Oh good gravy, Democrats have been promishing all sorts of stuff, if elected to office. What happened to that consistent work week with no breaks?? Troops out of Iraq??
Supply & Demand is not a concept Democrats wish to bother themselves with
Supply and demand?
If you had policies to strengthen the dollar I can guarantee you that the gas prices would fall.
Just saying "supply and demand" is very simplistic. Look at these memos from three large oil corporations.
TexacoMobilNotice anything? Despite many people having the misconception that there aren't enough refineries in this country and it is the fault of the EPA, the truth is that oil companies shut down twenty-six refineries from 1993 to 2000 and none of them were closed for environmental regulation purposes. They were all closed due to the fact that the large oil companies wanted to cut supply in order to increase profits.
Moreover, they fought very hard to prevent President Clinton and Congress from giving incentives and allowing a more free market for small refinery businesses to start up. This included taking these businesses to court, bullying them, or buying them out before they ever got off the ground. Many of these small refineries are far more efficient, less pollutant, and use much more modern equipment than the older and larger refineries of the larger oil companies.
So yes, supply is an issue but not in the way that most think (including President Bush who talked about adding refineries very recently). Why would these companies wish to add refineries, increase supply, and drive down cost and profit? Quite clearly that isn't at all what they wish to do.
Demand is easy with oil. It is very inelastic. The oil companies have no compelling reason to change their strategy in the United States until demand shows some signs of elasticity at a given price. Thus far that really has not been the case.