Simon Johnson lays out exactly the best way to raise petroleum/gasoline/carbon taxes:

Start low, and with a clear, visible rise that can be anticipated by everyone, over 10 years.

Exactly.

That's the great way to deal with carbon-emissions/auto mileage efficiency in a market-fashion. You can get a lot of benefits at once in this way. Needed revenue, convincing future revenue to help overseas buyers of US Treasuries retain confidence in the US economy, etc.

It seems every time we hear something from Simon Johnson, it's well thought out and great policy.