dumb and dumber

You would think that when a predictable crisis hits, people would sit back and think how to best solve it. That would be the intelligent thing to do. It would also guarantee a better outcome in the long run. However, once again, everyone from politicians on down seems eager to prove that intelligence is not all it is cracked up to be. And so here we are, in a bad situation with everyone trampling all over everyone else eager to come up with an even dumber idea than those previously voiced.

From repealing gas taxes for the summer, to halt stockpiling gas, to drilling in the alaska wildlife refuge -which has the added benefit of destroying yet another fragile environment- politicians can't stop flooding the nation's airwaves and print media with deadbeat ideas. Whatever it takes to appeal to the lowest common denominator, while pleasing rich campaign contributors is up for grabs. Lawmakers everywhere are beating each other up to be the first and loudest proponents of such idiocies.

For the first time in nearly a decade we are making some headway on global warming. Better than signing Kyoto, we now have a Wall Street dream: the market is forcing long overdue corrections. And what does government do? It immediately seeks to undo the "free market." And that in a Republican administration, and led by the Republican frontrunner for president. Where is truth in advertising when you need it? Where is the hands-off approach Republicans seem to favor. And what about Democrats who are so full of saving the environment. Why are they joining this chorus?

Every election we hear pundits say how the "American people are smart, the voters are smart." If the voters are so smart why don't they stand up to these politicians. It appears whatever smarts we have are rather myopic and focused on our immediate concerns. Or maybe smarts are there but they take second seat to everything else we do?

The country is making progress because higher gas prices are forcing people to drive less. Higher gas is making trucking and shipping of items less profitable, favoring locally produced goods. Airlines are reducing passenger capacity and filling up as many seats as possible before taking off. All of this is wonderful. It is what environmentalists were calling for, and what the green-conscious public so readily agreed with. Until reality hit that is.

Contrary to what our politicos are saying, what we need now is higher gas prices. We need to increase gas prices some more and then keep them there. Only then will Americans start reducing their carbon foot print. This is a free market solution. One that avoids dreaded government intervention.

Temporary solutions exist for those unfortunate ones hit hard by higher gas prices. We could give them gas stamps. We could encourage them to move closer to stores and work by giving out grants. We could help them get into affordable housing. We could improve public transportation. The only thing we should not do however, is reduce gas prices. That would be a step in the wrong direction.