Likewise, the oil industry has often been able to drill on federal land and offshore without paying the full market rate for the leases. Most politicians know that sound economics would call for these benefits to be eliminated; but those who complain the loudest that the government must not pick corporate winners and losers seem to be the least able to summon the political will to act.
除了提高燃料消费税，美国还应该取消一些石油生产补贴。石油公司可以立刻将很高比例的钻井成本从应税收入中扣除，这是其他行业的投资无法实现的。类似地，石油业常常能够在联邦土地或离岸进行钻井活动而不必支付足额市场租金。大部分政客都知道，靠谱的经济学家都会要求取消这些福利；但那些声嘶力竭地疾呼不可由政府来挑选公司赢家和输家的人似乎在召唤行动的政治意愿方面无能为力。