No doubt we've had it good in America. And compared to many, we will continue to have it good. But we sure don't like it when gas hits $4 a gallon. That seems to really stick in our craw.
And we don't want to hear how European countries have been paying the equivalent of $5-6 a gallon of gas for years. That's their problem.
Now our president says he's going to investigate the possibility of drivers getting gouged at the pump. But you have to wonder how serious he is. This is the same president who gets giddy at the mere mention of mass transit. This is the same president who reluctantly bailed out the auto companies. I think "reluctant" is the right word. He even made General Motors fire its boss before the bail-out could continue.
Does Obama really care if gas is 4 bucks a gallon? I think he privately believes that Americans will never embrace mass transit if the price of gas remains low.
And what about the car companies. We've read countless stories that say GM's future depends on the success of its electric car, the Volt. So maybe GM doesn't mind when gas prices are high. People will then feel more like buying an electric car.
I always thought the perfect way to pay for the bailout of the car companies was to impose a windfall profits tax on the oil companies. After all, they get rich off the back of the car companies' products. But not only did the government fail to target the oil companies, but Exxon and their pals continue to receive multibillion-dollar subsidies. Why? The rich can afford to lobby and donate heavily to political candidates.That's our system. It's part capitalism. People can do what they want with their money.
And you hate the idea of socialism, right? I thought so.