Molly Ivins: Energy insanity

[Dudley_DUright]

As a general rule about Bush & Co., the more closely a policy is associated with Dick Cheney, the worse it is. Which brings us to energy policy -- remember his secret task force? In the long history of monumentally bad ideas, the Cheney policy is a standout for reasons of both omission and commission. Dumb, dumber and dumbest.

Ponder this: Next year, the administration will phase out the $2,000 tax credit for buying a hybrid vehicle, which gets over 50 miles per gallon, but will leave in place the $25,000 tax write-off for a Hummer, which gets 10-12 mpg. That's truly crazy, and that's truly what the whole Cheney energy policy is.

According to the Energy Information Administration in the Department of Energy, last year's energy bill (same as this one) would cost taxpayers at least $31 billion, do nothing about the projected over-80 percent increase in America's imports of foreign oil by 2025, and increase gasoline prices. (Since every bureaucrat who tells the truth in this administration -- about the cost of the drug bill or the safety of Vioxx -- seems to get the ax, I'm probably getting those folks in trouble.)

The bill is loaded with corporate giveaways and tax breaks for big oil. Meanwhile, Bush's budget cuts funding for renewable energy research and programs, and anyone who tells you different is lying.

more...

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=18800

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Molly Ivins is always great. Thanks for posting.

[Dudley_DUright]

2. Just doin' my job BL

I look forward to reading Molly as much as possible, so I assume others (like yourself) feel the same way. I just wish that she had a new administration to write about instead of those global masters of disaster, Bush and Cheney.

[Frederik]

3. Dick works for the oil cartel

that much is clear. This is nothing short of madness.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. I *heart* Molly

"And as Tom Friedman recently pointed out, it would do a lot for world peace, too: "By doing nothing to lower U.S. oil consumption, we are financing both sides in the war on terrorism and strengthening the worst governments in the world. That is, we are financing the U.S. military with our tax dollars and we are financing the jihadists -- and the Saudi, Sudanese and Iranian mosques and charities that support them -- through our gasoline purchases."

[livvy]

5. Does anyone know what the rationale is for the Hummer tax credit?n/t

[raifield]

6. It's not really a Hummer credit...

It stems from some bill that gives tax breaks on vehicles at or over three tons. It originally meant to help farmers purchase equipment, I think. Apparently, three ton passenger vehicles weren't thought of at the time.

Basically, it's an outdated bill with a new loophole for owners of Hummers and I think Excursions.

[livvy]

10. Thanks for the info! n/t

[doubleplusgood]

7. Bush is driving us towards a brick wall

...all the while applying more pressure on the accelerator. Madness !!!

[ktowntennesseedem]

9. LOL! Great pic! -eom

[ktowntennesseedem]

8. Molly could belch and speak more wisdom than the rest of us.

Thank you, Molly, and thank you for posting, Dudley!