If That Was Their Answer, What Was the Question?

I happened to be thinking about your previous post in the shower today, and thinking I might give a response along the lines of imposing a tax on car companies or oil companies, but with the expectation that, if pressed on it later by someone who was economically literate, I might have to admit that it wasn't actually an answer to the question.

Answering questions can put you in a situation in which you might say something that, with more than sixty seconds' thought, you would rather not. Responding to questions with a statement about your policy position on related subjects is much safer -- you've probably rehearsed that.

What's your strategy for inflicting maximum pain on the American consumer while achieving maximum political and moral victory?