USA Energy policy

OK I saw some stuff on telly about the new directions US energy policy is taking (in Australia, the national network "SBS" broadcasts many foreign language news shows, including the PBS NewsHour from the USA)

Well to borrow a quote from the movie "Die Hard" (#1)

.....you're not part of the solution, you're a part of the problem"

Currently US motorists grizzle that Gasoline prices ( aka petrol, or diesel) are too high

Let's make one thing clear for starters. US residents get some of the cheapest fuel in the world

Certain countries, mostly like Arab region oil producing countries have fuel prices of just a few cents a gallon but that is the exception

Here in Australia we pay somewhere between one and a half and 2 times what Americans pay.

In England and Europe most countries pay double or triple or more than what the US pay, whenever the fill their tanks.

Consequently most people, in countries outside the USA, choose to drive more fuel efficient vehicles.

Tradesmen and other workers who have agenuine need for a large vehicle, sure they'll have something v-8 etc. Likewise a 2-car family might have one large car and one smaller one. The larger vehicle being kept for only when a second car is needed, or for when towing a boat or caravan (aka 'trailer") on weekends and holidays etc

New US energy policy is apparently to allow minng for oil and gas resources in Alaskan National Parks. Mmm I dunno how good an idea this will turn out to be when looked at in the long term.

Their earlier idea of invading Iraq and taking the oil wells there, has turned out to be "problematical". Already history books will show that the excuse for the invasion "connections to Al Qaeda" and "Weapons of mass destruction" turned out to be totally bogus.

I reckon that the US govt should simply slap a one US dollar per US gallon tax on all petrol/gasoline, diesel, and home heating oil(kerosene) sales. This increase could be phased on over a one year period, a 10c/gal rise every 6 weeks or so.

The American public would STILL HAVE almost the cheapest fuel in the world, but it would encourage greater economies in future, say when folks buy a new car, they'd buy smaller more efficient vehicles. In dense city areas, public mass transport systems would benefit from increased patronage and roads would be less congested, reducing the percieved need to keep building more freeways.....

The absolutely massive revenue gained from such a tax could be divided up any number of ways, but say equal shares to

A.....funding improvements in mass transit, trains, subways, buses etc, plus improvements to security and cleaning so folks would CHOOSE to use these services

B.....some could go toward building up the future social security systems financial stability

C.....research and promotions for energy efficiency and alternative energy programs. EG free or discounted home insulation, solar hotwater systems etc. Free provision of those huge wind turbines, attached to the electric grid (currently they cost about a million dollars each) Obviously you need to consider the local climate and conditions, regarding where to put wind and solar devices

D.....I'm sure the US Govt could find other things to spend the money on, perhaps the old fallback of "schools and hospitals". Note "schools" could include adult education, aka community colleges etc, plus education programs for new foreign immigrants or people released from prison, to help re-integrate them into society better.

Yeah we grizzle about out petrol/diesel prices here, about 55 % of the price we pay at the pump being tax, but I reckon at least most of it does go to worthy causes