People Are Idiots

Some tidbits from the latest Times/CBS opinion poll:

"Over all, 54 percent of poll respondents believed that a president can do a lot to control gas prices, as opposed to 36 percent who believe they are beyond a president’s control. . . . 'I think just being the president of the United States of America, you would have some type of control over gas pricing,' said Jamie Haber, 39, an independent voter of Orlando."

Obviously, when Republican presidential candidates express indignation and blame President Obama for high gas prices, they are engaging in base political gamesmanship.  Whatever.  More power to 'em.  For the sake of Mr. Haber, though, I would like to point out that the president is not to blame for high gas prices and, in fact, gas prices ARE largely beyond a president's control.  Republicans will caterwaul about the need to "Drill, Baby, drill."  If pressed on the issue, however, they would have to acknowledge the fact that, even if the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and all of the Gulf of Mexico and, let's say, the entire state of Kentucky were opened to oil exploration tomorrow, it would have no immediate effect on gas prices.  There is a LITTLE bit of a lag between the start of drilling operations and an increase in the supply of oil that would lead to reduced prices at the pump.

With the vast resources at his command, of course, the President could TRY to do something to lower gas prices.  He could always try to nationalize the oil companies.  It didn't work out too well for Harry Truman and the steel industry, but that was sixty years ago--could be worth another shot.  Of course, the word "nationalization" conjures images of other countries like the Soviet Union, Cuba, Venezuela.  Still, the people have spoken!  The President must DO SOMETHING!

The sad thing is, many good, red-blooded Americans--who no doubt screamed "Socialism!" when "Comrade Obama" passed healthcare reform--would probably be happy about any decrease in gas prices caused by such nationalization.  Because trying to provide health insurance to millions of the uninsured is godless communism; but saving a couple of bucks when I gas up my pick-up?  God bless America!

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By the way, this same poll also showed that, among Republican voters, Rick Santorum--the same Rick Santorum who is opposed to any kind of health mandate and particularly incensed about requiring coverage for contraception--holds a commanding lead over Mitt Romney (41% to 27%) among FEMALE voters.  As Gail Collins might say, women just can't get over that whole dog on the roof thing!