As oil prices and gasoline prices continue to hit record highs, the energy policy watchdog Competitive Enterprise Institute lays part of the blame on government policy.
Myron Ebell is the director of energy policy for the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He laments that members of Congress continue to complain about rising energy costs while at the same time pursuing energy policies that create an even greater burden on American families. "They passed in December of last year, and sent to the president, a huge new ethanol mandate, which will do very little to produce more energy," says Ebell. "But [it] will help increase gas prices and is already increasing food prices." When asked about the three presidential contenders' proposals to lower gasoline prices through pumping the Strategic Oil Reserve into the market and repealing the federal gas tax for the summer, Ebell referred to those plans as "a short term gimmick." "The problem with that is that high price sends the signal to consumers that this product -- gasoline -- is in short supply and they need to conserve it. That's the value of a high price to consumers," he explains. "It also sends the signal to suppliers [that] you can make money if you can produce more of this product." Ebell also notes that if politicians think gas prices are too high, they should be contacted by concerned consumers and asked why they would support global warming policy that is currently before the Senate and House. He feels it is "hypocritical" for politicians to complain about fuel prices, then turn around and support such things as a carbon tax or a mandate to use some form of non-carbon-based energy source.
If you believe OneNewsNow.com is an important source for Christian news, please consider a small tax-deductible gift for this service.
