Seven Tough Choices We Will Not Make

Fulfilling their promise, Democrats in the House have voted to raise the minimum wage from its current $5.15 an hour to $7.25 by 2009. But before you count the big gains for low-income families, consider this fact: Among the poorest fifth of U.S. households (their 2005 incomes: less than $19,178), only one in seven has a full-time, year-round worker. About 60 percent have no worker at all, says the Census Bureau. The rest have part-time or part-year workers. A higher minimum wage won't help most of these households, which consist heavily of single parents and the elderly.

Among social scientists, it's no secret that the minimum wage is a weak weapon against poverty. Modest numbers of workers are affected; many are teenagers, often from middle-class homes; and many of the poor don't work. And a higher minimum wage may destroy some jobs. No matter. Democrats plunged ahead because raising the minimum wage is symbolically powerful. It says that you care about "economic justice."

This is, I think, a metaphor for what ails our politics: It's mostly about gestures and giveaways; it's not about hard choices.

I certainly don't exempt Republicans from this indictment. After all, the Bush administration and Republican Congresses devoted six years to cutting taxes, increasing spending and ignoring budget deficits. Republicans and Democrats often differ on causes and constituencies. But they share a political culture. They are long on self-promotion and short on self-discipline. They do what sounds good and pleases partisans.

Let me engage in a fantasy. Let me assume that Democrats and Republicans actually intended to address two serious national problems: first, our huge dependence on insecure sources of foreign oil; and second, the persistent mismatch between public resources (taxes) and public obligations (spending). What might they do? Herewith, a package of proposals:

? Enact an energy tax equivalent to $2 a gallon on gasoline -- introduced over six years, or about 33 cents annually. The purpose: to increase tax revenue and induce Americans to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles.

? Raise federal fuel-efficiency standards for cars from the present 27.5 miles per gallon to 40 mpg by 2020 and make similar increases for light trucks and SUVs. If fuel-efficient vehicles are to be favored, they must be available.

? Open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil production. This would help offset declining U.S. output elsewhere.