What Is Wrong With The MSM? (part 1 of many)

The "gas tax holiday"* has been in the news again as gas prices have risen above $4 per gallon and Senator McCain has pushed a suspension of the gas tax. Press coverage has mostly focused on a few angles.*

*I have a reason for putting this in quotes, which I'll get to shortly. And while I'm at it, in case you're not familiar with the acronym, "MSM" = mainstream media.

*You may notice these asterics and italicized sections that are now peppering my blog posts. Think of them as footnotes. Joe Posnanski (sp?) is a sports writer whose blog I read, and who uses these italicized footnotes for long amusing digressions. I'll try to keep them short, but I think they're interesting and effective.

One type of story is about how the areas hardest hit by high gas prices are those in states that might be important in the general election. These stories focus on the politics of the "gas tax holiday." The conventional wisdom seems to be that Americans want their politicians to do something, and no one in their right mind would oppose the "gas tax holiday" because to do so would be to ignore the plight of the downtrodden driver. There's an enormous "but" that sometimes appears in the midst of these articles, but that sometimes doesn't.

The second kind of story is the one that explores the "but." For example... But, no one can find an economist who thinks the "gas tax holiday" would do anything to lower gas prices for consumers. These articles explain that the gas tax that would go on holiday* is really a tax on the production of gas paid by the oil companies.

*Is anyone else picturing a big dollar sign lying on the beach with sunglasses and a drink with a little umbrella in it?

Now here's where I start to get a little peeved to the point where it becomes necessary to write an angry indignant blog calling for the heads of media personalities. Where did the term "gas tax holiday" come from? McCain, and Clinton, and the media insist on calling this a "gas tax holiday," which implies that the holiday is for the consumer of gas, i.e. the driver, rather than for the producer of the gas, i.e. the giant wealthy corporate gas company. I can understand a proponent of the "Tax Break for Oil Companies" to want to name it something palatable, like "gas tax holiday," but for the media to acquiesce to such a loaded terminology in the absence of any real relationship between the term and its meaning is another sorry example of the media relinquishing any claim of independence.

You may notice that I gave the tax break a new name: "Tax Break for Oil Companies." This is what I'm going to call it from now on to anyone who mentions it. For example, if someone were to say, "Hey, how about that "gas tax holiday," I would reply, "I'm not familiar with this gas tax holiday of which you speak; wait, you must be referring to the Tax Beak for Oil Companies."

Hopefully this will catch on. There's really no reason I can think of for the media to continue to call this a "gas tax holiday." Not only is "Tax Break for Oil Companies" more accurate, it has the benefit of taking the political advantage away from McCain while cementing the fact that the "Tax Break for Oil Companies" won't help consumers. Perhaps, it will catch on and the MSM will start using it. I'm waiting for the day when Mr. McLoughliStephonapaMatthews asks Senator McCain: "You've called for a Summer Tax Break for Oil Companies. How does lower taxes for Oil Companies help drivers at the pump?" And maybe Obama could say something like: "Rather than give a Summer Tax Break to Oil Companies, I'd like to require that whenever gas prices rise by an $.10, Oil Companies disclose how much profit is made on the backs, or wheels, of the American consumer.

Refute the idea that the tax break helps? Done. Take away political advantage? Done. Do something that might actually lower prices? Done. I don't think this is such a crazy idea. And if its not crazy, why I am the only one I know who's mentioned it.

Really, MSM, what is wrong with you?

What Is Wrong With Bicyclists?

In theory, I don't have any problem with bicyclists. They get exercise, while getting to where they want to go, all without contributing to traffic congestion or global warming. I have several friends who ride bikes. I have several food delivery guys who ride bikes. All are essential to my general happiness.

However, despite my sunny predisposition and friendly attitude toward bicyclists in general, a small sub-group of the aforementioned bicyclists have rejected my goodwill. These bicyclists are a menace to pedestrians everywhere and must be stopped! Too dramatic? Ok, well, I'll concede that many bicyclists drive (ride?) safely and conscientiously. But there are lots of bikers (ugh, can I stop typing "bicyclists" already?) who have no respect for traffic regulations or pedestrians. The worst of these are bike messengers, but they're not the only ones. Many casual bikers are just as guilty. They go the wrong way on one way streets, they run red lights, they ... well, those are the two main problems they cause.

Why am I grousing about this today? Obviously, its because I was almost run over by a couple of bikers today. The first was going the wrong way on a one way street, so while I was looking in the direction of oncoming traffic to make sure no cars were coming when I crossed the street, this bike came from the other direction and nearly knocked me down. And not two minutes later, crossing another street, a bike ran a red light to make a turn in front of me and again, almost ran right into me. Both times, I caught my breath, and shook my fist in indignation, but what else could I do? Nothing. I fantasized about actually getting hit and then suing the bike messenger company, but really, unless the biker gets hurt in the crash, he's not going to stick around to tell me who he works for.

What I don't get though is why the bikers can't just follow the traffic rules. I mean, yeah, I guess that would slow them down and defeat part of the purpose of riding the bike instead of walking. And its not like cops are writing out tickets against reckless bikers. But every now and then someone gets hurt, and its occasionally the biker. That should at least be some deterrence, right?

So tell me bikers, if any of you are reading my blog, what is wrong with you?