Perfect. I will call my feckless and overpaid congressmunchkins in the morning and deliver the message.

The latest theory in Tinfoil Hat Territory is that Bush went to war for oil, all right - but to drive prices UP, not down; by interrupting the smooth flow of oil production in the Mideast, The prices go up. As a result, Bush actually gets to wank off OPEC for a while to curry favor with them (Thanks for the profits, Mr. President) - and then when the backlash starts, W. gets major support for any proposal he has to reduce our dependence on Foreign Oil.

Needless to say, this is the absolute ZENITH of paranoia. They say Bushitler invaded Iraq in a war for oil - and then when gas prices go up instead of down, they start raving that this was what the Nazi bastard wanted all along.

Of the many taxes added on to the price of gas here in The Golden State, there exists an unpublicized one of 8% per each dollar collected. You are right again, o wizard, to exhort us to know we will receive no help from our state government. To be sure, in California at least, as gas prices climb, the state coffers fill. At least the latest tax on cigarettes (the money Rob Reiner used to illegally publicize his latest preschool scheme) is limited to fifty cents a pack.

I can see the outcome of your proposal, Gerard; environmentalists and Republicans living together! Construction in the street! Mass migrations during vacation time! The collapse of the American auto industry as they fail to adapt to the changes! (What can I say, some things just don't change.)

At the same time I must ask, is cheap gas, and all to comes of cheap gas, best for this country?

It doesn't, in and of itself, mandate cheap gas, just cheaper taxes.

Is that how the general public will see it?

I certainly hope not.