The true cost of a gallon of gas

Now that we have started our third (well, fourth) war in the Middle East, it has become clear that when our government and the war hawks say our military efforts are to bring democracy or prevent civilians from being hurt or killed, our efforts are really about keeping the oil supply lines open. Rarely do we ever use the military to defend civilians from being killed or save a country for democracy without that country being an oil producer.

Never mind that over 500,000 citizens of Rwanda were killed in an ethnic cleansing struggle or the people of Myanmar oppressed and beaten by their rulers when they demonstrated for democracy. Rwanda and Myanmar have no oil supplies, so don’t expect the U.S. military to come and rescue them. But Libya produces oil and the revolt there against Gadhafi was disrupting the supply of oil to the western world, so in go our airplanes, aircraft carriers, and probably a submarine or two lying in wait off Tripoli.

Since it is clear that we have a military force in order to maintain the supply of oil to our vehicles and factories, let’s fund the military by a tax on a gallon of gas. If we raise two and a half dollars of tax on each gallon of gasoline or jet fuel sold in the U.S., we will be able to pay for the $700 billion military budget, which neither Republicans nor Democrats have the common sense or the courage to reduce.

At least, the military funding from oil consumption would properly allocate the military spending to all of us who benefit from the military keeping the oil supply lines open. Now that allocation of costs will certainly make alternative energies more attractive and show us the true cost of a gallon of gasoline.

Tom Teune

Wheaton