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The drop in driving caused by high fuel prices is kicking in the law of unintended consequences.

This time - with depleted fuel taxes, which fund Federally funded state highway projects.

Guess what that means?

Less mass transit funding, or higher taxes, or both.

My guess: Both.

The alternative is pulling funding on approved projects, which means a bounce in unemployment, a drop in support from transportation vendors and a local populace suddenly cranky with their incumbent.

This talk from TED offers some interesting insights into government, politics and related issues as they relate to the one billion poorest people on the planet.

Most interestingly is the discussion of the checks and balances lacking in the places where they live.

London sees an early image of America?

A Times UK article on food shortages in England.

According to George Will, that is.

I’m not entirely inclined to completely agree or disagree, but he makes several points worth examining.

“When you, the president, after 9/11, tell the country to go shopping instead of buckling down to break our addiction to oil, it ends with you, the president, shopping the world for discount gasoline.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/opinion/04friedman.html?_r=2&oref=slogin

A number of zingers in there. Unlike many NYT op-ed pieces, this one is rather level-headed.

Months ago, I joined each major candidate’s email list to see what BS they would spout throughout the campaign. Interesting reading.

Today, I received an email from John McCain campaign talking about his gas tax “holiday” proposal.

In part, it says:

“This week, I laid out an economic plan aimed at providing immediate and
long-term relief for all American families. One of the key components of
this plan is a suspension of the federal gas tax on gasoline from Memorial
Day to Labor Day of this year. “

I think McCain thinks we are complete idiots.

While he is probably right, at least collectively speaking, he is a typical whoring politician for trying this move. Is this leadership? Give me a break.

I suspect 98% of people wont do the math. Or they’ll assume he really means all gas taxes. They’ll see this is a great move for the down on their luck working family - not realizing that a pack of smokes costs more than what McCain just saved them.

The Federal gas tax is “only” 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline, and a few cents more for diesel. The states levy the majority of gas taxes - often 3-4 times as much as the Federal gas tax.

So if you have a 20 gallon tank, McCain’s amazing plan to save America (cough, cough) will save you $3.60 on this week’s fill up. I can see consumers flocking to stores for imported televisions and clothing as we speak. Nevermind the 40% increase in food prices in the last 6 months.

The shill station, aka FoxNews, offered an analysis of why John McCain’s gas holiday plan is a bad idea - and it was actually a pretty good analysis. Only problem is, they weren’t smart enough to come up with it - instead they parroted a road construction trade groups press release about it. Still, the comments were pretty much on target.

Up until now, I’d kinda given McCain a pass because of his service in Vietnam and what he did for his men there. I just can’t do that anymore. He has become one of the pack. Another of America’s worst enemies - a political whore like the rest of them.

Disappointing.

Reuters reported this weekend that Haiti’s government fell on Saturday when senators fired the prime minister after more than a week of riots over food prices, ignoring a plan presented by the president to slash the cost of rice.

Add riots in Egypt over food.

Add the increase in commodity prices for wheat, rice and other staple foods. Not all of this is attributable to fuel prices. Much of it is a reflection of our government’s  - and short sighted energy businesses and farmers - adoption of ethanol as the Holy Grail for short term energy problems.

What will you do when the local grocery store is out of food and your last clip is empty?

Investments in corn planting in the US due to misguided ethanol fever have not only started to roll downhill, but have done exactly what was predicted by many outside the stupor of the oil industry.

Food shortages of non-corn products. (Washington Post article)

But it’s ok, this is the third world. They can eat bugs or something, you think.

Think again. What happens in your neighborhood when the grocery stores run out of food?

What happens when your last clip is empty?

Have a nice day.