Thomas Friedman: Be brave U.S. -- tax gasoline more

Posted Sep 22nd 2009 6:00PM by Joseph Lazzaro
Filed under: Politics, Oil

New York Times (NYSE: NYT) Columnist Thomas Friedman returned to the subject of the United States' inordinate use of oil, and the problems it creates.

Friedman asks: are we really so tough a people? If we were, we'd tax gasoline much more, build many more nuclear power plants (like France), and store waste deep in Yucca Mountain, which is totally safe -- all with the goal of propelling a paradigm shift in the nation's energy policy, one that would feature dramatically less oil consumption.

Doing the above will also seize the high ground internationally, in Friedman's interpretation: currently, with oil dominant, Russia and Venezuela and other nations in the Middle East have the high ground. Friedman said if he had the money from an additional $1 per gallon tax on gasoline (about $140 billion in revenue per year), he'd use 45% of it to pay down the budget deficit, 45% to pay for new health care, and 10% to cushion the burden the tax would put place on the poor and those who need to drive long distances.

In the process, the deficit would drop substantially, the renewable energy industry would be stimulated, the dollar would strength, the environment would be cleaner, and U.S. corporations would be stronger international competitors, as a result of decreased health care costs, among other benefits, Friedman said.

Energy Analysis: Friedman succinctly described the benefits of a mandated shift away from oil and gasoline use. One critique: Yucca Mountain is safe, but a nuclear fuel reprocessing center like France's COGEMA La Hague site represents a better option. In any event, don't look for a gasoline tax increase anytime soon: it's a non-starter in the U.S. Congress.

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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)

9-23-2009 @ 6:44PM

Windslicer said...

The man is a flaming idiot.

The problem is not a lack of oil and the problem is not the poor American worker who requires fuel to propel them from home to work so they can ensure this great country going on ticking without missing a beat.

We have enough oil reserves under the USA to fuel us for centuries.

The problem rests firmly at the feet of all ill informed people like Friedom and his ilk who support intentional governmental impediment and barriers that in essence inhibits viable oil exploration and production in America.

Any idiot who supports a higher gas tax to limit gas consumption should be required to support their resolve by partaking in primitive from of transportation only. Let us say horse and buggy or maybe the bicycle or how about walking?

9-23-2009 @ 7:04PM

DORA said...

you rotton son of a bitch who are you to tell them to tak gas more dam we are paying taxes for ever dam thing going now and now you all want more fuck you basters go to hell

9-23-2009 @ 7:09PM

Kent said...

Liberal left-wing going against the mainstream again. They just don't get it, do they?

9-23-2009 @ 7:11PM

Mike T said...

I was in South Carolina last week, and the gas prices were all around $2.20-$2.30, with a low of $2.13. Then I returned to Democrat-run Rhode Island, where the prices hover around $2.65, and back to work in Democrat-run Massachusetts, where the hover at a comparatively reasonable $2.55-$2.61. The difference, of course, is taxes. For a party that professes to be for "the people" and "the woking man (woman)", they sure do love to tax the people, especially the working people, as they go off to work, to pay the federal and state income taxes.

9-23-2009 @ 7:24PM

mage0213 said...

obviously an idiot- he supports the exact same issue that caused the state of affairs we are in- what happens when Gas goes up? Well if you didn't know that is probably THE major factor that caused the market to crumble- look at the facts- Gas goes up, transportation goes up, transportation goes up wholesale price go up, wholesale begat retail increases begat less money to pay the mortgage AND more money to get to work begat less money to pay the mortgage, the new auto, the credit cards, and the utilities: increased gas means increase in utilities because it costs more to drive the crews to keep the systems running- think about that!!!

9-23-2009 @ 7:27PM

mage0213 said...

OOHH I almnost forgot- higher gas ALSO prevents people from affording the OBAMA Mandated Health insurance- which will increase taxes paid because too many people can't afford to pay their basic necessities- food, clothing, and shelter

9-23-2009 @ 7:28PM

mage0213 said...

which will subject so many to the 2.5% fine for NOT having something they can't afford anyway

9-23-2009 @ 7:51PM

Don said...

Why don't we just work for the government and they can pay us an allowance every month. I don't really need my paycheck.........NOT

9-23-2009 @ 7:54PM

Fizzlestick said...

What this jerk does not mention. Is that America Depends on the Trucking Industry.

Without trucking you cant send out your products or get food, clothing, furniture, Products, or even gas.

Disel gas prices are hurting -Truckers- and trucking companies. We're also being hurt by changes in law's to insurance requirements and we're being hurt by DoT which stalks and harasses Truckers for cheap change.
DoT will just -make something up- if they dont find anything wrong when they pull you over. Because as long as you set foot in that court room, they know money will come out of your pocket.

Higher gas tax's will effect the price of anything that is shipped via Truck.

The best way to do this would be to make sure it does not apply in this case. Also finding a way to make it cheaper for truckers will help them and help America.

9-23-2009 @ 8:02PM

Kenny said...

Sounds like yet another moron that's bought the global warming hoax, hook, line, and sinker. I'm sure no one will protest if his finances are so abundant that he wishes to contribute more to the presently idiotic government which is currently ruling. The rest of us, leave alone!