Chuck Schumer for all his "Ali-G" antics isn't really as stupid as he sounds, but he thinks you're stupid which ranks among my top three "irritating things Democrats do to alienate me as a voter..."

Now apparently George W. Bush thinks you're stupid too.

President Bush, responding to political pressure over the high price of gasoline, ordered the Justice Department today to investigate price gouging, halted deposits to the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the summer, eased environmental rules and urged Congress to roll back tax incentives to energy companies.

I know economic ignorance is pervasive, particularly among liberals who spent their college years studing English literature and political science, but how does anyone get out of highschool without some basic economic education?

Regardless of how willfully ignorant some Americans choose to be, should we prefer education over pandering? I am not even talking "high principle" here but just good sound politics--lying to people is a short term solution with long term disadvantages. If Republicans pander to ignorance in ways indistinguishable from Democrats, then we deserve the same credibility problems.

Ironically, its possible to have legitimate disagreements about the war in Iraq, but the economic realities behind current gas prices aren't arguable in the least.

Price gouging can only occur under a very specific set of circumstances--when supply is articially constricted. Would you be surprised if I said that Democrats love price gouging?

The moronic proposal of a "windfall profits tax" is a case in point. Taxing profits (and in spite of the billions in profits the oil giants are making, they have very modest profit margins on the order of 10%) only serves to drive people out of the exploration business. Americans can be forgiven for not know that most land-based exploration is conducted by small private companies who risk their capital with the hope of a profit, almost always a far larger margin of profit that what big oil manages. Taxing the profits insures that no new supplies will be discovered and exploited, creating the artificial shortage that constitutes price gouging.

The Crats have a very good reason for this--public transportation means big government, big unions and big campaign cash for Democrats. All these private cars are just bad for the party. The fact that all public transport is highly subsidized is of little consequence--its the political advantages that make it worth the price.

Consider also the current regime of "price gouging" brought to you by the long dark reign of Democrats in Congress--the lack of refining facilities in this country is a deliberate policy of supply constriction, i.e. price gouging.

We desperate need more refining facilities in this country and you can place the blame squarely on the Democrats shoulders.

What other price gouging policies have the Democrats foisted on us?

Democrat-run states invariably have the highest gas prices because of the legislated mandate for so many different types of special blends. Now one might argue that this is an environmental measure, but if so, shut up and pay the four bucks a gallon.

Large oil and gas reserves exist of the coasts of California and Florida, in Alaska and other locales. These are blocked by legislative fiat.>/li>

Anything that limits the free market is a form of price gouging and you only have to look to your nearest Democrat politicians if you need a target for your wrath.