By my best-guess estimations it could be implemented by the end of the week. The Month at most. No massive government handouts, no huge new department of global chaos.

Here it is: An incremental Federal gas tax. From now and until the tax is $15.00 per gallon we’re going to increase the federal gas tax by .25c every three months. Public transit authorities can get exactly 50% off of the tax. This applies to all fuels known as “gas” including diesel, regular, jet, ethanol etc. If you’re propelling a vehicle by burning something you’re going to pay for it. A little bit now, a WHOLE LOT very soon.

I don’t care what we do with the money. Pay down the national debt. Fund child health care. Build public transit. Explore Mars.

As of today, we’re paying about $1.90 for gas in the US. Back in July of 2008 we were paying $4. So with this plan in place, in two years time we’ll be back to where we were this summer. Then two more years and we’ll be paying $6.00 per gallon. If you KNEW that big SUV would cost $17 a gallon to drive in 15 years would you really want a 20 year loan on it? Suddenly the math for a Prius is looking a lot better. You’ve got some time, but in the next couple of years you know you’ll have to move closer to work, buy a bike, a smaller car, learn the bus schedule, work from home etc.

The EPA won’t need to dictate average MPG standards for car companies: the market will do it far faster. Local governments won’t need to invest in downtown redevelopment: sub-urban properties will quickly become far less attractive to developers.