Tired of the Pandering

NOBODY IS REALLY going to be interested in this post but me, but I've got to say something about the poltiical scene in the US right now -- mainly because I read Tom Friedman's column in the NY Times today (by the way, when did the Times do away with their 'paysite' business model? I love that it's now free again). As usual, he was right on the money.

Super quick background: Hillary Clinton and John McCain have both suggested suspending the federal excise tax (about 18 cents) on gas for the summer travel season. What a stupid, short-sited, politically motivated idea. As if tackling our energy problems from the short term supply side is going to solve anything. Like Friedman says today, "This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: we borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks."

How about this as a quick summary:

One way to judge a politician is to see how reluctant they are to use the baldest forms of pandering and bribery to win votes. Even when they know the policy in question is stupid and counter-productive, their short-term political interest always takes precedence over sound policy. This gas tax holiday crap is an almost pure example of this. And McCain and Clinton have both signed on to it. If you want to know about political character, this tells you a lot.

OK, sorry. No more politics (for now).
CJS