Another Blow to the Gas Whiners

Oil companies report record profits this month and, as you'd expect, the usual suspects come out complaining of "gouging" and demanding new windfall profit taxes. Little noticed is that gasoline tax revenues have far, far exceeded any profits. (There's even a chart for the slow learners in the back.)

During the post-Katrina gas price spike, some Tennesseans (including yours truly) called for Governor Bredesen to suspend Tennessee's twenty-one cent tax for a mere four weeks. We were told it just wasn't possible, even though Tennessee already has suffiecient excess tax revenues from last year to cover it.

Don't blame the oil companies. They exist to make a profit and you have other choices in the vehicles you drive, where you live and how you get around. Look at the parasites in government, who siphon off tens of billions and yet still demand more.