The impact of the recent increases in oil and gasoline prices are worse than a tax increase because they impact every segment of the population. The higher costs are the result skyrocketing demand with no comparable increase in supply. This is true in the production of crude or as well as refined products such as gasoline and heating oil.
The Bush energy policies do NOTHING to help increase the supply of oil in the immediate or near term. The only component of the most recent energy bill that will help cut demand is the extension of daylight saving. The refusal to require higher gas mileage for automobiles, SUVs and trucks is proof that Bush and the conservative Republicans have no meaningful solution to higher oil prices.
Bush rejects higher taxes while allowing energy prices skyrocket because of his inept energy proposals. Higher energy costs affect poor, middle income and wealthy Americans. The problem is that the higher oil prices are diverting expenditures by low and middle income workers and adversely impacting the overall economy. The Department of Labor has shown that 80% percent of the American workers have experienced a decrease ½ of 1% in there average weekly wage since March 2004. Thus for 80% of the American population are worse off this March than they were last March according to The Dept of Labor. The continued refusal of Bush and his supporters in Congress to address the higher energy costs by mandating increased fuel efficiency is worse than imposing a tax increase on the American public. A slight increase in the average mileage for cars to a fleet average of 33 would save 2 million barrels per day which is MORE then is expected from ANWAR in 2020.