???Why would that matter at all? When/if one has a tax refund coming, one has to wait.......

Actually, the most savvy way to handle taxes would be to pay none of what you owe until 4/14.  But that would be a hard check to write.

The only reason gas would get to 5 or 10 dollars per gallon is if the government caused it.  Good bye to economic recovery.  The electric car is a joke for 99% of the population.  Not enough range, too expensive, not effective for what it's true purpose is which is to cut back on the use of fossil fuels, especially when most of electricity is generated through coal, natural gas, or nuclear and isn't likely to change any time soon.  If the government would get out of the way and let the free market work, all this would eventually work its way out.  When oil gets scarce enough, it will get so expensive that other energy sources will become feasible.  This is more of the government trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

And I answered why it is not necessarily that great of an incentive. What does it end up being -- monetarily?

What does it end up being monetarily?? Are you speaking of the tax credit on electric cars?

Bush and the republicans didn't do anything to cause it.  Bad energy policy driven by environmental nut jobs helped create a short term shortage.   But to tell you the truth, gasoline never reached $5 anyway by itself.  The added taxes put on by the GOVERNMENT made it go above $5 where it did.  I never paid that much for  gas anyway.

Well, the Federal gas tax is around 18 cents a gallon. When oil price went up to @147 dollars a barrel, and gas was 5 bucks a gallon, it is hard to blame it on the fed gas tax......But I can agree with you, I don't think Bush or the Republicans(or the Democrats)caused it. For more than 30 years, they have done nothing to prevent it(energy independence).