can any liberal explain to me, using basic economic concepts, why bush is to blame for the high gas prices?

Question

i just don't get that statement.

so i'm no economist, but i took a micro class in college, and the most basic concept for the reason things are priced the way they are is supply and demand. if prices are going up, that means the supply must be going down or the demand is going up. the supply seems to be the same, so the demand must be going up. americans aren't the only people consuming gas...

Answer 1

Well, I'm not a liberal (actually, a registered Republican), but let me have a shot at your question.

You answered your own question, in a way.
But let me toss a wrench in your theory that Bush is not to blame for high prices.
What is driving the market?
Fear.
Gasoline is a commodity, largely imported as crude oil from overseas markets.
When those markets or shipping routes are threatened, futures prices go up.
War is a BIG threat to global markets.

Now, maybe you haven't noticed, but President Bush did lead us into war with Iraq.
Please, let's avoid the right or wrong in his decision to invade.
The fact is that war created supply fears which drove the price up higher and higher.

We can't really blame our president for Hurricane Katrina, which impearled off-shore drilling rigs (which drill for crude oil which is sent to New Orleans for refining) which further increased the price of gasoline.
But we could blame his administration for being slow to protect assets and help rebuild the petroleum infrastructure in that area.

Bush continues to promote trade with China and has done little to help American businesses.
As China's economy grows, so does its energy needs...which are fed by crude oil from the same countries that supply America.
Ah!
Supply and demand, again!
An increase in demand (this time, from China) means suppliers can raise prices.
Directly and indirectly, the blame falls on our president.

And finally, Bush, along with every Republican and Democrat president since 1973 (remember the Arab oil embargo?) is to blame for high gasoline prices because each has failed to implement a sound energy policy, promote energy conservation (how many liberals drive Hummers?) and mass transit.
But, that is a collective blame.
By the way, where is the "conserve" in "conservative"?

Bottom line, I don't care who is in office, they are all guilty and we Americans are the bigger fools for electing these people.
Energy drives the American economy, but we're piddling away our way of life through the war, failure to implement conservation measures and by trading with countries that will hurt our own businesses.

Answer 2

As much as I would love to blame Bush for the high gas prices, I don't think he is the sole reason gas prices are high. That said, I do believe he should take a large amount of blame and here are 3 reasons why:
1. Instability in the region has caused gas production to slow. Iraq for example produced more gas under Saddam then is produced now.
2. Bush has not planned for shortage. He just told us that we are addicted to oil this year! His father could have said that when he was president. The question is, what is the plan to end the addiction? We need more incentives to drive energy efficient cars, as well as incentives for car companies to build alternatively powered cars. This is a catch-22 for Bush, because he will never turn his back on the oil industry that helped make him president and his family rich.
3. The Iraq war is using tons of gas. The amount of gas used in warplanes, ships, etc is huge. By fighting in Iraq for 3 years we have burned a ton of gas just through normal military operations.

Answer 3

Not a liberal, but I can certainly explain it at least in part.

Actually, George Bush explained it best when he ran for president in 2000. The problem is that, since 1976, there has not been an energy policy in the United States. We are dependent on foreign fossile fuels (gas, oil).

When he ran for president, he explained that he will develop an energy policy that will take us into the 21st century. He also explained that, with his background in the oil industry, he is able to negotiate and "talk to these people" and that is how the (then record high) prices would be brought down ... through cooperation with the producing countries.

Since that time, George Bush has attacked Iraq, substantially decreasing world crude oil output capacity. While the other countries have attempted to make up the difference, Iraq has the second or third highest reserves (depending on what study you see), which has slowed to a trickle. Further, the middle east policies make the world markets unstable ... countries stockpile for fear that there could be a supply interruption.

This causes an increase in demand, with a corresponding decrease in supply (Iraq). This results in a higher price point on the supply and demand scale.

There are other things beyond the control of Mr. Bush -- for example, China has become one of the largest importers of oil, while it used to be (until a decade ago), a net exporter.

Nonetheless, the uncertainty in the middle east, and the substantial decrease in Iraq oil production, caused by the president's foreign policy, has had a substantial impact on the price of oil.

Answer 4

Here's a serious answer, unlike any of you right wingers can give.
"Crude oil rose to a 26-month high yesterday after President Bush said that the United Nations Security Council must enforce its resolution on disarming Iraq." That was Feb. 7, 2003, a month and a half before the Iraq war, when the price of gas was $1.75. Since then the oil market's fears have been replaced by the reality of depressed Iraqi oil production, and more recently by frears of an Iranian oil disruption of if the U.S. attacks Iran. This is only one of several reasons for high gas prices, but it is the one under our control.

Answer 5

I think it is when the oil from the middle east prices went up and whatever this government had done to talk to them to low the price of oil did not do any good at all. Since, they like most of this nation do not totally trust this president Bush at all and they did not lower the price of oil, instead they raised it. So, The gas companies had started to mine for oil in this country instead and it is not so cheap oil over in this country, so, the gas companies is making a very nice profit and this president Bush is turning his head the other way when the gas companies is making up very high gas prices for their customers to pay, instead of just having to pay for the oil to make the gas with. The only reason that this president Bush is getting blame for the high gas prices is very simple is that he is part owner of a very big gas company and the gas companies is getting a very good and unfair break on their cost of oil that is getting mined in this very united states of america of ours. I feel that the money that the gas companies is getting paid for the oil should go directly back to the people and help the common people rebuild their lives and to actually be able to live so they can actually afford the very high gas prices without breaking a sweat.

Answer 6

I think he isn't necessarily the blame, but he hasn't done anything to help the gas prices.

Most of his blunders have been political though, not economic( they do impact economically). Fighting a war in the middle east automatically sets Iran against you. Iran supplies some oil. Iraq is unstable so therefore they aren't able to contribute like they use to. Venezula, which does supply the US with oil, has become an unlikely foe with Chavez in charge.

And honestly, part of this started with Clinton, but Bush has been in office long enough that alternative means of fueling vehicles should have advanced tremendously. We should be further along with ethanol than we are.

Answer 7

Because he owns all of the oil companies. Didn't you hear? Also, he is to blame for everything wrong in this country right now. You ignorance appalls me.

Seriously, don't ever ask a liberal to justify their views with logic.

It is like watching a monkey try to fu*k a football.

Oh by the way liberals, making sh*t up or regurgitating the BS your lib teachers tell you does not count.

Answer 8

blaming bush for the high gas prices is done so in order to gain political power in the upcoming election. since most people are upset about the price of gasoline and many will believe what the news tells them, it figures that doing so would swing enough voters in enough states to where the democrats could take back the house and senate come november. I'd say that's reason enough for them.

Answer 9

Simply put, because he is the president. The fact is, it doesn't matter of you have the most conservative Republican, most liberal Democrat, or anything in between in office, its the guy up top who's gonna get blamed. The only other thing i'll say is that quite often Bush seems to be reactionary rather than pro-actionary, giving the impression that he knew something was coming, but couldn't figure out what to do till after it happened, but I think that goes back to 9/11 and has stuck with him since. My suggestion, next time vote for someone you haven't heard of before.

Answer 10

Bush isn't to blame
But china might be
In resent years more and more people are using cars in china
as more people want gasoline in china demand goes up
and as more people consumes gas in china supply goes down(theres a billion people in china)