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Raise Gasoline Prices to Win an Election?

Last updated on 2012.04.29

The continuingly clueless Dakota War College labels "brilliant" the SD-GOP's braying about gasoline prices and President Obama's fault therefor:

You and I and Mitt Romney know that's bogus. It's perhaps also worth noting that gas prices were at that anomalously low $1.83 a gallon (that's the official EIA average for the week of Jan. 19, 2009) because we were in the depths of a recession that hammered energy demand. Welcome to the price of economic success.

But let's hear an opposing opinion at the pump from DamnGasPrices.com:

It's an Election Year. You're President. You want to win in November. And you control gas prices. What do you do?

I offer you the same pop quiz I offered at DWC:

It's an election year. You are President. You want to win in November. And you control gas prices. Do you...

  1. Increase gas prices?
  2. Leave gas prices alone?
  3. Lower gas prices?
  4. Cause pas prices to fluctuate wildly to confuse your opponents?

(Hint: when in doubt, guess C!)

10 Comments

  1. TCMack 2012.03.14

    If you read the early comments on DWC most people were not buying the argument. Keystone would take two years at best before coming online if it was approved. U.S. oil production is the highest it has been in eight years so it is not a failed energy policy. The biggest reason for higher gas prices is that the economy is back. With the economy being healthy again(at least the financial markets) oil speculation is back. In addition to the chicken hawks wanting a war with Iran, a major oil producer in the Middle East, is causing an uncertain future oil supply. Uncertainty in a market for a high demand product causes speculation, which causes prices to artificially go up even if demand and the supply is constant. To get lower gas prices we need to get rid of the Eron rule, which allows speculators to buy oil and not hold it. Most analysts argue that the price could could be cut by a third. If you want to cut down gas prices, decrease demand and stabilize the market.

  2. Joseph Nelson 2012.03.14

    Cory,
    It's a trick question. If the President had the authority to affect gas prices so directly, then would it matter who was in office? Could it even be a campaign point? But if I was President, I would raise gas prices by $1 a gallon, give 10 cents to my self, 20 cents to Congress, 30 cents to the lobbyists, 30 cents to the States, and then the other 10 cents would go to the admin bueracracy to support my crazy scheme. I do not know if I would get elected, but it would make an interesting campaign year (and since I am already President, I am already going to get the swanky perks of being a former President, I mean, those guys are set up for life!)

  3. larry kurtz 2012.03.14

    Gas is 3.54 in Santa Fe where people drive like they're possessed. Lots of hybrids, Volvos, and Jettas here. American vehicles are rare as they are mostly pieces of shit.

  4. larry kurtz 2012.03.14

    South Dakota and Wyoming drive Buicks, giant pickups, and gas guzzlers then whine about fuel costs: red state failure.

  5. Steve Sibson 2012.03.14

    While the two parties point fingers, let us understand the real reason gas prices our going up, along with inflation in general...over inflating the money supply to finance the federal debt. Only Ron Paul gets that. Now who is responsible for the federal debt...anybody who has their hands out to receive fed money. South Dakota has increased their share of the federal spending by 50% since Obama took office. So who is control of the South Dakota budget?

  6. Steve Sibson 2012.03.14

    "So who is in control of the South Dakota budget?"

    Certainly not those who support Ron Paul in the primary.

  7. larry kurtz 2012.03.14

    Text me the phone number of your dope dealer, Steve: 605-484-7288.

  8. D.E. Bishop 2012.03.14

    Larry, sometimes you are pretty funny. This is one of those times. Thanks for the laugh.

  9. larry kurtz 2012.03.14

    Thx, DE: Garry Trudeau is a personal hero.

    Coming to a GOP legislature near you: "Moroccans are furious over the suicide of a 16-year-old girl who was subject to Article 475 of the nation’s penal code, which allows the “kidnapper” of a minor to skirt criminal charges if he marries his victim."

  10. caheidelberger Post author | 2012.03.14

    [...having trouble seeing the relevance of that last comment, Larry. Care for a chance to redirect?]

Comments are closed.