Saving The Planet With Cheap Gas - Right.
Image by John Molina. Some rights reserved.
In yesterday's Washington Post, Robert Samuelson relates something so obvious that I wonder how it could possibly be published in a newspaper - expensive gas would help reduce global warming.
But then, of course, this is America, and American is car-addled. When it comes to cars (and wars) Americans will believe anything. Shiny metal makes even a fat, bald guy sexy. A fast, black sports car never encounters traffic. Cars are freedom. Gas should be cheap.
Politicians understand this, and instead of challenging these beliefs, they pander to them, taking positions that are as stupid as the beliefs of their constituents. (The reaction of politicians to American beliefs about war is pretty much the same.)
Samuelson sums up the contradiction in the (predominantly Democratic) positions that we must keep gas cheap and reduce global warming. He could also mention, in place of reduce global warming, "become energy independent.")
It's one of those delicious moments when Washington's hypocrisy is on full and unembarrassed display. On the one hand, some of America's leading politicians condemn high gasoline prices and contend that they stem from "gouging" by oil companies. On the other, many of the same politicians warn against global warming and implore us to curb our use of fossil fuels that emit carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.
Guess what: These crowd-pleasing proclamations are contradictory. Anyone fearful of global warming should cheer higher gasoline prices, because much higher prices represent precisely the sort of powerful incentive needed to push consumers toward more fuel-efficient vehicles and to persuade the auto industry to produce them in large numbers. Bravo for higher prices!
