by Linda Muller

Created on: May 07, 2008

Could there be anything more condescending than the proposed "vacation" from gas tax for the summer?

There must be some huge disconnect in the world of wealthy people when they believe that suspending the gas tax will really do any of us any good.

First, the amount it could save the average individual or family over the entire summer is barely enough to cover groceries for part of a week. Hey gang, no gas tax this summer, let's have a party. Wait, nope, let's just have a glass of water and get back to our no-pay-increase-for-the-last-ten-years job so we can earn less and pay for more.

Second, while the tax has been lifted, who is going to stop the oil conglomerates from raising the price of a gallon of gas to cover their supposed losses because of the rising price of a barrel of oil?

I guess if we're going to fall for the ruse and believe that the people in favor of the gas tax proposal are actually doing us a favor, then we deserve what we get. That $30 each really should stimulate our currently vigorous economy and create some jobs to further lower our famously low unemployment rate. Let's do it. Party at my house. Bring your own glass, I've got plenty of tap water.

This idea most certainly could influence the next election. It could backfire. And if someone doesn't see that coming, there are some political advisers who will be looking for jobs come November... maybe earlier.

Who are the people in these campaigns, specifically Hillary Clinton's and John McCain's, who honestly believe that the savings being offered by this supposed tax relief will actually amount to anything significant to any American household? Savings like that stimulates the Tooth Fairy Fund, the Piddly Allowance Fund, the How About a Cheap DVD Rental Tonight Fund. We don't need that kind of savings in this country. We need things to change so that we can afford our mortgages, we can send our children to college without putting their great-grandchildren into debt. We need to be able to afford health care and a house payment, not to have to choose between one or the other.

This weak gesture to give financially struggling people a break offends thinking people everywhere.

Hillary Clinton and John McCain appear to be so far removed from logic on this proposal that they haven't considered the fallout at the end of it. When those of us who fall for their pitiable attempt to help us out figure out that we saved close to nothing, where will our allegiance fall? Who might change their mind about whom to support when they notice their pocketbooks in the same shape at the end of summer as it is right now? Not only is this gesture weak, it is misguided and will harm any good will harbored by American's who might still believe that Clinton or McCain cares about hard-working, struggling folks in this country.

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