It is safe to say that the year 2022 has hit hard-working Americans on several different fronts, including high gas prices. Regular gas prices are sitting at a national average of $4.153 per gallon, compared to last year’s $2.872 per gallon. Unless you just want to run off fumes and a prayer, there is no more saying “put $15 on pump 3” at the gas station. With inflation raging and gas prices soaring, it is increasingly difficult for the working class to keep up.
Republicans have rightfully used the soaring gas prices to criticize Biden, blaming the administration’s energy policies. Biden’s cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline and pausing the auctions of public land for oil drilling were celebrated by the far-left press while poll numbers continued to show voters becoming fed up. President Biden has pointed fingers at international conflicts and greedy oil companies but has yet to consider the consequences of his own actions. In regard to no one taking responsibility, Republican Morgan Griffith stated, “Rather than deflect blame, Biden should consider his own culpability for high energy prices.”
In Congress, oil executives were hammered with questions tailored to reflect blame away from the Biden administration. IN HIS DEFENSE, the CEO of Chevron stated, “I want to be absolutely clear, we do not control the market price of crude oil or natural gas, nor of refined products like gasoline and diesel fuel. We have no tolerance for price gouging.” Executives were asked if they would do “whatever it takes” to lower prices for American consumers, says liberal The Washington Post. But a similar question should instead be posed to the administration and Democrats in Congress. If you truly hear the American people’s concerns, why are you telling them to go out and buy an electric vehicle in response to rising prices at the pump? Budgets are tight, and small businesses are struggling. This administration’s policies have quite clearly exacerbated the cost crunch for everyday Americans, while their out-of-touch echo chamber cheers on more restrictive energy policies and the Green New Deal.
Recently, President Biden gave a canned speech on gas prices, stating: “I know how much it hurts. As you have heard me say before, I grew up in a family like many of you where if the price of a gallon gasoline went up, it was a discussion at the kitchen table.” Unfortunately, words are empty when there has been no major action towards relief beyond speeches, deflecting blame, and PR stunts. Biden announced that the United States would release up to 180 million barrels of oil from the reserve, citing the conflict in Ukraine. Scott Sheffield, chief executive of Pioneer Natural Resources, told the liberal New York Times, “It will lower the oil price a little, but it is still a band-aid on a significant shortfall of supply.” Even the New York Times is having a tough time getting opinions that support the administration’s hollow actions.
So don’t expect any considerable decreases at the pump to be in short order. With an inept and out-of-touch administration in charge, Americans may be spending even more in the coming months to fill up their tanks and fuel their businesses. Let us know in the comments if you think the Biden administration is truly working hard to lower gas prices or if you agree that their policies are only making things worse.
Bob Carlstrom is President of AMAC Action