Politics of the Easy Answer

As much as I hate to admit it, Barrack Obama is right. Suspending the gas tax for the summer would not bring down gas prices long term. The savings would not really amount all that much for the average American. While I am all for cutting taxes, the temporary suspension of the gas is a ridiculous idea. It is nothing more than a campaign ploy by those advocating it, namely McCain and Clinton. It amounts to buying votes.

While Obama is right about that, his energy policy is wrong. Energy independence means drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. One thing confuses me about the debate over drilling in Alaska. Somehow, it is environmentally unfriendly. What environment are we trying to protect. This semester I had a student who lived in Barrow, Alaska, which is as far north as one can get in the United States. (The next thing after Barrow, Alaska is Santa's house.) She commented that there is noting up there but ice and mud. There are no trees, bushes or anything green. On top of that it is night for about two months each year.

This is a symptom of our time. Everyone wants an easy answer. Everyone wants an immediate solution. Everyone wants the fix now. NOW! I tell, you, NOW! In an era of the Internet, microwaves and other tools that give us instant gratification, we need to realize that some answers take time.

We also need to realize that gas prices will never again be $1.00 a gallon. Those days are gone, along with the horse and buggy.