Reducing our gasoline consumption, the hard way

Most politicians are merely paying lip service to the notion of 'energy independence'. Morton Kondracke of Roll Call challenged our unpopular government to do something positive for the future, even though it would not be a popular move: Raise gasoline taxes.

Kondracke's believes that a 50 cent per gallon tax would diminish demand while encouraging the development of more fuel-efficient and alternative-energy source vehicles. Additionally, the revenue generated by the tax could be earmarked for alternative-energy development.

Sounds great, no?

The biggest issue with the tax is the economic impact. Such a tax would not just negatively effect the pockets of low-income drivers. Small businesses would be significantly hurt. And then there's the rest of us. Our economy is literally fueled by gasoline (and diesel). Most of the food that we eat has to be trucked to where we live. So, the cost of food would surge dramatically in the era of such a tax. Then there's the rest of the material goods we spend money on. Most of our clothing and consumer goods are produced far from where we buy them.

Finally, let's talk about the overall negative impact on the economy. If people drive less, businesses that rely on drivers and travelers will suffer or fail. As the consumer price index goes up, people will spend less on non-essential items (since the essentials are going to be expensive enough). This means that retailers will be selling less 'stuff'. Jobs will be lost as businesses involved in the sale or manufacture of consumer goods close up or drastically scale back operations.

Not a pretty picture, right?

OK. So, we don't put a 50 cent per gallon tax on gasoline. Instead, as a society, we blithely continue to drive like tomorrow doesn't matter. We won't plan our trips and errands for maximum fuel efficiency. We'll continue to purchase luxury cars or SUVs and pick-up trucks that we don't need for function, but think we deserve because it shows everyone how well off we are. Then, in a year or two or three, we'll still be paying at least 50 cents more per gallon. We'll complain about it. However, we'll blame OPEC. Heck, maybe we'll even insist on invading another oil producing nation for holding us hostage to our own wasteful and selfish fuel-hardy ways.

Maybe, our unpopular government could sneak an unpopular gasoline tax in on us. Maybe they could implement it in small increments over a few year's time. Gas prices will be rising naturally. And, yes it will make THAT even more painful. However, perhaps we can use the tax revenue to begin planning our future. Perhaps some of the jobs lost in retail and manufacturing could be shifted to alternative energy developers.

The future is not going to be pretty if we don't start weening ourselves off the fossil fuel tit. It's time to stop some of our spoiled ways and to take responsibility for our own future. Notice I said OUR future, not our children's future. We don't have a lot more years left on the earth's fossil fuel gage. It will be OUR problem. By the time they are adults with children of their own, the problem will be old news.

Here's to the future. May we be smart enough to have one.