"This is his [McCain] solution to the problems of the energy crisis and your tax bills," Obama told several thousand at a noisy rally in Wilmington. "Keep in mind that the federal gas tax is about 5 percent of your gas bill. If it lasts for three months, you're going to save about $25 or $30, or a half a tank of gas."
I'm not exactly sure why Obama thinks a few months of an 18.4 cent cut in gas prices would somehow not be a good idea. Would he think that a natural drop in per-gallon prices of the same amount also aren't a big deal? I think his numbers, considering most families have multiple drivers, is incorrect. Plus, the fact that people tend to drive more over the summer months, so this could be a good amount of savings in American's pockets. Especially, for people who have longer commutes or sit in traffic much of the time. Not to mention how a 24.4 cent drop in diesel fuel somehow isn't good for truckers (and the rest of us, since when they pay more, we pay more). If saving $30 doesn't mean much to Mr. Obama, he can certainly whip out his wallet and give me $30.
"That's his big solution," Obama said of McCain. "He had the gall yesterday to tell me that because I don't agree with his plan, I must not be sympathetic to poor people. This is at the same time as he is proposing hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks for corporate interests, for the wealthiest Americans."
This is a typical Obama statement. Instead of addressing how his plan is better, he just doesn't give what his plan is and changes direction.
Oh.. wait..
"There's a problem, everybody's upset about gas prices. Let's fund some short-term, quick-fix so we can say we did something, even though we didn't do anything," Obama said. He argued that reducing consumption and increasing the use of alternative fuels represent real long-term solutions to rising gasoline and diesel fuel prices.
His plan is the same as everyone else's. Figure out how to reduce consumption and use more alternative fuels. Not original, and those things will take years. What's wrong with some short-term thing? What's wrong with a variety of short-term solutions to help us not-so-rich people? For 98% of Americans, $30 here, $20 there, $50 over there can make a difference.
So, Mr. Obama, I'll wait for my $30 from you since that's such a piddly amount.
UPDATE: I had gone to the Obama website, and sent an email asking for $30, since it's no big deal to Obama. Of course, I know I wouldn't get it, or that the email would even be read. However, by sending an email on their web form, you apparently get subscribed to their mailings (There is no way to not have this happen on the form, or any verbiage that it does happen). Anyways, today I get an email from "Barack" asking for a $25 donation. So, let me get this straight.. $30 in our pockets is no big deal, but we should send him $25. Just ask many people sending him $25 makes a difference (to HIM), $30 in all our pockets would make a different (to US).