During the latest spike in gasoline prices, Pennsylvania State Sen. Sean Logan, who represents parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, proposed the short-term elimination of the 31-cent-per-gallon state gasoline tax. He did it with a straight face and a clear conscience, and certainly with no thoughts regarding his own re-election.

The fact that he set October as a possible time for re-evaluating the proposal is, of course, merely coincidental.

A cursory look at this proposal reveals a reduction in taxes, a good thing; a reduction in fuel prices, also a good thing; and a boost for Logan's re-election prospects, presumably also a good thing.

I would like to state, for the record, that Logan's proposal is wrong.

Today, the United States faces three crises that are inextricably bound to the way we produce and use energy.

The first and most immediate of these crises is national security. As long as our addiction to petroleum-based energy sources continues unabated, we are at the mercy of foreign interests, antithetical to our own, who will use that addiction to our economic and strategic detriment.

The emergence of the Far East as a major competitor for supplies of crude oil means that our enemies in the Middle East can play with the tap as much or as little as they wish.

The second of these crises is global warming. It's real. It's here.

We did it to ourselves and we have zero time left to begin solving the problem. The continued burning of carbon dioxide-producing fuels is a death march the consequences of which we already are enjoying.

The final crisis is the fate of Western democracy. The social and political survival of our republic depends on the survival of the middle class. The extreme concentration of wealth typified by the $400 million retirement package recently proffered to departing Exxon chief executive officer Lee Raymond is a glaring example of the greed that is shrinking the American middle class at an alarming rate.

Typical of the emerging oligarchy is our charming vice president, Dick Cheney, a man who wants to run the world without running for office. I urge people to pay very close attention to the man behind the curtain.

All of these crises are tied to energy profligacy, some more immediately than others.

Take another look at Logan's proposal. Does it address any of them?

Not even close; it, in fact, exacerbates every one.

Understanding that a rant without suggestions is merely an ego trip, I offer the following:

Logan should increase the gasoline tax to a nice, even 35 cents per gallon and then make that revenue available to people who will use it to provide viable, alternative sources of clean energy, like the Saxonburg guy who is making bio-diesel fuel.

Unlike Logan's approach, this would address all three crises.

It would help reduce reliance on foreign energy sources. It would help to reduce greenhouse emissions. And, it would put the funding in the hands of people who are keeping our entrepreneurial spirit alive.