Too_Many_Tools wrote in news:eb208a20-f81a-41a6-
:

"And rising fuel costs do increase the cost of consumer goods," she
said.


And lest we forget, the "Fuel Adjustment Charge" instituted by the Carter
Administration is still on the books. (If you don't believe me, look at
your latest Light Bill.) Those who fly on commercial aircraft (or their
employers) will soon be screaming about the massive increase in rates that
will result from the jump in fuel prices.

If the Politicians really wanted to do something to help The Consumer (they
don't) they could simply declare a "Tax Holiday" on Diesel fuel. This would
not only reduce the cost of transportation but, also, the price paid for
transported products of every kind. [Kerosine, JP1, #1 diesel, and heating
oil(?) are the same product IIRC and the other JP-series (except JP7) vary
only in the particle size of the Aluminum dust mixed into JP1.]

During the Oil Embargoes of the '70s there was a lot of yammering about
switching back to Rail for transport. Unfortunately, the last 30 years have
seen most of the RR tracks ripped up and sold for scrap.

There are a few bright spots: In Texas, for example, a nearly-abandoned
right-of-way that parallels US 59 from Laredo to Houston is, at last, being
rebuilt.

The project began about 5 years ago when the Tex-Mex Railroad purchased the
right-of-way. Shortly thereafter, the Tex-Mex changed hands several times
but, finally, the work is underway to rebuild the line from the dirt up
with new roadbed, new trestles/bridges, new (reinforced concrete) ties, and
new rails (metal content).