What can politicians do about high gas prices?

[TheFarseer]

I'm writing my senators about this important issue and I don't want to miss any ideas. Please phrase it in the format of legislation that could be proposed. I want to focus on immediate impact things but impact within 2 years are welcome. This is what I have so far:

1. tax write off for monthly/yearly public transportation pass
2. tax SUVs to death
3. ban daytime running lights
4. investigate oil company profits
5. tax credit for each hybrid vehicle (over a certain mpg & increasing every year) auto makers build completely in America with American made parts and sell.

Any others? Any of those you don't like?

[shoelace414]

1. Raise CAFE.

[TheFarseer]

9. of course that would be my number one suggestion BUT

it was defeated soundly just a month ago. Maybe they would take another look now that gas is up 50 cents from back then but probably not.

[PatrioticLeftie]

2. I Like Number 2

We don't need gas-guzzlers anyway. Number 4 is good, too.

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Just SUVs?

:eyes: So any other gas guzzling vehicles get a pass? RVs, large trucks, old beaters running around from the 70s and 80s that get nine miles to the gallon?

[PatrioticLeftie]

13. No, None of Them Get Passes

But Bush has an alternative, build tiny nuclear (NOT pronounced nu-kyu-lurr) reactors in every car and lawnmower!

[Ladyhawk]

30. What about folks that can't afford to buy something economical?

Someone will say, "Use public transportation," but that isn't available in rural areas. If I'm going to survive in this podunk, reason-forsaken town, I need a car. Mine isn't a gas guzzler, but what about the old guy with the old truck? He can't afford the gas. He can't afford to buy a new vehicle. He can't afford taxes.

I say tax anything less that five years old and give benefits for trading in the gas guzzlers for something more energy efficient.

[SteppingRazor]

3. Lower gas taxes?

[purple in the south]

4. slow down to 55

we did it in the 70's ... at an arm and a leg the price of gas is too high

[newyawker99]

28. Hi purple in the south!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[etherealtruth]

38. As much as it pains me ...

... (as a lover of speed) you are right!

Welcome Purple :hi:

[In Truth We Trust]

5. ask gw douchebag. He said in 2000 that all he would need to do is

pick up the phone to jawbone the saudis in reference to clinton period gas prices (under a $1.15 per gallon)

[sabbat hunter]

6. number 3

daytime running lights are a good thing, they increase visibility and do not cause a difference in MPG
i think that number 3 is a very good thing

[Strelnikov_]

11. 80% Or More Reduction In Accidents On Non-Interstate Roadways

Make more sense to ban car stereos, which still wouldn't make sense.

[TheFarseer]

17. We could probably go back and forth on this all day!

I went out of my way to find a car that didn't have DRLs when I bought my car 3 years ago. It's getting hard to find cars without them. I read that the average driver loses 2 gallons per year due to DRLs. This translates to a marginal amount of oil, but I still think it looks stupid to have headlights on during the day!

on edit - 80% reduction in accidents??? Come on, I don't believe that for a second.

[Strelnikov_]

24. You Are Correct. The Overall Rate Is 15% Per Referenced Document

The 80% rate is from work I did 17 yrs. ago regarding a traffic study on a rural 2-lane section of (relatively) high volume highway in the western US.

Obviously, the overall reduction rate is much lower for all vehicle miles traveled.

http://www.escrs.org/eurotimes/November2002/daytime.asp

The EU has done its own analysis of DRLs. An official review indicates that DRLs reduce the percentage of vehicles' collisions by about 10% and fatalities by 25%. The EU estimates that mandatory DRLs would prevent 5,500 traffic fatalities per year within member states.

Personally, I am a believer in them, would not buy a car without them, and are well worth 2 gal. per year as a safety measure. But you seem to have a problem with them, so be it. Why couldn't they make them standard, with an override for people like you who doubt their efficacy.

Maybe we should ban car stereos instead.

[TheFarseer]

29. Actually, I think it will be illegal to NOT have them someday

I have a million small reasons why I don't like them. Yeah, DRLs probably do prevent some traffic accidents. I always hate safety as an argument. Safety is the argument for Hummers too. 3 years ago when I was looking into this, Honda was the only major car manufacturer that didn't have them standard. Guess what kind of car I drive :) Not that I'm some kind of psycho that buys a car based on that but I was happy it worked out that way. Honestly, I just hope it will never void my car insurance to not have DRLs

[Jose Diablo]

7. #4

And force AG to prosecute companies in violation of anti-trust laws.

[Boomer]

8. There's a limit to what anyone can do

Yes, there are ways to buffer the shock, but what Americans can't seem to see through the haze of their oil dependency is that there is a finite supply of oil, a fixed rate for production and distribution, and increased demand around the world.

Based on the principles of our own hallowed capitalist system, this means the price of oil is only going to go up and up and up.

That's the way supply-and-demand has always worked, and it's a little late in the game to start complaining just because this time we're on the short end of the stick. Since we're now importers rather than exporters, we don't have a whole lot of leverage in the long run.

If you think this is bad, wait a few years. (Hint: buy stock in bicyle manufacturers)

[dweller]

12. what one politician is trying to do

HR 2070, The Gas Price Spike Act of 2005
http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0811-12.htm

37 others have signed on.

dp

[rateyes]

15. That's a bill worth supporting. eom

[TheFarseer]

22. we can always count on DK

too bad that doesn't address the root of the problem, but I love it anyway.

[brokensymmetry]

14. As much as they can do about the passing of the day.

Keep in mind that new cars - hybrids too - take lots of oil to produce. And people only have so much money, so it will take time to increase the average mileage of the U.S. automobile fleet. We don't have time to avoid the blow that's coming.

Our problem is that Jimmy Carter told us that a problem was coming. We, as a nation, rejected that message. Now the piper is going to be paid.

[bluedog]

16. put a freeze on..........

[yurbud]

18. alternative fuels like biodiesel/ethanol, wind & solar to charge electrics

Hillbilly Hitler art:



Blog:

[prolesunited]

19. Announce an investigation

The last time they said they would look into price gouging and non-competitive pricing schemes, the price at the pump calmed down quite a bit.

[yurbud]

20. make bailout of GM contingent on half their line being hybrids.

Hillbilly Hitler art:



Blog:

[yurbud]

21. charge oil companies for Iraq War, give rebate check to taxpayers

Hillbilly Hitler art:



Blog:

[Strelnikov_]

23. Look Up IEA's 'Saving Oil In A Hurry Report'

Here, I already have.

http://www.stcwa.org.au/journal/210405/files/background_IEA.pdf


Over the two year time frame you specify, not much.

Two measures that would work in the US are:

- Lower speed limits.
- Rationing of non-business related fuels, which would force most of the measures they recommend such as carpooling, altered work schedules, mass transit. This rationing would be accomplished by either:

. a) Demand destruction through a combination of product cost + tax (economic Darwinism)
. b) Per person credit (my preference, distributes equally, those not needing full ration can transfer their rights)

If you read the IEA report, you will note that they do not think rationing is viable. While I agree with all of the measures they propose, there are only two that can be reasonably enforced, speed limits and rationing. Are we really going to have the cops stop people on weekends to ensure that their trip is work related?

[Claymore]

25. Uh...

...ban daytime running lights?

[TheFarseer]

27. Fine, by popular demand that's off the list

but I still think they look retarded, are wasteful and make everyone on the planet slightly dumber.

[rman]

26. Highest priority for developing renewable energy technology

Be it sooner or later, oil is going to run out anyway. Not to prepare for it is stupid.

[MercutioATC]

31. One other (but I don't endorse it)

Draw down the U.S. national reserves...that should result in a relatively quick reduction in pump prices.

[Mr.Green93]

32. Raise the gas taxes

to a least 50 or 75% of the pump price.

[TheFarseer]

36. That wouldn't lower gas prices

unless you're thinking about some kind of reverse supply-side gas economics :)

[RamboLiberal]

33. Make the f'ing red lights smarter

How damn much gas is wasted sitting at a red light that is inefficient? We have tons of lights in my area that must date back a couple of decades. They do not have smart technology. So you get a red light when there is no other vehicle in the intersection that needs the green.

And there's lots of red lights and stop signs that should be pulled that were put in for no other reason than to slow down traffic or because some ahole citizen couldn't go another block to make his left hand turn, or some idiot with influence got in a fender bender at an intersection and had a lot of clout with his local mayor.

We need to keep traffic moving, not sitting at some silly ass red light or stop sign idling.

And how about promoting 4 day weeks, more working at home, satellite offices, flextime? Horrendous traffic jams in our cities are wasting loads of fuel.

We need to get away from the stupidity of rush hour!

[TheFarseer]

34. Do you live in Texas by any chance?

I lived there for a year and that drove me flipping crazy! I swear 20% of the time at a PACKED intersection, no one from any direction was moving. That's why people run red lights too, because if you miss this one you might die of old age waiting for the next one.

[leftofthedial]

35. talk

wave their hands

collect even bigger "campaign contributions" from oil and automobile companies.

[Copperred]

37. See link Below: Turn oil into a Public Regulated Utility

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2004328&mesg_id=2004328