McCain, Clinton and the Gas Tax Holiday: How Stupid Do They Think We Are?

posted by MrJaymo 4/29/08

John McCain, Hillary Clinton...and after today's press conference, I'm sure, President Bush are about to run another game on the American people.

In a society where we save nothing, over consume on everything, lack curiosity about differing opinions and obtain our news by pundits and soundbite -- we're about to be sold another feel good solution that will do absolutely nothing to solve the problem at hand.

McCain and Clinton have proposed that in order to provide American's with some financial relief, the 18 cent per gallon Federal Gas Tax should be suspended during the upcoming "Summer Driving Season" (Memorial Day, 5/26 thru Labor Day, 9/8).

Now, I'm no economist and not a finance professor, but I did pay attention 1 or 2 days in math class when I was younger. I know that with a little addition, multiplication and a calendar that it's easy to figure out that if I fill my 18-gallon gas tank once per week for the 15 weeks of the so-called "Summer Driving Season", my savings amount to just under $49.00 ($48.60). So under the grand, McCain / Clinton plan, my dual-car, dual-income, dual-child family will pocket an extra $97.20 over 3-months if we fill up both cars once-a-week throughout the summer.

And I bet that Barack Obama has better, more accurate numbers than my "wild-assed" estimate. He's estimated that the average family will only save $30.00. He knows that the average person fills up more along the line of 2 times per month, not 4. Barack Obama also knows, I'm sure, that in 2008, the idea of a "Summer Driving Season" is a myth.

In years past, families took a 2 or 3 week summer vacation and drove to the Grand Canyon or drove to the beach or drove to Grandma's house. Who can afford to take 2-weeks anywhere anymore?! Hell, if you're worried about the price of milk, eggs and bread... or whether your home is going to be foreclosed on, what in the hell are you thinking about taking a road trip to Grandma's for?!

The McCain / Clinton Gas Tax proposal will do nothing to solve your fiscal problems. If you want to change your financial situation, you need to make fundamental changes in your own behavior. Get a second job! Sell your $500-a-month car payment and get a car you can afford (that's right, get rid of the 2008 Accord and find a 2002 Civic)! Buy a pound of hamburger and make some Hamburger Helper for $5.00 and the possibility of leftovers instead of taking the family to McDonald's for Quarter Pounders and Happy Meals for $15.00...(they're going to kill you anyway)!

The McCain / Clinton Gas Tax proposal will do nothing to solve our nation's issues. It is another case of the proverbial "sunshine up your behind".

The solution to our problems are drastic behavior change and personal responsibility. I'm so sick of the crap that McCain, Clinton and the media are shoveling, and this whole election process, that I'm almost of the mind that Barack Obama should hold on to his dignity and use his eloquence and stature to direct change from the private sector.

But, I'm not there yet. So in the meantime...

Vote for Barack Obama

WHO IS THE PATRIOT?

WHO IS THE PATRIOT

By Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss
April 3, 2008

In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F.
Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you
can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in
Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines,
volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical
assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and
became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the
Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the
commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B.
Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in
1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.

What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy
not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President
Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five
deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for
being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both
five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student
deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty
through family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve
his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system?
Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who
merely talk about their love of the country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American
finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a
minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest
cities in the U.S.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades.

Impeach Dick Cheney!!!

Vice President Dick Cheney has lied! Vice President Dick Cheney has cheated! Vice President Dick Cheney has destroyed the trust of the American people!

Tell your elected officials that Vice President Dick Cheney must be impeached!!!