Oil Prices and the Division of Society

It is indisputable that the improving economy has not assisted the working or middle classes in any palpable manner. As a matter of fact, the financial gap between the wealthy and the rest have grown to the point of obscenity.

The now sullied Marxist theories prophesied this tendency in capitalistic societies, but that is not the point of this post.

One of the few breaks to benefit the working and middle classes has been the substantial reduction in the price of oil. Lower gas prices effect the working person much more profoundly than they effect the wealthy.

Wouldn’t you know it, there are forces out there proposing to snatch this modicum benefit from the jaws of progress. For example, the Denver Post had an editorial proposing that, since gas is so cheap, the government should increase gasoline taxes to help pay for roads and infrastructure.

This is anti-progressive as taxes on gas are regressive by nature. We all know that gas prices will inevitably rise and no one believes that these proposed gas taxes would then be rescinded.

Disturbingly, these tax proposals are germinating, in some quarters, from the political left – the party that supposedly wants to help the middle class.

Yes, we need more investment in roads and infrastructure. Find another way to pay for it and give the working and middle classes a break for a change.