[judgementday]

1. lower the corporate tax rate
2. Get rid of the personal income tax/IRS and move toward Flat tax rate based on income3. eliminate the federal Departments of education, energy, and HUD, make Department of Interior not a Cabinet position.
4. Create a national sales tax on foreign made goods
5. Place term limits on Congress
6. Make all Federal administrative law with built in sunshine clause

^this.........the current tax system needs to be trashed....

You mentioned gas prices....IMO it is one of the reasons for the down turn in the economy......higher gas prices led to companies charging more for transporting their goods which led to higher prices in grocery stores, etc....