The problem with good sense is that we too often leave it to the province of politicians, and too often, they fail to possess it.

A perfect example is the current escalation in gasoline prices nationwide. The combination of an election year and the potential of $4 or even $5 gasoline, all coinciding with a weaker economy, has brought plenty of promises from politicos of all allegiances.

Earlier this year, as the primary season peaked, a popular topic among the potential presidential candidates was talk of a summerlong national gas tax holiday.

Never mind that the savings to an individual would be relatively minimal and would do nothing to address the real problem of a worldwide growing demand for oil and a relatively stagnant supply.

And never mind that the gas tax is the primary funding source for our nation's infrastructure - an infrastructure in dire need of maintenance and rebuilding, highlighted by last year's bridge collapse in the Twin Cities.

A gas-tax holiday is the kind of solution you get when you forfeit your personal responsibility to make good decisions to policy makers whose personal fortunes make them economically exempt from the harshest of realities of $4+ per gallon gasoline.

But even when the politicos get it right, it isn't completely right.

Former state Sen. Rebecca Dunn, D-Sioux Falls, is leading an effort to get South Dakota lawmakers to reduce speed on the interstate highways from 75 mph to 65 mph.

Needless to say, the vocal resistance against the proposal has been significant, and not just on Rapid Reply. Supporter Dennis Jones of Bath says even his own granddaughter has told him he's crazy.

The opponents of the reduced speed limit say the only thing such a move would do is raise the amount of fees collected by state police who will be busy handing out speeding tickets to travelers along I-90 and I-29.

But what if instead of handing out punitive tickets, highway patrol officers only pulled over vehicles traveling 65 mph and instead of tickets gave them vouchers to take $8 to $10 off their gas bill the next time they filled up at the pump?

And what if the highway patrol didn't charge for the time that they spent issuing the tickets, thus costing the taxpayer nothing?

Subtract the highway patrol and the tickets from the plan altogether and substitute a standard physics lesson, and those looking to save money at the pump will find the solution, sans the need for governmental interference.

Because according to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.

Now, that makes good sense.