Welch likens early screening to the check engine light on a car, occasionally picking up abnormalities that don't affect the vehicle's performance.

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Economists would say the rising prices are like the check engine light coming on on the dashboard, and to lift the gas tax would just put a piece of black tape over the warning light.

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When that annoying "check engine" light appears on your dashboard, for instance, the service manager sees it, too, on his computer.

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