Provocateur: Gotta Get That FIX

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As many Americans mark the 100th anniversary of the automobile, Bob Dole and Bill Clinton have proposed rolling back Part of the already negligible tax on gasoline. Some people have strong opinions on the subject:

AMERICA DOESN'T HAVE AN ENERGY CRISIS OR A GASOLINE CRISIS, IT HAS A TRANSPORTATION CRISIS. THE WORLD IS AWASH IN OIL CHEAPER THAN BOTTLED WATER, BUT AMERICANS RANK FIRST IN HOURS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND RATE DRIVING THEIR NUMBER ONE WASTE OF TIME. THE MONKEY ON THE BACK OF AMERICAN FAMILIES ISN'T A MODEST RISE IN GAS PRICES, BUT THAT IT ALREADY COSTS $4,000 A YEAR TO OWN, INSURE, AND OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND THAT CORPORATIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MINDSETS CONSPIRE TO MAKE ANYONE WITHOUT MOTORIZED WHEELS FEEL WORTHLESS. 

-CHARLES KOMANOFF, ECONOMIST, KOMANOFF ENERGY ASSOCIATES

SURE I'M MAD ABOUT THE PRICE OF GASOLINE, BUT WHAT I'M REALLY MAD ABOUT IS HAVING TO BUY THE STUFF JUST TO GO TO THE GROCERY. I'M MAD ABOUT THE GROCERY HAVING RELOCATED FROM JUST AROUND THE CORNER TO THREE MILES AWAY IN WHAT USED TO BE A CORNFIELD OUT IN THE COUNTRY. AND WHY? BECAUSE THE GROCER NEEDS 15 ACRES OF PARKING TO ACCOMMODATE CARS THAT HAVE TO BE DRIVEN THREE MILES EVERY TIME YOU WANT A BAG OF GRAPEFRUIT AND A GALLON OF MILK. 

-RUSSELL BAKER, NEW YORK TIMES

I WANT THAT GAS TAX DOUBLED. AT LEAST. IF IT IS DROPPED INSTEAD, MY VISION IS OF DOLE AND GINGRICH DRAGGED THREE TIMES AROUND THE WALLS OF A GATED COMMUNITY BEHIND A MINIVAN. I MEAN IT. THE LOW PRICE OF GAS IS THE SINGLE MOST DESTRUCTIVE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES.

-BILL EVERDELL, T.A. MEMBER