More Policy Sophistication From the GOP

With gas prices topping $3 per gallon in many parts of the country, Congress takes action...and proposes giving us all a $100 check. See, doesn't that make it all better?

Apparently, Jacob Weisberg is right: high gas prices make politicians stupid.

You know what, I have a better idea. Congress can keep the $100. But instead of giving it to ExxonMobil in the form of a tax break, why don't we finally get serious about making a real energy policy? You know, a Manhattan Project for alternative fuels? As a technical challenge, I'd say this is not quite as difficult as the A-bomb or the manned mission to the moon...all we need are higher-yield varieties of switchgrass and other rapidly growing plants, and some more efficient enzymes to convert all that cellulose to ethanol. Require that all new vehicles on the road be ready to run 85% ethanol fuel blends. And until we get a solid cellulosic industry set up, reduce tariffs on Brazilian sugar-derived ethanol. I don't mean to trivialize these steps, but this is not the hardest obstacle this country has ever faced, either. After all, Brazil has already shown us the way. But it does require coordination, stimulus, imagination, and leadership from the top. Which means, we're probably going to be waiting a while for it ever to happen...