Many Republicans (especially apartment owners) will agree: Section 8 is one of the most successful and best public welfare programs invented. Not only does it get the working poor off the streets and into safe housing, but it spurs investment and keeps builders going.

I now propose Section 9: Government should step in to help the poor buy new private automobiles. The reasons are many. Just like a residence, a car is one of the first steps on the road to economic prosperity. Single moms and people with two jobs cannot afford to waste time on buses, or to miss job opportunities that are too far for them to travel. The automobile, with today's gas prices especially, is far cheaper than travel by mass transit and far quicker as well.

Barack Obama should call for a Section 9 where poor people can buy a new car with fraction of their income going to the payment. Government funds the rest. This would be a panacea for automakers as those who would never buy a new car could now jump into the market. The car would help them move up the ladder and become loyal customers.

In fact, in these dire times, I would appear to Gregoire and Sims and all the rest to forget Proposition 1 and rail boondoggles and concentrate on the basics of road building, and using those monies to help people get on the road with brand new, high mileage, low emissions private automobiles.