Summer Gas Tax Relief (The Death of Inspired Leadership)

May 6, 2008

It is a fact that energy policy has dominated the decision-making of politicians since politics began. Whether it was to increase the slave supply (source of 'labor energy' for millenia) or secure oil interests/regions (Gulf War, etc.), energy and the means of obtaining it have fueled human society and conquest. However, with the advent of the latest geologic trend in global warming and the impact of human-produced carbon emissions to speed up the process, new innovative forms of energy and energy policy are needed. Where are the politicians leading this charge?

Actual, inspired leadership is few and far between, especially in the contemporary period of media/populist pandering. Many neo-cons look to Reagan as their 'divinely inspired' (tongue-in-cheek, though some Evangelicals might beg to differ) leader who led the charge of neoliberal policy, states' rights, and lower taxes. I'm not here to judge Reagan's presidency, nor more recent administrations (Clinton, the Bushes), however, with worries of the dreaded 'peak of oil' plaguing American foreign/energy policy since the '70s, what have recent leaders actually accomplished? We are still fully dependent on foreign oil, scientists now claim that we have passed the point of curbing the major effects of global warming and now all we can do is prepare and lessen the degree of the effects (the tipping point was in the summer of 2005), and the U.S. is fully entrenched in foreign conflict (Iraq) for the forseeable future.

What's more is that the future does not look bright (energy-pun intended) with the current selection of presidential candidates. McCain and the two bickering children all support a relief of the federal gas tax for the summer months to help consumers (summer tends to be the peak oil usage months due to traveling, etc.). But they also always remind you that they WILL do something about global warming and curbing emissions........... but they make gas cheaper thus more people will consume more oil/gas, and thus increasing overall emissions....... hmmm something just doesn't quite add up here. The sad thing is is that I don't think the inherent contradiction of promised policy by these candidates is evident to them (let alone the American people).

True leaders possess vision. Vision is exactly what is needed currently in U.S. government. The next presidency will be one dominated by the continuing quagmire of Iraq, the meteoric rise of China to potential worldpower status, the continued standoff with Iran and North Korea, and the real effects global warming will have on the world. We don't need 'change,' we don't need 'hope;' we need to get off our lazy hegemonic asses and LEAD. Green energy, hydrogen fuel cell cars (only emission is water), sustainable living environments; we live in an age that will see amazing change and improvements occur. As many analysts say, the information/innovation age is only just getting started. Not to mention that with the development of green energy and hydrogen fuel cell technology would result in an end to foreign dependencies for energy and potentially end the expansionist/imperialist tendencies of countries towards resources (in an ideal world it would, at least). The result: We'd leave the Middle East to its own ends and allow the citizens to actively form the state they want. Leadership will be a requirement in this brave new world.

In the arena of energy policy, leadership could be taken from the political playbook of the Europeans. Instead of cutting a tax on gas to increase consumption, those crazy Euros IMPOSED a tax on gas to give consumers an incentive to purchase fuel efficient vehicles or hybrids. Now, over 90% of auto consumers in Europe worry about fuel efficiency when purchasing a new vehicle as opposed to less than 5% of auto consumers in the United States. Imposing a tax... while that is definitely not a populist manuever and will not win you the 'bitter American' vote, it is a political move requiring inspired leadership and a clear future vision. Now the politician just has to sell it to the people, rather than pander to the people.

What is needed is more than banal lip service to change. JFK declared during his administration that within ten years Americans would put a man on the moon. At the time, we had just achieved the ability to send satellites into space a few years prior and to think we'd somehow get a crew of men thousands of miles through the vacuum of space, touch down on the moon and then travel back to Earth; that was considered lunacy. Eight years later, two years earlier than expected, man set foot on the moon.

The conclusion: where's my hydrogen fuel cell car?