From the "People Unclear on the Concept" files

[serene]

From today's Marketplace Midday Report:

"As the public gets more uneasy about rising gasoline prices, both parties are attempting to ease fears - sort of. Senate Republicans are proposing issuing rebate checks in the amount of $100 to millions of Americans. On the other side, Democrats want to create a 60-day suspension of federal gasoline taxes, which they say could cut prices by more than 18 cents per gallon."

Yeesh.

Comments

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

"Sir, what do you think of this deck chair arrangement?"

We've hit an iceberg and are sinking, you fool.

"Oh, goodie! Iced drinks!"

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Well put.

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* exactly!

[kightp.livejournal.com]

And nobody =- nobody - has the guts to say "try using LESS GAS, you idiots!!!"

I miss Jimmy Carter.

[smashingstars.livejournal.com]

A senator from Oregon introduced legislation that would cut all sorts of "corporate welfare" taxes and fees that are part of the cost of gasoline. These extra charges go to "help" those poor oil companies who can't make ends meet. I think it's a byproduct of the 1980s when oil companies really did go belly up once the gas crisis was over.

The legislation failed after a 5-hour filibuster. So we're back to "here have $100, that'll fix everything" or "18 cents a gallon savings! what a bargain!" as being the two main ideas. Terrific.

[redandfiery.livejournal.com]

It's not like other people's governments are any less stupid about this stuff. In the UK, the government offers to pay half of the cost of installing solar panels on your house. Sounds good, doesn't it? The catch? They don't do it by sensible means, such as running the scheme themselves, or making direct payments to the panel suppliers. Oh, no. The deal is that you organize the installation as a private citizen, pay the whole cost yourself, and then apply to the government for a rebate, which arrives at some unspecified time in the future. Who in hell has the money to spare for that? These things cost *thousands*. Idiots.