The mêlée to remain the majority

While driving through Chicago this past July, I had to make the routine fill-up at the gas station. At a stifling $3.45 a gallon, my road trip’s arrival time became greatly delayed as I began to consciously drive the speed limit in order to bank some gas. Today, the price for a gallon of gas is only $2.02.

With the weather cooling down more every day, the demand for petroleum increases. Therefore, according to the law of supply-and-demand, the price of petroleum should be escalating. However, the opposite has happened: prices rose in the spring while they are decreasing this fall.

Autumn is not only season for dropping temperatures; it is also the time for primary elections. What better way to sway voters than to resolve the one economic issue that had been making headlines for months? Coincidently, the GOP has lots of ties to the oil industry, namely through George Bush.

George Bush has a long history with the oil industry, chiefly through his shared company, Spectrum, as well as connections with other oil businesses such as Harken Energy. In 1986 he established a partnership with Enron (according to public record), and he also has associated with the Bin Laden’s oil company. He became a major Texas oil man by working out deals with various companies, increasing profits for his industry. The experience of manipulating the oil industry has its advantage when you’re President and the number one concern of your citizens is oil prices.

Bringing down the cost of gas to a reasonable figure not only reflects a healthier economy, it also illustrates that the situation in Iran is improving, as most oil is derived from the Middle East. An improving post-9/11 economy would give Bush the status of our nation’s hero. Add the flair of helping out other countries too, and the president would portray himself as a defiant leader with citizens who should embrace him.

Even though the attempt seems effective, polls still reveal a large disapproval of our President. Only 39% of Americans approve of the President, with Congress’s rating at a derisory 12%. While this is old news, it still prophesizes that the right-winged will probably become the minority in the House after the twelve years of dominating it. Desperation to keep the lion’s share of the House has resulted in unnecessary industry abuse. While strategic funneling of money by the government tries to play us like pianos, the unleaded prices will not lead to more votes.