- Joined
- Jul 20, 2005
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You heard me correctly. Gas prices are too low. It'd be wonderful if they hit $5 or $6 next year, but even $4 would be good. I'm a libertarian, but this is the one tax that our government needs to increase...and increase heavily.
Why? Because oil is now THE biggest issue of national security. We MUST wean ourselves from oil as soon as possible, and the only way to do that is by creating an economic environment where alternative forms of energy become cost effective (read: high oil prices). If people are paying high prices for oil, they will soon tire of it and demand more fuel-efficient vehicles.
While government should increase oil tax, it must also begin a "Manhattan Project" to develop these alternative fuels. I know that this would not be as efficient or as cost-effective as letting the private sector do it...but the private sector is moving too slowly. This is NOT simply an economic issue; it's a national security issue. It's no coincidence that Iran and Venezuela grow more belligerent as oil prices rise. If we neutralize their primary weapon against us, we wouldn't need to care any more about their internal affairs than we do about Africa's. While not caring about their affairs is indeed sad from a human rights perspective, it is a very wise national security policy. This would free up a great deal of American military resources, to be brought home, to protect American dominance in East Asia, or to deal with the nations with the most pressing human rights issues (as opposed to the OPEC nations that simply make the most noise).
I'm not saying this would be easy; it wouldn't. Under this plan, Americans would almost certainly have to tighten their belts to pay for gasoline over the next few years, and perhaps reduce their gasoline consumption. We have grown accustomed to not having to make any sacrifices for anything, no matter what problems the world faces. This must change, and it really isn't that big of a sacrifice considering what most other generations of Americans have had to do during times of war.
Why? Because oil is now THE biggest issue of national security. We MUST wean ourselves from oil as soon as possible, and the only way to do that is by creating an economic environment where alternative forms of energy become cost effective (read: high oil prices). If people are paying high prices for oil, they will soon tire of it and demand more fuel-efficient vehicles.
While government should increase oil tax, it must also begin a "Manhattan Project" to develop these alternative fuels. I know that this would not be as efficient or as cost-effective as letting the private sector do it...but the private sector is moving too slowly. This is NOT simply an economic issue; it's a national security issue. It's no coincidence that Iran and Venezuela grow more belligerent as oil prices rise. If we neutralize their primary weapon against us, we wouldn't need to care any more about their internal affairs than we do about Africa's. While not caring about their affairs is indeed sad from a human rights perspective, it is a very wise national security policy. This would free up a great deal of American military resources, to be brought home, to protect American dominance in East Asia, or to deal with the nations with the most pressing human rights issues (as opposed to the OPEC nations that simply make the most noise).
I'm not saying this would be easy; it wouldn't. Under this plan, Americans would almost certainly have to tighten their belts to pay for gasoline over the next few years, and perhaps reduce their gasoline consumption. We have grown accustomed to not having to make any sacrifices for anything, no matter what problems the world faces. This must change, and it really isn't that big of a sacrifice considering what most other generations of Americans have had to do during times of war.