Unintended Consequences

Here is another unintended consequence of our failed energy policies.

"Squeezed again by soaring gasoline prices, Chicago cabdrivers are demanding a $1 temporary surcharge -- and a permanent fare increase as high as 25 percent -- to ease the pain at the pump.
"We're spending $65 to $70 a day on gas. We need help like yesterday. It's killing us," said Steve Wiedersberg, president of the Chicago Professional Taxi Drivers Association. "We would like to do things through the proper channels. But if it doesn't work, we'll come off the reservation. We don't want to hurt the public. But if we need to call a boycott, we will."

If you think that the taxi drivers are hurting, imagine what trucking companies, delivery companies (like UPS), utility companies, pizza drivers, garbage collectors and the postal service are getting hit with. Now realize that those costs are passed on to the end consumer - that's you and me! Which means that we pay for our increase in gas costs and theirs!

If we had built more refineries since the 1970's, if our Senators voted to open up ANWR for drilling, if they had voted to drill off of the Gulf Coast maybe we wouldn't be in this straight. Now imagine, if you will, if these cabbies were in Minnesota with a $0.075 cent a gallon increase in the gas tax AND a higher annual license plate fee!

Now take a few moments to thank Governor Pawlenty for standing up for the Minnesotans and pressure the House and Senate Republicans to stand with the Governor. Minnesota's beleaguered voters will thank you for it!