Published: May 20, 2008 09:07 am         

STUMPTALK: Why don't the elitists get out of the market's way?

For more than two years now, the House Democrats have promised a “good, smart” energy bill to bring down gas prices at the pump. Since that time the cost of a gallon of gas has gone from $2.33 a gallon to $3.62 gallon. Now the plan has been proposed!

The public might have been looking for more exploration, added refining capacity or other ways to increase supply thereby reducing our dependence on foreign oil, but, no, the oh-so-intelligent social elitists have struck again.

The Democrats' plan calls for increasing taxes on the oil companies. Apparently, the social elitists have not learned the lesson of the ‘80s when they last tried this maneuver, only to have it result in lower domestic oil production and higher prices. The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service said the oil production fell by 1.2 billion barrels between 1980 and 1986, while draining $36 billion that could have been used in development of alternative fuels. Also, this grandiose plan calls for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate price gouging, even though such investigations have never produced any gouging in the past. Add to that their idea to sue Saudi Arabia to force them to produce more oil, which is pretty ironic when the elitists won’t allow more oil production in America. And we elected these clownish elitists to run our government! I do wish they were qualified for some other sort of employment.

If common sense were to prevail, it appears America needs to increase our supply for the short term by getting government out of the way. If the social elitists in the federal government would get out of the way, domestic oil production could increase and alternative energy sources could be explored. Ethanol, the darling of the left, has proven not to be a viable alternative when it costs more per barrel to produce than gasoline and causes food shortages throughout the world, resulting in mainstream media unreported food riots, not to mention the high pollution factor.

Recently, that “evil” oilman, T. Bone Pickens, unveiled his plan for a 150,000 acre wind farm in the Texas panhandle using his own money — $10 billion. He has already contracted for the generators and leased the land, but the elitists in the federal government are dragging their feet by denying the necessary transmission ability and funding guarantees. At least the Texas power companies are setting up to receive the power. I guess they don’t have as many elitists there.

If the government elitists would just get out of the way, there are more already proposed plans to be put in place for wind power in Oklahoma, Kansas and up the Great Plains to Canada, as well as the exploration of solar power. Judging from the social elitists' track record, as soon as they find a way to control and tax private energy development, all road blocks will be removed. Remember that this November when voting; follow the money.

Stumptalk is published weekly in the Crossville Chronicle. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the Chronicle publisher, editor or staff. Phil Billington serves as coordinator of this column. He may be reached at 484-2766.