Joe, I read you article on "A Fair Trade for Lower Gas Prices" and wondered why you didn't suggest earmarking the revenue to fund the Afghanistan / Iraq war and reconstruction efforts (including the war debit from previous years)? For the anti-tax lobby, you could sunset the tax when the war debit has been paid off. It should appeal to those with security interests, environmental interests, and anti-deficit interests. Regards,
Bill Maes
Eden Prairie, MN

JOE KLEIN: A tax revenue shift—from energy to payroll taxes—is easier to sell, theoretically, than a straight up tax increase to pay for ongoing operations. In reality, even a tax shift is impossible to sell—there isn't a politician in Washington who favors it. But you're right in principle: If we returned tax rates to their Clinton-era levels, there would be a lot more money to pay for things we need—and especially the retirement of my fellow baby boomers.

Joe, As a caucasian engaged to an African American, is it "correct" to inform your co-workers that your intended is not caucasian prior to your co-workers meeting your intended. I do not see color and do not believe it is necessary to do so, co-workers have said yes it is necessary to "fore warn them" I am not sure what I am fore warning them of.
Anonymous
Roseville, Michigan

JOE KLEIN: I just knew this column would evolve into a Dear Abbey sort of thing, sooner or later. I have no expertise, but—hell—here goes: No, you don't have to tell them. If they think race is significant in any way, that's their problem.

I had just finished reading your article regarding high gas prices and voter reaction to them. Even more than this, what pandering the GOP and the Democrats are engaging in, in order to get the voters on their side in November. The question I have, how many people remember Jimmy Carter's severe conservation efforts during the energy crunch of the latter 1970s? 30 years later, the automotive industry prefers to put low mileage gas guzzling SUVs on the road, President Bush only provided a tax incentive for businesses large and small to equip themselves with SUVs, and the energy industry never thought to think that eventually fossil fuels might become history. There is clearly a reason for voter anger. Then wouldn't it be better to argue that the automotive industry can no longer voluntarily decide when it will begin providing cars capable of running on alternative fuel sources? The politician that says such a mandate should occur with in the next 2 years, given the fact ! that the Japanese in particular are already ahead of us in the creation of such cars, would probably be elected/re-elected come November and have the oval office secured in 2008. It isn't politically craven to recognize that oil isn't a renewable resource.
Joan E. Harman
Dalton Gardens, Idaho

JOE KLEIN: The problem is, your solution throws all the burden on the auto companies. They've got enough troubles—and one would hope they'd start emulating Japanese fuel efficiency as soon as possible. In the interim, a tax on carbon would discourage the use of inefficient automobiles and encourage greater conservation of home heating oil....and cleaner power generation as well.

Joe, Since Bush became president and Republicans have gained control of both houses we have seen a 25% increase in federal spending on programs the American people want like education and Medicare. Is it possible for Republicans to tell the truth about taxes and spending and still get elected?
Dave
Manchester, NH

JOE KLEIN: On the basis of the past quarter century, the Republicans—Reagan included—are the party of fiscal irresponsibility, including big spending. I don't think they're very eager to publicize that.

Why doesn't anybody ever bring up the anthrax guys? Someone sent anthrax in letters to people during the time I feel that GW and Co. were trying to scare the American public into war. Why hasn't anyone asked whatever happened to that? Did the government just give up or did these anthrax letters ever exist?
Zack Carley
Chicago, IL

JOE KLEIN: I haven't followed this very closely, but it seems the case reached a dead end—with a strong suspicion that the perpetrator was domestic not foriegn. But you're right, no case has even been made and it's strange.

Dear Mr. Klein: I need someone to tell me why this is not a good idea.
Energy Policy: The government mandates that by 20?? , all passenger cars sold in the United States are electric powered.
Rationale:
The battery technology is already here. If there was a standard for the batteries with removable cells, the distance problem could be solved by having exchange stations, similar to propane tank exchanges now offered at convenience stores.
The distribution network is already in place. You can find a plug everywhere.
All of the new energy technologies plus all the current energy sources, including nuclear energy, can be used to generate electricity.
Most of the recharging of batteries would be done during a time now considered off peak, making more efficient use of power plants.
The electric utility industry has a history of regulation.
At the very least, somebody (you would think it is the governments role) is going to have to state what the future plan is going to be to solve the energy crisis. Right now it just seems we are chickens with our proverbial heads cut off.
David Hall
Newark, OH

JOE KLEIN: Because the market is the most efficient decided of such things. Electric cars may seem terrific now—I'm about to buy a hybrid myself—but there may be a fabulous new technology by 20??. The most that government can reasonably do is encourage or discourage certain types of behavior through the tax code.

Joe, I watched you on "This Week With George Stephanopoulos", and heard you comments, and those of Rep. Murtha, that Bush wouldn't be invading / atacking Iran. My question is in two parts:
1) What does he have to lose in doing so?
2) Does he think he would have anything to lose ?
I honestly don't think "the public's" opinion registers w/ Bush in anything but a political/tactical sense.
Your thoughts? - & stay well,
Mark Pilon
Fallon, MT

JOE KLEIN: He has lots to lose. That's why the administration is moving so cautiously here—unlike the rush to war with Iraq. Iran is a far more coherent and powerful country than Iraq. It has, I'm told, an excellent intelligence service—and it has an international terrorist arm, Hezbollah, that, prior to 9/11, had carried out the most successful terrorist attacks on U.S. installations overseas. If we hit Iran, you can expect mayhem in Iraq and significant terrorist attacks in the U.S. I can't imagine the Bush administration doing this, unless there is an Iranian first strike against us.

You rock, Joe! Thank you for being a reasonable voice in the media. My question has to do with the complete lack of interest in the world and current events and will to do research and make informed decisions I see in fellow students around me and the public in general. Is the problem with schools not mandating history courses, the media buckling to public demand for entertainment stories rather than news, or something else entirely, and is it contributing to our cocky attitude in world affairs?
A. Novikova
Palatine, IL

JOE KLEIN: Good question. The U.S. has a tradition of not being very concerned about the rest of the world—an historic consequence of being buffered by two huge oceans. That should have ended with 9/11 (and also with the growing number of U.S. businesses that have customers overseas). It really is well past time for us to get to know the rest of the world—and the process should start from the top. In World War II, Franklin Roosevelt had everyone buy maps so that they could follow the progress of our troops in Europe and Asia. It was a huge national geography lesson. We need a similar national cultural lesson now about Islam and the Middle East. Bush should have begun that lesson on 9/12—instead of teaching us, though, he's hectored us with the same platitudes over and over.

While we are in the middle of the gas crisis I would like to know who attended the Energy meeting with Cheney and what was discussed. I think it could shed light on all that is happening now with the high price of gas. Why is no one asking?
Carol
Albuquerque, NM

JOE KLEIN: I'd like to know who attended those meetings, too! We're having a gas crisis for lots of different reasons—growth of demand in China and India, instability in the middle east, lack of refining capacity. This shouldn't come as a surprise. It was bound to happen sooner or later—and we should have had a response prepared. We really need to move quickly toward alternative energy sources. Presidential leadership—a call for sacrifice—would be nice.

Hi Joe, I find myself watching CNN lately and thinking the difference with them and Fox cable news is becoming blurred. CNN now has truely right wingers on staff — W. Bennett, they have the "Paul Rivere" for white supremises — Lou Dobbs, Wolf B. is such a lamb now with his questioning. Do you think CNN has lost their prestige as a true "News" media? PS: I've decided to watch CNN international instead.
Judy Mendez
New York, NY

JOE KLEIN: I like CNN international, too. I don't mind Bill Bennett—in fact, I think he's pretty smart. My problem with CNN is all the time they spend on murders in Aruba, fires in Cincinnati, cats caught in trees...and interviews with near-dead entertainers. I wish we had a cable news service located somewhere on the demographic spectrum between old CNN and the Lehrer News Hour. Actually, I think Keith Olbermann on MSNBC is pretty damn good.

Joe, Love your column, etc. et al...ENRON, Worldcom, negative US national savings rate for the first time since 1929, 80% of US incomes down 15% since 2001, top million US incomes up over 2000% since 2001... Have we allowed a corporarocracy to form and are we now experiencing neo-fascism, i.e. corporations in control of the state, a la ROLLERBALL?
Peter D. Mikkelsen
Kennewick, WA

JOE KLEIN: Nawww. Not fascism. Just a disastrously heavy dose of corporate-cronyism.

Joe, no question here, just a belated kudo re your Cheney/Thousand Yard Stare article. As the story broke, I rec'd an email from my son stationed in Korea. He wondered if now Cheney could possibly understand how soldiers in Iraq feel when they have to kill a man and watch him fall. He concluded probably not, since Cheney got five deferments. Anyone with a loved one lucky enough to return from Iraq is very familiar with that stare. Day in and day out you wonder what those eyes see that yours can't. And, I agree with your questioners; Cheney is inherently incapable of comprehending what he has wrought on thousands of young soldiers, their families and our country. But, what's even more distrubing, frightful and worrisome is that I believe the architects of this war (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, et.al.) really don't give a damn. I believe they don't care for one second about the gut wrenching, personal impact on our soldiers. They understand the basics: keep the numbers up to keep up the good fight they started and the bullets flying but beyond that, our young (and old) men and women in the service are mere minions, of a lower class who signed up, dispensible and replaceable, like the servants who surround them daily to do those nasty chores. Yeah, they exploit a few for speeches on special occasions! to aptly recognize their sacrifice but in no way do they identify with the vast majority, So be it if they're killed. They enlisted.

My son is a West Point grad, a young man with plenty of options before choosing to serve. He's a Captain with a promising career, a Bronze Star with Valor recipient, an outstanding athelete with an open invitation back to teach at the Point anytime but, he leaves the Army this summer a bitter man, along with every other Captain in his office and practically all of his classmate friends. The Lt.'s of 2001 fought their way into Baghdad. They've seen death and destruction, witnessed incompetence at the highest levels of leadership, buried their friends, put their lives on the line for a Big Lie, killed not to be killed, had dysentary, nearly died of thrist, gone hungry, and they may very well be our leaders once again, this time of a mass exodus out of the Army.
Gaynelle Smith
Richmond, VA

JOE KLEIN: I've spent a fair amount of time with military people the past few years and it is stunning how angry they are—and rightfully so. I'm not so cynical as to think that the Bush administration leaders don't care about people. But they have been criminally careless in the way they've gone about this war. In any case, please thank your son for his service to our country. I wish he were staying in uniform, but I can understand why he's leaving.

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