A Strategy That Works To Reduce Gasoline Consumption

"A gas tax is a far better way to encourage conservation and combat global warming than the method mentioned by Bush this week: mandating more fuel-efficient cars. A tax would work much more quickly than the mandate, since it would affect all cars now on the road, not just new ones."

"The problem would be selling the tax to voters, but it could be phased in discreetly -- say, a new dime of tax whenever the gas price declines 20 cents -- with the promise that all the money would be given back. The new revenue could be evenly divvied up each year, either by mailing a check to every car owner or (my pet proposal) by putting it into a new private account for every worker now paying into Social Security."

"A 50-cent gas tax would probably raise enough revenue to give each worker over $400 per year, much more impressive than the $100 checks that Republicans are now proposing to appease angry motorists this year. Instead of being a one-shot gimmick, these gifts would be an annual ritual -- a chance for everyone, voters and their representatives, to congratulate themselves for another year of sensible conservation."

[Editor's note: This article is available to New York TimesSelect subscribers only.]

Thanks to Albert G. Melcher via Sierra Club "Chapter Transportation Chairs" listserv