Tax Big Oil?

Cal Thomas | Syndicated columnist | Updated: Nov 11, 2005

Tax Big Oil?

There are many stupid ideas that come from Washington, but one of the most stupid in recent days is the suggestion that record oil profits be taxed. Prices have dropped substantially since the record highs of this past summer and one of the reasons is that people have begun driving more responsibly. They are using less gas and less demand means lower prices.

Politicians like Senator Hillary Clinton and even some republicans think it good politics to punish big oil. Good sense and good politics dictates freeing ourselves from foreign oil. We have long known this, but we continue to deceive ourselves that we can go on as we have been, buying huge amounts of oil from countries that hate us in the middle east. Politicians don’t want to do what is necessary and that is find alternatives to petroleum, like hybrid cars, which are starting to sell.

Big oil companies aren’t the problem. We are the problem and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we’ll be able to deal not only with high gas prices, but our unquenchable appetite for more and more oil and gas.


Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

 

Tax Big Oil?