Clinton-McCain gas tax holiday slammed as bad idea

[mdmc]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080430/pl_nm/usa_politics_gastax_economists_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A gas tax holiday proposed by U.S. presidential hopefuls John McCain and Hillary Clinton is viewed as a bad idea by many economists and has drawn unexpected support for Clinton rival Barack Obama, who also is opposed.

"Score one for Obama," wrote Greg Mankiw, a former chairman of President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers. "In light of the side effects associated with driving ... gasoline taxes should be higher than they are, not lower."

[Skink]

1. They want us to drive more.

The Americans they are staring to conserve.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Mankiw wrote my Macro theory textbook...

Solid text.

:shrug:

[mdmc]

4. Oh, I completely agree with Mankiw on this

I was pointing out (with bold) that even the Bushies know this is a bad, bad idea. Rob Reich (former Clinton staffer / now down with Barack) was ranting against the idea too.
:kick:

[Fovea]

3. The worst of bad ideas.

Even Clinton's version with a windfall tax does little to prevent the price from rising, just lessons the additional profit while taking the money used to repair roads away.

When I told the MoDOT Bike Ped ADA coordinator this would be a danger back in March, she laughed in my face. Here it is, and her candidate is suggesting it.

"There is no breaking point," she said.

Hey there, Ms. Coodinator, is it still funny?

And I have to ask, are you still proud of your two SUVs?
By this summer, I predict you will have to take the bike off the rack, and ride it to work.

But if there is no gas tax, you won't have a job, so that's ok.

[rust1d]

5. "Gas Tax Holiday" On-Line Calculator - How much would you save? $12.94 for me

See this DU post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5757604
Or direct link to the Calc: http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=13lkzo