A former independent candidate for president says the past 25 years have proven him right about one of the most radical aspects of his candidacy. Former Illinois Congressman John Anderson broke from the Republican Party to run a distant third in the 1980 presidential race. Republican Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter that year. One of Anderson’s most radical proposals called for a 50-cent a gallon tax on gas, designed to cut consumption and reduce dependence on the Middle East. America had seen the first disruptions of oil in the 70s; 1973, during the Six Day War and 1979, when the Shah fled Iran. Anderson says that signaled that America was vulnerable as a nation to interruptions of our energy supply, particularly oil. Anderson proposed using the additional revenue to cut Social Security taxes and pay for general governmental services. Anderson says the proposal was ahead of its time. He says it’s critical for the country to cut its dependence on foreign oil. Anderson still advocates an increase in the gas tax, but now would use the money to pay for a crash program for alternative fuels. He says that needs to be a national priority. Anderson has been in Missouri to campaign on behalf of National Popular Vote, a group pushing for the elimination of the Electoral College.
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