Lets put this to rest, it really is important.

[.... callchet ....]

If the price on gas goes up, the demand goes down primarily due to poor people not buying gas. So the brunt of the demand decrease is on the poor people. They can only cut back to the point of only buying gas to go to work. The point of reducing demand is to save the planet, and I believe that is an important goal. If it is that important why can't we shift the cost to the people that have money and can afford it. Why can't we give the poor gas credit cards for a discount on gas and then tax the hell out of gas. That way demand decrease will be shifted to people more able to financially cope with it and make a choice that doesn't effect their health.

[Taverner]

1. Because for many, the price of gas affects whether or not they can work

[MADem]

2. People will cheat. They always cheat. We need LESS government bureaucracy, not more.

How many thousands of people will man the "Division of Gas Cards For Poor People" program?

That's a bandaid.

Put the money into public transportation, and even public transportation in rural areas. Put it into company-sponsored carpools. Put it into rent-controlled or subsidized housing NEAR where poor people work.

[razors edge]

3. Didn't they try that

in the USSR?