Why Do Americans Prefer Our Gas Money Going to Foreign Oil Producing Countries Over Taxes That Put It To Work Benefiting America?

One morning last week, I woke up to one of the more thought-provoking radio commentaries I'd heard in some time, from CBS Radio's Dave Ross.

He noted that gasoline prices have gone up more than 70 cents per gallon in the last year, and that while the public is clearly in pain, the outcry is not nearly what it would be if a tax had caused the same price increase.

Why is it, Ross asked, that Americans have little problem with our untold gazillions in gasoline money going to Saudi Princes (and other such Middle Eastern leaders who oppress women and, yes, Palestinians, among others and don't allow Jews into their country), but collectively freak out over the prospects of a carbon tax that would put our gas money to work improving America - helping to fund renewable energy development and advance energy independence, strengthen our education system, repair our crumbling bridges and infrastructure, and so on?

It was one of the best points regarding the sociopolitical barriers to solving Climate Change and Peak Oil that I'd heard in a long time. What's the answer? I'd love to hear some of your thoughts!