Cross-posted at
Clark Community Network.
In his 2006 State of the Union speech, less than three months ago, President George W. Bush made big news when he stated the obvious:
"...we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world."
So what does the former oilman do when $3/gallon prices encourage people to buy less gas and threaten to end huge oil company windfalls? He does his damndest to make sure America stays addicted. And to make matters worse, he does so by slashing environmental protections and halting the purchase of strategic reserves. All to keep prices at a high rate but not high enough to encourage conservation.
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High gas prices are a gift in disguise. With gas prices above $3/gallon, people would stop frivolous trips around the block. They'd stop buying SUVs that get 10 miles/gallon. They'd be more open to making a difference in regards to Global Warming (albeit for the wrong reason.) In high gas prices, we had a real opportunity to address our "serious problem," reduce our consumption (painful as it would have been), reduce our dependence on "unstable parts of the world" and reduce our environmental impact.
Instead, Mr. Bush is doing what he's always done. By reducing the price of oil by ten or twenty cents, Oil Slick Georgie isn't helping the average American. Long-term he's not helping America at all. He's not helping to fix the climate crisis. He's not lessening the economic impact. He's doing the absolute worst thing he could possibly do. He's keeping us hooked. Which is just fine with him.
Because once an oilman, always an oilman.