You wrote:

"Also worth noting ... removing the gas tax is not going to make gas "cheap" ... just a bit cheaper

it's still likely to be too expensive for things like roadtrips... and I hate to tell you but tourism is a massive industry in this country ... oh, and those truckers are hurting badly and many are financial shoestring operations to start with ... and when consumers stop buying even THEIR work slows down ...

There is a lot of (penny wise pound foolish) short term "good" possible ...

-- susan sunflower

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Removing the gas tax won't make gas cheaper either. The paltry 18 cents will be quickly made up by people increasing their demand in the short-run. Remember, 18 cents ago was about 2-3 weeks ago.

How will you feel when the price of gas is $3.90 and you know that there's 18 cents of tax yet to come? How will that help the trucking or tourism industry in, say, early July when prices are right back where they were in early May?

The problems with major industries, exurbs, efficient transportation systems and alternative sources of energy are the problems we have to face NOW. There is no manipulation of price that will work.

That's the crux of the Clinton Camp's strategy on this. If this is how Hillary plans on running her White House administration, then she's just not suited to the job. We need someone who's capable of learning from factual information rather than just rattling on with what they perceive to be the right course. Sounds a lot like the lead-up to the Iraq War, doesn't it?

You wrote:

"There is something else in this gas tax holiday that has not been addressed by any in the so-called smart blogosphere: it will ease costs of truckers. That's right, truckers - the very ones who transport goods (food, for example) to grocery shelves across the country. Average consumers won't save a lot. But truckers will, which will help to temporarily tamp down skyrocketing food costs, since a large portion of these costs is the result of high fuel prices to transport it."

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Really? Where did you read that this would work to lower prices? The gas tax holiday has been derided around the United States by every economist interviewed. No one, in several days of story line, has come forward to endorse this perspective.

Ljwalker, it doesn't work. In order to make something more affordable, you have to lower prices. Correct? The problem is that lopping off the federal gas tax will only make gasoline more attractive to the hundred(s) of millions of drivers in America. That will, for a certainty, drive prices up, especially during the summer months which experience peak oil usage in the United States.

Explain to me then how prices will remain lower for any sector of American workers who MUST drive, when we know that the price of a barrel of oil will only continue to rise during this period. Substantiate your assertion.

Last point: The Clinton camp didn't even dare to substantiate their proposal. They just stated that Hillary would have to take "leadership" on the issue.

Obama, like Clinton, has big policy ideas regarding energy: alternative fuel, enforcing fuel mileage standards for cars, investment in "green" energy sources. Both candidates state that they want to provide leadership on this issue but only Obama has done so. Clinton, unfortunately, is just pandering and it's a dangerous pander regardless of its lack of viability. The bottom line, which many Americans simply don't want to hear, is that we have to dramatically change how we live. Period. There's no short-term fix for our very long-term oil addiction.

Obama, like Clinton, has big policy ideas regarding energy: alternative fuel, enforcing fuel mileage standards for cars, investment in "green" energy sources. Both candidates state that they want to provide leadership on this issue but only Obama has done so. Clinton, unfortunately, is just pandering and it's a dangerous pander regardless of its lack of viability. The bottom line, which many Americans simply don't want to hear, is that we have to dramatically change how we live. Period. There's no short-term fix for our very long-term oil addiction.

Anti-price gouging efforts are made to go after those who abuse the system. Can it be said that it doesn't happen Alex? I mean really, Hurricane Katrina is not the only time these allegations have been made. I have no problem with the principle as long as we are making strong efforts to reduce overall usage.

Secondly, what's wrong with giving working families a permanent tax cut for $1,000? Parents have to get their children to daycare and school in addition to getting to work themselves. If families want to spend their money on gasoline, do it. They can also spend it on a nice bike, locally raised food or the trade-in cost for a more fuel efficient car. That's the beauty of giving people MONEY as opposed to a nonsensicle tax break on gasoline. People can spend it how they need to without directly encouraging usage of gasoline.