The price of gas: What do Democrats really want you to pay?
Understand this general rule (economically derived): The higher the price of gasoline, the less driving an individual will do.
Now, understand that the Democratic Party’s platform states:
We will create a cleaner, greener and stronger America by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, eliminating billions in subsidies for oil and gas companies and use the savings to provide consumer relief and develop energy alternatives, and investing in energy independent technology.
So, wouldn’t it stand to reason that an economy with higher gasoline prices would be welcomed by Democrats? Wouldn’t such an economy yield, through the effect of less driving, a cleaner, greener and stronger America?
Yet, Nancy Pelosi recently stated,
The President knows, as his own Administration has stated, that the impact of any new drilling will be insignificant – promising savings of only pennies per gallon many years down the road. Americans know that thanks to the two oilmen in the White House, consumers are now paying $4 a gallon for gas. But what Americans should realize is that what the President is calling for is drilling as close as three miles off of America’s pristine beaches and in other protected areas.
…
Today, the New Direction Congress will vote on legislation to bring down gas prices by taking crucial steps to curb excessive speculation in the energy futures market. The President himself could lower prices by drawing down a small portion of our government oil stockpile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The New Direction Congress will continue to bring forth responsible proposals to increase supply, reduce prices, protect consumers, and transition America to a clean, renewable energy independent future.
Does Pelosi really want to lower the price of gasoline or does she want to play politics under the guise of saving the environment? How high must the price of gasoline go before the Democrats relent, and actually do something?
Filed under: Democrats • Economics & Taxes • Energy • Environment • Global Warming • Liberal • Politics • Rusty
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The last time we had a Democrat who was honest about the need to reduce our consumption of gasoline, Jimmy Carter was booed offstage for creating a “malaise,” by speaking the truth.
Environmentalists (as opposed to Democrats or Republicans) and those in support of fiscal responsibility in the area of transportation are GLAD to see gas prices rise to something approaching actual costs. Unfortunately, the Dems (including Obama) are gunshy about speaking out for the need of living responsibly within our means when it comes to gasoline. And perhaps not without reason.
It appears that Obama is losing some ground (not enough to be a major setback, but some) to McCain because McCain is selling the “Let’s drill so our oil prices will decrease” lie and that falsehood is not being disputed by the so-called “liberal” media and people are buying into it.
I disagree with Obama and the Dems playing into this “let’s decrease gas prices” mentality, but I rather understand it. Telling people that gasoline simply costs more and that we are consuming too much has not played well.
Shame on the people, and shame on the media for not covering the facts in this story better.
Dan, I’ll be the first to agree that we waste fuel. Truth be told, I’m glad that the price of gasoline has risen, simply because it will spark the free market development of alternative fuel and energy sources.
I agree. In the meantime, we should live within our means. Which means that we should not presume that we are capable of finding the magic solution of an alternative fuel and energy sources in the same price and at the same level of our present overconsumption.
Live within our means. Prudence. Conservatively. Not with the presumption of an unknown magic bullet.