RE:  Coughing UP for Oil and Sending that $$$ to Those Who Use that   $$$ to Kill Us

The most important long-term problem that I see and apparently you do as well.    In the short-term we can live with $75-100 oil but in the long-term our constant  OVER-spending for energy is the most important chink in our economic armor but is also holds most important potential positive in reversing the potential for economic malaise.How can this be, one might ask?  Let's assume, just for a moment, that the country could elect a real President with brains and leadership [I know that is an impossible task] and that leader made the following statement on his inauguration day:

" It is time that we became energy independent and stopped sending money to the Middle East for oil whose people in turn use our own money to kill us.  I am going to push the country to support the following "Gas Guzzler Tax at the Pump:” In five years, not tomorrow or the day after, but in five years so you can adjust your buying habits and psych if your car does not attain at least 40MPG you will be charged and EXTRA tax of $5.00/gallon that will go directly to the U.S. Treasury.  If your car attains a City/Highway rating of at least 50MPG, you will receive a CREDIT of 50 cents per gallon.  I know, you are shocked at this kind of tax...I know all the arguments...blah, blah, blah...but what has happened since the 1970's when our "friends in the Middle East" shut down our oil supplies is that prices have gone from $10.00/bbl of oil to $80.00/bbl; gasoline has gone from a buck/gallon to over three/gallon.  And just where did most of that money go?  To us?  Not much.  It went to our deal friends in the Middle East who then have so much excess funds that they can afford all sorts of expenditures in trying to kill us.  If we keep sending money over there will likely be supporting a technology that WILL bring a nuclear attack here in our midst."