villains wanted, experience preferred...

Gas prices are too high, and people are upset. But just who's at fault? The easiest non-answer is "gouging" and corporate greed. Of course, George W. Bush also gets his slice of vitriol from the Left, because we all know that Bush's government is run by the oil companies' interests and Bush steadfastly "refuses to do anything about it." Politicians are quick to point fingers at anyone and get the ire of the masses directed at a common foe, preferably a sinister sounding one like "Big Oil". And why not? It is a script that has worked so many times before.

Politicians know the real reasons. They are smart people, many even went to college. They are smart enough to know that most Americans are, well, economically retarded. (Don't worry, if you went through a government school system, this is how you were supposed to turn out...But that is another post. Go back to watching American Idol now.) Any economist knows that the price of gas at the pump has nothing to do with corporate gouging and everything to do with simple supply and demand and government overregulation. Examine the figures yourself and you will find that more pennies per gallon end up in the hands of elected officials than in the hands of the corporation that brought the gas to you. Not a bad deal for the government, which then shows paramount hypocrisy by fanning the flames of Naderism to vilify the oil execs, and doing it loudly enough to drown out the jingle of coins diverted into their own coffer. Methinks thou dost protest too much.

Politicians love wedge issues. This is the locus classicus of the greedy corporation versus "the little guy." Government is a willing facilitator in the hostility for several reasons. They know Americans suffer from wealth envy and find it easier to hate faceless corporations than passionate public servants. They know Americans as a whole are generally ignorant and uninterested in the way our economy works. They understand the difference between profits and profit margins, so they know gouging is not occurring (at least not by the oil companies!). They know that, because of the enviro-nuts, oil companies must produce over 50 different blends of gas to satisfy various state and local regulations, and also guarantee that production will not increase to satisfy demand because of persnickety drilling moratoriums. But most of all, they know it is a surefire way to extend the heavy hand of government deeper into our collective lives. They damn well know the Constitution provides no provision for government intrusion into the private commodity market, but they are also pretty damn sure none of us has ever read it.

The basic problem with taking profit motive away from business is that it leads to less investment by the business, which in turn lowers production, which then drives prices higher and creates shortages. For those too young or too old to remember, an idealistic young social democrat by the name of Carter implemented price controls on the oil market and worsened the late 70's gas crunch. When Reagan got government "off our back", more oil flowed and prices came back in line.

They say "History repeats". Maybe. More likely, because the nature of man has not changed much over time, people from successive generations are likely to make similar choices when placed in similar circumstances. Corporate robbers and government paladins is a game that has been played on generations of American audiences. The more that Americans look to government as a cure all, the more likely we will be waiting in line to buy things, on a designated day of the week, determined by what the first letter of our license plate is.

Sounds ridiculous in 2006, right?