I remember ten years ago, when petrol was about $1.20 a gallon, and there was some talk about Democrats wanting to put on a 25 cent tax. I remember thinking it might be a good idea. That money could have done a lot. Maybe we could have rebuilt the aging electric grid around the nation. When will that happen?? Maybe we could have done more to educate a lot more children and send adults to college or retraining. Back in those days, we couldn't get enough foreigners to come in on a H1 visa to fill the jobs Americans were not qualified to do.
Conservative Backlash Of course, any talk of raising taxes will have the Republicans and the extreme right wingers (their poodles) grumbling at how irresponcible that would be. It would cause a recession, they claimed, because upping the price on fuel would eventually cause inflation. The theory goes like this: produce and other consumer items need to be trucked in, and if fuel prices go up, so will our cost of living. I thought it was a load of bunk, and so far, under George W. Bush, I have been proven right. For a long time now, petrol prices have been at $2.00 nationwide, and a lot higher here in California.
Everything has a breaking point But in the back of my mind, I felt their reasoning made sense. Sure, when petrol goes up, so will the price of everything else. The problem was, Republicans thought it would happen immediately. Democrats thought the ceiling was higher, and that there was a cushion effect. And even if it did happen, the Democrat reasoned the benefits would outweight the bad. I agreed with the later. I felt that Americans wouldn't mind paying a bit more for petrol and so far I was proven right. What did they do when gasolene shot above $1.60? They bought up gas guzzling SUV's like crazy!
Well, today I am wondering if we are reaching that ceiling the conservatives once spoke about. The price is now over $3.00 a gallon in San Francisco. Farmers are close to going bankrupt, with many fearing this could be their last year in business. There is talk in the news of a possible recession if things stay the way it is. Ironically, it wasn't the Democrats to blame. It is all the doing of a mad President's over zealous spending policy, and the benefit of his spending is not the America people, but the Iraqi people. There is no stopping to the madness. Bush wants to keep the spending going. He has all the motive in the world to keep spending more on Iraq. No one likes to be proven wrong, and he aims to get at least something done right.
To bad we all have to suffer for someone's fragile ego.
Location
South San Francisco, California, United States
"There is no creator" - the Dalai Lama. These are words of common sense, and it tells me that "spirituality" has nothing in particular to do with a belief in the supernatural. But then, those of us who grew up in the seventies watching "Kung Fu" already knew that being a vegan, atheist who follows the path of the buddha can reach enlightenment.
All kidding aside, what does a vegetarian atheist have to say? Stick around and you'll find out! Politically I'm rather liberal, but I do like to listen to staunch conservative talk show host Michael (the 'Whiner') Savage so I'll probably be mentioning him from time to time in my weblogs. So for now, how about some talk of broccoli, carrots and peas? Recipe's anyone??
free books for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast.
"As mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality."
- George Washington
"Maybe happiness is a fragment of existence, but with better packaging."
