Friends, Romans, countrymen...

There is something odd about this gas tax rebate John McCain initially proposed, and I can’t put my finger on it. But neither, it seems, can anyone else. No economist in their right mind is supporting this thing, but that doesn’t seem to stop the politicians from debating it. Forget about the experts, says Hillary Clinton, she herself is the expert after “seeing a tremendous amount of government power and elite opinion basically behind policies that haven't worked well for the middle class and hard-working Americans.” Hillary’s plan differs from the one John McCain proposed by suggesting that the oil and gas companies pick up the tax usually paid by the public.

Normally I would say that anything that sticks it to the oil companies is a good thing, and move on. But the drama here is too good to pass up. Everyone has an idea, by in large all of these ideas are just different shades of grey, and ultimately all of the discussions seem to miss the point entirely, that this countries dependence on oil will be our undoing.

Obama criticized Hillary’s move as political pandering saying “"Only in Washington can you get away with calling someone out of touch when you're the one who thinks that 30 cents a day is enough to help people who are struggling in this economy,"

Whenever I hear politicians promising money to the people I think of Marc Antony’s speech in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Antony discovers that Caesar was murdered by group of conspirators and mourns his friend’s death. At the same time Antony must be careful to conceal his loyalties from the conspirators. Meanwhile crowds of roman citizens have gathered, and demand explanation. Brutus matter-of-factly explains to the crowd that they killed Caesar because he was too ambitious. Then Antony makes his speech and with a subtle use of reverse psychology, incites the commoners to riot in grief over Caesar's murder. In the speech, Marc Antony badgered the crowd to turn on Brutus and his co-conspirator. Antony taunts the crowd, holding out Caesar’s last will and testament, but then deceptively hesitates to read it. As the crowd grows ever violent, Antony again and again holds up the will to focus the anger of the crowd, then finally, at the last, reads them Caesar's (supposed) will, wherein Caesar leaves money to “To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.” plus his private Orchard and gardens for the pleasure of the citizenry.

This sets up one of the primary themes of the play and it is what lends it a particular relevance in the America of today: the power of persuasion and manipulation. I suppose I am frequently distrustful of politicians offering tax breaks, incentives, and refunds because it never seems like anything more than political pandering. Throughout the course of the play the masses are eager to support anyone who manages to achieve the enviable position of having the last word on a subject. The different reaction of the people between both Brutus’ speech and Antony’s speech illustrates this point.

Brutus embodies perfect republican virtue with too much constancy, and his stubborn refusal to accept change ultimately becomes his demise. He struggles throughout the play to live by his idealism for a perfect Roman Republic, and is consistently plagued by an inner struggle as to what is the most virtuous course of action. Putting aside personal emotions and reason, his decisions are based purely on his ideas of what is the best for his nation. In an ironic twist of fate though, most every time he follows what he believes to be the most virtuous path, he ends up hurting the very cause he seeks to protect. Thus, Shakespeare begs the question as to why such true virtue can go so wrong.

Antony is easily able to win the crowd to his side from Brutus’ and turn them against the conspirators, being a master of rhetoric. He incites a riotous crowd, and thus divides the nation, preparing it for revolution. His decision to infuriate the crowd has the inevitable consequence that begins a rapid destruction of Republican Rome.

Somehow I don’t think that a gas tax break over the summer is going to have the net result of ushering in the rapid destruction of American society. But is does distract the public from the real problems associated with our dependence on fossil fuels. Although we constitute only 5% of the world’s population, we consume 25% of global oil production. America epitomizes the petroleum-dependent lifestyle. This proposed tax relief provides no incentive to drive efficiently, to rely more on car pools or public transportation, or simply to travel less. It also provides no incentive to drive at speeds that reduce fuel consumption. Nor does it provide an incentive to scrap an old car in favor of a newer one with better fuel efficiency The tax relief to me is no better than Antony’s promise of Julius Caesar “To every several man, seventy-five drachmas” that distracts the citizens from Antony’s true aim for power. Through his powerful speech and lack of forethought, Antony creates civil war in Rome and he has no concern for the welfare of the citizens who will suffer in the strife.