narrow/specific/concrete<----------------------------------------------------------------->broad/abstract

raise the gas tax 3 cents........................tax energy use............................internalize externalities

Other people have downvoted your post/said it should be taken from the main page/criticized it and given general criticisms. I believe that I am being more specific than they and agreeing with them. The problem with this post is that it is narrow, specific, too close to an implementation that "should be implemented tomorrow!" It is not general enough, abstract enough, to fit here. I am articulating why I think it doesn't fit, and I think I am explaining why the others think so.

So, if when considering whether or not to post something on the LW main page, part of what I am considering is an economic proposal with a big fat "3 cents" with the number three rather than something I am thinking of in variables, that should be a big flashing warning sign that I am making the mistake of suggesting something too removed from its abstract, generalizable framework, I am possibly summoning politics, the mind killer, as a side effect, and I probably committed the error of not thinking through a problem before being fixated on a specific, narrow solution. "Tax energy use" would be better, "internalize externalities" better still.