicks in Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton. Most of their residents haven’t changed a bit. They’ll cling to their SUV’s; gas prices, pollution, and congestion are problems for somebody else to solve.

By Economist Ernie

May 5, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

How about the obvious? Use less Oil and become independent. Raise the price of gas to $7 a gallon (like in Europe) and use the extra taxes to fund mass transit.

$7 a gallon gas will get people to make some choices and drop the demand for gasoline a good bit. Sticking another $2 - $3 in taxes on Gas will fund transit projects quickly and free up road construction money too.

By john

May 5, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Who dove to work alone today? We can all talk about independence from foriegn oil but we need to be responsible here—-now. I park my truck at a park and ride and take the bus and train to work. I use to fill up once a week. Now I fill up only once a month. I am saving over $2000 a year on gas alone. We have to decrease demand and increase technology for other energy sources. Anywhere movement happens energy is being transfered from one form to another. How do we harness that movement. Windmills, Geothermic, Oceanic surf, Solar. These are all clean, renewable and free sources. Current manufacturers don’t want to retrofit or invest in new technology decause it costs money and they don’t want to affect their bottom line. There is an oil deposit in our own midwest that is larger than any arabic deposit ever. The thing is it is locked in shale. The oil companies are not interested in it due to the cost to extract it. All the oil companies are posting record profits. The US goverment should mandate that those profits be used in R&D. There are answers. Everyone is just too greedy and status quo.

By Koz

May 5, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

Suspending the Tax is definitely not the answer to the high prices BUT I am for reducing or eliminating any tax, any time, any where.

By James

May 5, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

A Gas tax holiday won’t solve all of our problems of high gas prices but it will help people that will traveling long distances during the summer vacation season and it will help people who’s lives depend on driving. No one said that this will cure the problemsof high gas prices but it does help, and it is a start to lowering the price of gas and taxes.

By GW

May 5, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

What kills me is the politicians taking the citizens for fools. Of course we make it easy for them to do so. A temporary gas tax relief is not the answer, simply election year politics at its’ finest. Just like the rebates.

By Brian Carr

May 5, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

The high cost of commuting is creating financial pressure for workers. And while building out a more complete transit system is definitely the long-term solution that Atlantans support, there is an immediate solution that can yield instant relief from gas prices: telework. Working from home just one day each week could slash the cost of commuting by 20%.

The region is wired for telework, as more of us hop on the information superhighway. And Georgia is the only state known to offer employers a Telework Tax Credit. The Clean Air Campaign helped more than 100 employers apply for this tax incentive in 2007. More information on how The Clean Air Campaign helps companies set up telework programs is available online at http://www.cleanaircampaign.com. There’s even a section on the Web site to help employees bring up the topic of telework to their supervisors.

Transit is important to the region’s future. While the region waits for transit infrastructure to be built out, the opportunity exists to take action today by leveraging telework programs.

By gttim

May 5, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

If we had done what Jimmy Carter wanted to do back in the 70’ when he was president- “proceeding to make us energy independent form the mid east” - we would not be in this situation. It is even more important now that we work to make ourselves independent of the oil nations and the oil companies. However, we won’t. Corporations are too greedy to give up their profits and would rather bankrupt the country than help it. Republicans are too stupid and self-righteous to admit they were wrong and start to work to really fix our country.

By poofta

May 5, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

How about rail lines to Cobb and Gwinnett counties? Not to mention Hall, Cherokee, Clayton and Douglas. I can’t park my car and take mass transit until it is practical to do so.

I will NOT live in Fulton county, but I would love to ride the train instead of drive.

By CWS

May 5, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

I knew Einstein was smart, the real problem lies in Washington. Empowering big oil ( PROFITS ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH ) the bush administration has all but…./ no the HAVE raped this country to the point of financal ruin. Those who would be nasayers are either married to the current administration or just have their heads up their own %^%$##.

By bbb

May 5, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Atlanta needs better transit. Trains that go places where people live and stop at places people work. I think a lot of Georgians would support some kind of tax that would make transit a reality by 2015.But have someone from Boston, NY, or Europe come and do the planning. God knows if we have someone here do it it will be worse than Marta!

By casey

May 5, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

More oil drilling is NOT the answer. Alternative energy in the long term is the way to go. You can not tell me that if American Engineers had not seriously set about getting vehicles that ran on alternative fuels, electricity, or what ever, we would have had them by now. So soon we forgot the 1970’s oil crisis. That is what this Country got with those co-conspirators Bush/Cheney. They have made themselves even richer by oil,Halaberton and war contracts. This can be added to Bushes legacy of Iraq, cronyism and Katrina.

By Steve

May 5, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

I’m seeing a lot of liberals on here today, shouldn’t you be out celebrating cinco de mayo with your illegal buddies? Anyway the federal gas tax should be repealed or at least the 27 cent diesel tax. Truckers are going broke and that is the reason the cost of everything is going up, they have to charge more to fill up. Knocking off 27 cents a gallon would help a lot. I just don’t understand why liberals think more taxes are always the answer.

By casey

May 5, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

More taxes are not the answer. Actually changing the greedy American lifestyle is. Research and development supported by Government. Stop driving ridiculously large vehicles to fit your ridiculously large asses. Maybe walk a little? Ride a bike? Bring back the Deparment of Energy? Mandate the car industry to get 50 MPG and they will start rtying.

By casey

May 5, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

More taxes are not the answer. Actually changing the greedy American lifestyle is. Research and development supported by Government. Stop driving ridiculously large vehicles to fit your ridiculously large asses. Maybe walk a little? Ride a bike? Bring back the Deparment of Energy? Mandate the car industry to get 50 MPG and they will start trying.

By Brent

May 5, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Like ALL liberals, they NEVER believe that the government can or should do without the taxes it confiscates from the citizens!!The money derived from the gas tax goes into the general fund anyway no matter what a politician will try to tell you so if you cut the gas tax, you will only be asked pay more taxes to make up the “difference. If the people vote for school money to be used for TADS just watch your school taxes go up. Most people NEVER learn!!!!

By ATLborn

May 5, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

bbb- I disagree, MARTA or someone from here planning a regional transit system is not the problem. As someone mentioned earlier, the ppl that live in the places where MARTA does not travel voted it down many years ago. Many folks think a “bad urban element” will use mass public transit to get to their neighborhoods. Its the most backwards thinking around but that was the prevailing thought that led to MARTA being excluded from Gwinnett, Clayton and Cobb.

If we could get enough ppl on GA’s capitol hill that gave a d@mn about the Atl region, we’d have advocates there that realize the region must have a mass transit system that reaches all the places ppl want or need to go w/in metro Atl. This effort must be driven by state government. But until we vote out dummies that believe re-paving and widening roads are the answer to everything then we are doomed to continue having one of the worst traffic and smog problems in the nation.

By robo

May 5, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

For ANWR drillers:

What makes you think oil that is sold to S Korea and Japan will make us somehow energy independent? That IS where north slope oil goes today. It is NOT sent to U.S. refineries. Given the practice of maximizing profit by sending oil produced there to the nearest buyer(Japan, S Korea), just WHAT makes you think ANWR oil will be any different?

A real answer lies in the Bakken oil field. Research it for yourself. HUGE find. Bigger than Saudi and easier to bring to U.S. market.

By ANWR Driller

May 5, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Oil obtained in the U.S. and sold elsewhere affects (makes it lower) the spot oil price for oil everywhere—because it increases the SUPPLY of oil. In that respect, it’s no different from corn, rice, steel or other commodities.

Why is that difficult to understand? It’s termed “global commerce.”

By michelle

May 5, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

as previously mentioned, drilling in ANWR is not going to save us. christ people, get your heads out of your rears…with record profits being posted by our oil companies with no remorse, why on earth do you think they’d just hand it over to domestic consumption when they could make a killing exporting it?

how exactly are we moving forward when we are in the mindset to keep consuming the same product? why don’t we invest in and actually start producing fuel that would be better for the environment, cheaper on everyone, etc? drilling in ANWR is bad for the environment, continues the cycle of oil dependence, and is a short-term fix.

you don’t have to be “chicken little” to support that. it’s called realism folks.

By lolo

May 5, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Mass transit does not affect the people in outlying metro counties such as Barrow, Jackson, Walton, Cherokee, Paulding, etc., which would be most Georgians. So why should I pay $7 per gallon on gas to fund transit I might use once a year.

Smart energy independence is the answer. Let’s help Brazil drill for oil in that new offshore field discovered recently for a piece of the pie if we can’t drill in our own backyards thanks to Congress. Of course then we’d be accused of exploiting them…

By ANWR Driller

May 5, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

If higher taxes would solve our energy problems then why hasn’t the doubling of prices in the last few years begun to alleviate the problem?

If oil companies’ “outrageous profits” are the problem, then how will eliminating their 8.5% margin reduce the price of gasoline substantially?

On what moral or legal basis would you justify “taking oil company profits”? If you were an oil company and the government seized your profits, why would you continue to make investments to try to find oil in the future? How would this be different from Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez? If the government should be the entity to decide what constitutes a fair profit in the oil industry (Clinton, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Schumer), then why shouldn’t the government apply this line of thinking to the industry in which YOU work?

If you were a retiree who depended on the stock you hold in oil companies for your retirement, why should you look kindly on the government “seizing your profits.”?

By lovelyliz

May 5, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Write your Congressman and Senator to support drilling for oil in ANWAR and offshore, the building of new refineries/nuclear power plants and any other measures to make us more energy independent.

You are aware that ANWR oil oil would be years away and even at best estimates might serve us with 1 year of oil.

Besides, oil from that region largely ends up in the Far East.

By jk

May 5, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

How can anyone say raising taxes to $7 is the answer? Food prices would be astronomical, truckers would be automatically out of business, people won’t be able to afford getting to work, business and economy would be crushed, families go hungry due to food prices. Is that what you people really want? Our economy to collapse? Like it or not, the American way is driving a car. Americans love their cars and most thinking Americans would rather use alternative fuel so they can keep their cars rather than ride mass transit. We are free and entitled to do what we want with our money, if that means driving a car, then we have that freedom and choice to do so. Guess that makes us greedy, but that is how capitalism works and we are the most prosperous country in the world because of capitalism. So we are greedy for enjoying the fruits of our labors? Hm, that’s the same idea Lenin had-punish and take from the rich. Forbid people from owning anything. Punishing people with higher gas taxes so they will be forced into changing their behaviors is a socialist idea. Instead lets take Brazil’s example. They use cheap fuel made from sugar cane. We can use molasses, it’s extremely cheap. Much cheaper than corn. Let’s solve the problem intelligently rather than automatically raise gas taxes to rediculous levels, and punish Americans for owning cars. Our next vehicle will be diesel, and we will use veggie oil. You can go to americanfreedomfuel.com and do the research for yourself. Look at what a little footwork and innovation will do for you.

By lovelyliz

May 5, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

There is not incentiver for oil companies to open more refineries or to update, maintain, run at max capacity the ones they have.

By ANWR Driller

May 5, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

If the government “should mandate 50 mpg on cars”, then why shouldn’t they mandate the size of homes? How about the thread count of sheets? Is there any detail that should escape the government’s “perfection”?

If gasoline is no longer the fuel we should be using, then who should decide what’s next? You? The government? Really? Is the government going to design, produce, distribute, and service the vehicles? How is this different from communism? What’s the demand for Ladas these days?

Why shouldn’t consumers determine what the next fuel should be? Why shouldn’t private companies develop the next fuel and the next type of vehicle—driven by consumer demand. If EVERYONE wants a small 50 mpg sub-compact, then why did the government have to give tax credits so that people would buy Priuses?

By BPJ

May 5, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

If we assume that prices at the pump will actually go down during this tax suspension (i.e., we assume that the oil companies won’t just raise prices to pocket the difference), then:(a) to the extent there is any savings from the temporary tax decrease, there will be more demand for oil (& less incentive to invest in new technologies), so the price of oil will increase; and(b) the government of Iran will have even more money to keep itself in power (it doesn’t matter whether we buy from Iran or not; upward pressure on oil prices affects the world price of oil, which benefits the Iranian regime). Brilliant. Let’s call it “the President Ahmadinejad Tax Cut”, because that is who would benefit most.

By jk

May 5, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry, the website above is http://www.freedomfuelamerica.com/index.asp

By Ruth

May 5, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Look, folks, the gas prices will NOT go back down. You will NEVER see gas at $2/gallon again. The only way to pay less for gas is to USE LESS OF IT. Whether that means carpooling, downsizing the family car, or investing $$$ in new fuel alternatives (and ethanol from corn is NOT it - that only raised food prices and isn’t helping the gas situation at all), our only answer is to discipline ourselves to USE LESS GAS! So, let’s go out there and do it! However, I would appreciate even a week’s worth of no gas tax… for that gas I HAVE to buy…

By GDOT Sux

May 5, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

The Georgia Dept. of Transportation is really just the Georgia Dept. of Roads and Highways. They have done nothing for rail and mass transit, nothing to make improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians, etc. For them, it’s just about giving huge amounts of money to road builders and cement companies.

Charlotte is building a nice rail system, and attracting business headquarters away from metro ATL.

GDOT is bloated, a semi-racist, semi-sexist, good ole boy environment that needs to be blown up and completely started over.

By robo

May 5, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

ANWR Driller

Funny, you never answered my point, but spouted nonsense instead.

How does increasing the “SUPPLY” with ANWR’s questionable, hard to recover, and won’t stay IN the U.S. oil make The United States energy independent???? That was the question.

Also, if it’s SUPPLY, why not go after what everyone agrees is the big fish on the continent? Bakken oil field. Guaranteed you won’t answer. You will just spout more rubbish lies.

By shag rug

May 5, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

ANWR Driller:

Looks like robo just drank your milkshake.

By john

May 5, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

So now true patriotism is measured by ones stance on ANWAR drilling? Give me a break! The government nor its citizens can control what the global oil companies do. We can’t even get them to swear in before testifying before congress.

If and when they drill in ANWAR they will sell to the highest bidder. Look at the price of gas in Iraq, a perfect example.

By Walt

May 5, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

What really is the answer?? I fear we all are doomed. Choas is not far off. Dosen’t the phrophecy say Benedict XVI is the last pope before end of days?

By debbie

May 5, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

We need to drill like HELL for oils off Floida, California and Alaska!! Also need to develope technology for Shale Oil. We have Shale Oil reserves that make Saudia Arabia look like a small pond.

By Mindy

May 5, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

I am so scared about these prices. I have picked up a second Job just so I can afford to fill my car up to get to and from work.

By Dan

May 5, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Now is not “a” time to place blame or increase taxes on anything, especially motor fuel. But it is a time in which our country needs to “begin” to clean up the government waste including all the “feel good” hand out programs that cost our country tens of BILLIONS each year and actually benefit only a small manority, most of which don’t even pay taxes. Fuel tax is a prime contributor to our state and federal governments. But a “temporary” freeze on fuel taxes would do more than lower the pump price. It would show governmental “compassion” for all our citazens at an ever increasing time when “we” feel our government is leaving us flopping in the wind. It’s not “the answer” to our long term fuel problem, but it is an immediate, controllable part of our governments that could be used to provide us much needed RELIEF!!!!!

By lovelyliz

May 5, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

our only answer is to discipline ourselves to USE LESS GAS!

Imagine that, suggesting discipline as the answer.

By gttim

May 5, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

“…[I]t is a time in which our country needs to “begin” to clean up the government waste including all the “feel good” hand out programs that cost our country tens of BILLIONS each year and actually benefit only a small manority, most of which don’t even pay taxes.”

If you mean the corporate welfare and farm subsidies (that go almost exclusively to agribusiness), I am so with you!

If you mean the less than 6% of our federal budget that go to things like food stamps, free lunch programs, and Aid to Dependent Families, that help feed children who committed the crime of being born into a poor family, I am not. Where is your sense of compassion!?

BTW, the fuel tax pays less than 1/3 of road construction and maintenance. It is the drivers who are getting a “feel good” handout from taxpayers. You should be paying enough in fuel tax to pay for you roads!

By Mack

May 5, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

Truckers, cab driver, dilivery drivers and vacation travelers will benefit greatly from a gas tax holiday. Saying that this is just a political opportunity is plain stupid. Gas taxes is money that is taken from tax payers and the more of our money we can keep the better. America need relief from high gas prices and anybody that thinks that the gas tax holiday would not be for consumers and good for the economy just don’t understand economics.

By Don'tMoveUpHere

May 5, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Look, if you city slickers wanna live a**holes and elbows on top of one another, that’s fine by me. However, I don’t wanna live in the city and I certainly don’t wanna live in a live, work and play-style community. They are noisy, light polluted places where you can’t get a moment’s peace. There are so many street lights on Riverstone Parkway in Canton I can read a book in my bedroom at night with my lights off! Hey, here’s a thought! Save electricity - turn off the effin lights!!!!!

Canton is turning into one of these type of crap holes and we are moving (yet again) to get away from it. You can no longer see the stars at night with all of the light pollution and heights of the new buildings on River Stone Parkway has reached city-sized proportions. Jeez, do you really need 3,4, and 5-story buildings in CANTON? It’s outta control.

One good thing about high gas prices is that it has slowed growth down somewhat. The folks that don’t wanna drive 5 minutes (gasp!) to a grocery store are no longer coming our way. Yay!

By vanessa

May 5, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

Having a gas tax holiday is NOT the answer. It may save you about an extra 10.00 a month, not everytime you pump gas into your car. A family of 4 can’t even go to McDonalds on 10.00. It is a political opportunity for Hilary to make herself look good. And of course everyone is jumping on it. American needs something now and months and years from now. Gas is still going to be over 3.00 gallon.They are taking about taking an average of .20 per gallon off and that leaves you with 3.40. And what will gas prices be after the summer months and we step back into the real world. I don’t want a gas tax now, only to suffer for it during Christmas time. The holiday season is just as important as the summer months. I would love for gas to be 1.99 from now until the end of time. I don’t want a gas tax now and have to pay 5.00 per gallon during Christmas when I’m trying to spend the holidays with my family. I want someone who has a plan for the years to come, not just until the end of July. Saving 10.00 is not even a 1/4 tank of gas much less saving me TONS of money to take my family on a summer or winter vacation. So people need to think about the long road ahead and not just now.

By len

May 5, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

Hey to all you Dumb Asses out there: CORPORATIONS DO NOT PAY TAXES AT ALL— The 32% Corporate Tax rate is passed down to the Consumers (Cost of Business). As a result Everything you buy at the store: Gas, Food, Clothes Has the Cost of these so called Corporate Taxes buried in the price. Corporations should not be punished. They provide Jobs and Services to us all. Here is a Novel Idea — Lower The Corporate taxes to next to nothing and see How many companies relocate their businesses to THE USA. Wow— that would produce hundreds of thousands of jobs and even send Billions more in Personal Income Tax to Washington to wastefuly spend. Americans need to be educated on Basic economics— The Masses are DUMB!!!!!!!!!!!!

By A.J. Widacki, PE

May 5, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Maria,

Finally a media type who understands the transportation funding crisis that this nation is faced with. The Gas Tax Holiday idea is a band aid when the patient has wounds in other areas that require a tourniquet, namely our crumbling national transportation infrastructure. Now if you can get your peers across the nation to understand this as well. Businesses need transportation to move goods, materials and their employees. Congestion degrades our quality of life and cost us more for goods and services, because it takes longer to get those goods to market. Thanks Maria.

A.J. Widacki, PE Transportation Engineer, Houston, Texas

By Webster's

May 5, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Folks, there’s only one A in Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. ANWR.

By Calm Down

May 5, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

We need more oil, more alternatives to oil, and lots more conservation. Any plan that leaves out any of those elements will fail, short-term or long term.

And if taxes are part of the plan (urgh), then we have to raise taxes on energy and energy-wasting vehicles and appliances and then eliminate any taxes on those that are energy-efficient. Penalize what you want to stop, reward what you want to encourage… grade school stuff.

By Ann Clark

May 5, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

Drilling in ANWAR is the solution only if any and all oil pulled from Alaska is sold in the US for US consumption. Not one drop can be put on the world market.

Congress would never agree to this because their oil buddies will go nuclear if they couldn’t sell it on the international market.

By The good side

May 5, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Anyone that writes that a gas tax holiday please vote for McClain and Clinton it shows how much you want to keep everyone in the poor house!

Our Oil companies don’t even sell all the oil they produce to the US. We need build new refineries and let them mke money!

We are in trouble if the people voting for candidates are anything like these posts@ We need to start saying GOD HELP AMERICA!

By Mike

May 5, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

I’ll grant that you folks are pretty smart and could out talk me in less than a minute. Given that, here’s what I think. We’re both trying to do what’s best for the future. Difference is, your future is ten, twenty, heck even forty years from now. My future is my road home. So, the gas tax cut works for me. Plain and simple. When tomorrow gets here I’ll deal with it then… same as today.

By ANWR Driller

May 5, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Robo Dweeb:

For the foreseeable future it is unlikely that a single source will make the U.S. energy independent. Increasing the supply, including drilling in ANWR and other now-forbidden places—can help. Surely you can understand that something can be contributory to a solution without constituting the entire solution.

The Bakken oil field you cited as THE solution is still speculative. It may eventually prove to be very productive, but it produces little oil at present.

I understand that you cannot grasp the concept of a portfolio approach to energy sourcing—relying on different types of energy from different geographic areas. But give the idea some thought.

If Bakken is THE answer, put your money where your mouth is. Invest all your assets in the Bakken oil fields, quit your job today, and just wait for the dough to roll in. I’m sure you’ll be wealthy by next week and that all of us will be filling our vehicles with cheap Bakken gasoline by then.

By definition, your not doing so constitutes dishonesty on your part, Robo Dweeb.

By EC

May 5, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

Good topic and good debate. Thanks Maria.

By robo

May 5, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

ANWR Driller

Is that the best you got? Oh, and like I predicted coming from a jerkwad like you, NEVER ANSWERED THE QUESTION! I’ll try once again for a dullard nimrod like you. How is it that oil that is sold to other consuming countries (north slope and presumably ANWR)make The United States of America energy independent.

Plus, dimbwit, ANWR is speculative as well, however Bakken is easier to exploit and MUCH closer to U.S. refineries. Bakken is “speculated” to be exponentially larger and more productive than even the largest ANWR speculation,(ANWR=milliions Bakken=Billions) so speculate your meager brain away.

Like that shag guy said, “I drink your milkshake! Drink it up!” Yes, I do.

I bet you are so stupid as to think the tanked dollar has no role in our current oil price run-up either, don’t you? You want me to school you on that small matter?

By WTF

May 5, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Raise taxes ??? You cant be serious ? If you raise taxes for essentials that people are already struggling to afford you will force the economy into a depression. People cant just sell their car,truck or SUV and hop on so type of mass transit …most still owe money on the vehicle. So once you add more taxes and make things less affordable people won’t be able to travel to work..then they end up losing their house and guess what, all that tax money you wanted to collect wont be collected and you will spend more tax dollars supporting these families on wellfare. What economics class ever called for higher taxes during a recession as a solution to ANY problem ?

By Willie

May 5, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

If we are not a third world country, if have larger incomes and better life styles, if we have to pay $4 a gallon of gas, what are the Europeans, Chinese, and others paying for gasoline? How can these smaller GNP countries afford so much gasoline? Am I missing the big picture? Or is the oil companies a monopoly and need to be turned into utility with price controls. Yeah, I know 15 billion dollars a quarter profit is not enough to pay for the supply. I am sending the governor of california a bill for the gas price difference. After all it was his progessive greenearth wacho liberals who convinced the liberal congress at the time to forgo building refineries and drilling for more oil. Tell me someone! Is the oil crisis going to really turnout to be like the greenhouse crises? I see NO real crisis but just a liberal consensus to gain power!

By poofta

May 5, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Here’s the plan.

America is NOT a majority rules government, because the majority of people aren’t smart enough to know what is best. It isn’t always best to let the people vote on every issue.

Local governments need to get off their butts get away from the majority rules bs and do what is best for the region. Traffic and gas prices are killing the Atlanta area. Build a mass transit system (TRAINS!) that do something! “Those people” that we are so afraid of can get a taxi or steal a car if they want to get into your neighborhood so bad.

Macon to Chattanooga! Athens to Newnan! The roads are already jammed in these areas, trains would be profitable and take CARS OFF THE HIGHWAYS!

I know its a tough concept. Wouldn’t it be beautiful tho?