We're Still Talking About The Gas Tax?

I can't believe this panderrific gas tax holiday is still being discussed in serious circles. Suspending the gas tax would crush the already hobbled construction industry and do next to nothing for consumers. Well, maybe I can believe it, because Hillary Clinton is being an opportunist to the extreme, suggesting a combination of gas tax holiday and windfall profit tax that would probably put (a) the same amount of money in the federal highway fund, (b) the same amount of money in the pockets of oil companies as they pass the tax on to consumers, and (c) the same amount of money paid for by consumers at the pump. In other words, a whole lot of legislation signifying NOTHING. Except making a few voters in Indiana feel good.

We need to massively stop oil consumption if we are to reach any reasonable goals on global warming and stimulate the economy through green energy technology. Suspending the gas tax is a diametric opposition to those goals, and massively stupid besides.

UPDATE: You know that gas is going to be incredibly pricey for the rest of our lifetimes, and without diversifying sources of fuel and lowering demand there's nothing we can do about it, right? Also, you know this, yes?

OPEC’s 13 members plan to spend $150 billion to expand their capacity by five million barrels a day by 2012. But OPEC will need to pump 60 million barrels a day by 2030, up from around 36 million barrels a day today, to meet the projected growth in demand. Analysts say that without Iran and Iraq — where nearly 30 years of wars and sanctions have crippled oil production — reaching that level will be impossible.

I don't have to pull out my "No war for oil" sticker, do I?

UPDATE II: Paul Krugman, who is scrupulous and honest no matter what people have said about his "vendetta" for Obama, stays true to his scruples and explains why Clinton's proposal is completely pointless and why Obama should be credited for keeping his strong stance against this.