U.S. should hike gasoline taxes: foreign policy grp (Reuters)

[Eugene]

U.S. should hike gasoline taxes: foreign policy grp

Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:05pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States should hike taxes on gasoline
and improve energy efficiency to curb oil demand in a bid to formulate
better foreign policy, a report from the Council on Foreign Relations
said on Thursday.

The nonpartisan group's report "The National Security Consequences
of U.S. Oil Dependency", prepared by industry and government experts,
urged Washington to introduce a "substantial federal excise tax" on
gasoline, tighten the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards
and use tradable gasoline permits to cap fuel consumption and improve
efficiency.

"You can't simultaneously enjoy abundant energy, low-cost energy, and
energy that comes from other parts of the world," task force chair
John Deutch, former director of Central Intelligence and undersecretary
of energy, told reporters.

-snip-

The report did not spell out how high the gasoline tax should be, but
estimated a gasoline tax of $1.00 per gallon would reduce demand by 3
to 6 percent over the first several years and would encourage use
of more fuel-efficient vehicles over a course of 10 years.

-snip-

Full article: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-10-13T064603Z_01_N12427545_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-POLICY.xml

[YankeyMCC]

1. Unfortunately

we have no leaders capable of presenting this kind of plan to the electorate and still get elected.

Or maybe that isn't quiet fair, the people are not yet willing to be led that far either.

[Kiouni]

2. securing our future comes at a cheap

price, an extra doller a gallon for the piece of mind that we would eventually give up our thirst for oil. I would pay it in a heart beat.

[Javaman]

3. sure if they actually use the additional fund to install real public

transportation.

but alas, it would only go into the politicians pockets.

[CaroleG]

4. over shrub's dead body

[Sven77]

5. tax hike does not stop pollution

building renewables is the only solution.