Channeling Jimmy

Last year, as fuel prices rose precipitously, Mr. Obama appointed a panel to look into the situation. Originally, Energy Secretary Chu had indicated that the price increases were desireable to bring costs into line with European energy prices. The high prices would force people to reduce driving and bring down consumption. In response to public pressure arising from public discontent with the rising gas prices so ardently desired by Chu, the Administration (publicly) backtracked and decided that the better solution, politically, was to seek lower energy prices- at least through the election.

Now, obviously, the rise in fuel prices could not have been due to the policies of the Obama Administration. As Obama says, America is producing more barrels of petroleum now than in the past, and the Bush Adminstration can't be given credit for that- even though its policies encouraged and expanded drilling and production. After all, it's not as if the Obama Administration has ignored Court orders to lift moratoriums on drilling and issue permits, or slow-walked permit applications, or closed Federal lands to drilling- even though the Obama Administration has in fact done all that.

It may be presumed that Obama 1) wants to be re-elected so he will have the "flexibility" to implement his policies of "change" without accountability to the electorate, and 2) wants to ensure that prices don't go higher until after the election. So Obama, channeling Jimmy Carter, has come up with what a big-government statist would see as a win-win solution. The solution? More regulation and more government control of the oil market. Obama has asked for 52 Billion Dollars to tighten his grip in this arena. Isn't it blindingly obvious that highly trained and compassionate government bureaucrats could deal with the vagaries of supply, demand, availability, and price more efficiently than bumbling businesspeople? Jimmy Carter thought regulation wasthe answer too, and it led to some serious problems back in ancient history, back in the '70's.

The possible problems are irrelevant to Obama, though; spotty supply and shortages resulting from regulations won't affect him, and price hikes after the election won't keep him out of office. So he considers it a win-win; he gets re-elected and extends intrusive government at the same time.