John Dingell-berry (D-Michigan) Believes He Can Save the Planet at 50 Cents per Gallon

So Michigan’s Democratic Representative John Dingell wants to add 50 cents to each gallon of gas to “help cut [gasoline] consumption”. Well there’s some stupid logic.

So, here’s the idea, if we raise the price, people will just stop using so much oil. And we thought you had to be smart to be in Congress. Heck, you don’t even need to understand economics to make money!

Let’s think about this for a moment. I work 10 miles from home. I have to drive to work. Then, I have to drive home. I get to do this 5 times a week. Where is adding 50 cents to each gallon going to reduce my consumption?

My kids go to a school that 15 minutes from the house. They are in private school because the government schools don’t teach them to think for themselves, but to think the way they are taught (that’s another rant for another day). Is adding 50 cents per gallon going to “reduce” the mileage I have to drive daily to take them to school?

Something else to think about: How much consumption has been lowered since the prices went above $3.00 a gallon? Hmmm….

What is really stupid to me is a poll that was taken by the National Center for Public Policy Research shows there are actually people that will agree with this. From the FoxNews.com story:

The poll, scheduled to be released on Thursday, shows 48 percent don’t support paying even a penny more, 28 percent would pay up to 50 cents more, 10 percent would pay more than 50 cents and 8 percent would pay more than a dollar.

46 percent of the folks polled agreed with this nut?

What do the scientists say? Well the ones they spoke to in this article say it will *not* reduce emissions. As a matter of fact the number listed in the article is “less than one percent”.

David Ridenour, vp of the NCPPR thinks:

“…when you are talking about raising gas prices, there may be short-term reduction, put off vacations, but bottom line is over long term, that isn’t going to have much of an effect.”

I totally agree.

My opinion? John Dingell-berry wants more money to play with and is using “save the environment” to get it. Some call me paranoid. Does this story sound like I am? Or am I actually making sense? One thing I do know, being from Michigan, Detroit will NOT be happy with him on this one!

Links:
FOXNews.com - Michigan Congressman Wants 50-Cent Tax Hike on Every Gallon of Gas