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Who to blame for the price at the pump? Tough to say

Politifact -- $3.84 a gallon.

Three-eighty-FOUR! For one lousy gallon, one milk jug’s worth of gasoline.

The cost of a fill-up? Don’t even get us started.

Whose fault is it?

Keystone. China. Obama. PolitiFact has heard it all. Since the beginning of this year, we’ve checked more than a dozen statements and ads about gas prices. In most every case, we’ve found politicians oversimplifying their attacks, or just plain getting the facts wrong.

Did you hear the one about the single-day gas protest in 1997 that forced prices down overnight?

Well, it never happened.

In reality, the price of gas is determined by a litany of complex and shifting factors (Brent derivatives, anyone?), few of which you’ll hear mentioned in :30-second political ads.

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Submitted Apr 30, 2012 By: eromitlab

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 5:02:42 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse HIGuy: if you really believe that, I have some land to sell to you ... in the Everglades along w/ a Bridge in Alaska.
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:9,660 Points:3,105,615 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 6:23:25 AM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Blah, blah, blah. S.O.S.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:6,102 Points:1,302,725 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 11:29:13 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse How about the President that was in office when the first Model T used gasoline.
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,031 Points:798,995 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 11:19:08 PM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse too high
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,031 Points:798,995 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 11:18:56 PM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse crooks
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:9,660 Points:3,105,615 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 11:17:42 PM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Who to blame for the price at the pump? Why, it's none other than our Fuhrer-in-Chief, Barack Hussein.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,578 Points:2,372,235 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 3:29:29 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Who to blame for the price at the pump? --- 'Whom to blame for the price at the pump!' There is plenty of blame to go around! Big Oil continues to sell fuel and natural gas on the world market for higher prices, there will be NO price reduction for the cost of fuel or natural gas IN the US. Barry will support natural gas and oil production for sale on the world market to pay for his ‘spending gone wild’ addiction. The US ‘oil and natural gas resources’ belong to the citizens of this country and are to be used by those same citizens! Speculators, manipulators and the banks continue to unfairly and unjustly make the driving public pay higher prices at the pump for their benefit. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost, if possible! The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,139 Points:624,685 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:26:35 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
Blismo Champion Author Arizona Posts:2,274 Points:430,960 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 7:09:45 AM Ignore Blismo Report Abuse i can think of a few people to blame
mrpc90 Champion Author Illinois Posts:8,208 Points:1,952,160 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 6:55:38 AM Ignore mrpc90 Report Abuse Democrats are to blame. They made a huge political deal of gas prices while Bush was in the White House. Now that things are even WORSE under Obama, they claim that there's nothing that they can do. WHAT? I'd LOVE to go back to the days of $2 gas and 4.5% unemployment during Bush's years.
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,374 Points:1,009,305 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 4:54:51 AM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Just stay home.
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:575,730 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 1:40:31 AM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse If it's not the Bush's fault then how could it be Obama's fault since you guys say Bush couldn't effect gas prices, I guess according to that idea, neither can Obama effect gas prices, Just saying, Fair is fair, right?
tobasco Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:7,376 Points:2,130,835 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:30:43 AM Ignore tobasco Report Abuse Whatever.
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,629 Points:1,536,805 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:04:16 AM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse Blame Bush, of course. Both of them.
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:389 Points:249,955 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:50:33 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse @coke_kid False. Check out http://www.eia.gov/analysis/requests/federallands/pdf/eia-federallandsales.pdf and go to the chart on page 3 (fifth page of the document). Look at the "onshore federal" column. You'll see that the lowest number from during Obama's administration is from 2009, at 105 million barrels. That ties with the highest production under the Bush administration, in 2007. The Obama administration beats Bush's in every category - offshore federal, onshore federal, and even Indian lands, along with total production. You might want to actually use facts in the future when making claims. Also, many of the expenditures under the Obama administration were out of his control. He can't change how much the SSA pays out. Nor Medicare, nor military pensions. You may also recall that there was a war going on when he took office, and the funding of that war goes on his account. The country already had obligations the day Obama took office, and, for most of those, there was little to nothing he could do to change that. For practical purposes, the money had already been spent, but it just hadn't been accounted for yet. Furthermore, your "sugar" statement doesn't even make sense. The price of sugar is determined as much, if not more, by the supply and demand for sugar. If production of sugar declines, and/or usage goes up, the price of sugar will go up as well. It's simple economics. Spending money doesn't cause inflation. Spending money is a zero-sum game: for every dollar you spend, someone else receives a dollar. The valuation of the dollar is determined by factors such as the supply of money and the creditworthiness of the US. Bear in mind, Republicans cheered when the US's credit rating was downgraded. They were cheering for inflation. Why? Not because it's good for us, but because they want the Obama administration to get a bad rap, so that they can take control of the government. That's like your mother celebrating that your father got laid off because now she'll be the breadwinner in the family. Good for her, but bad for the family. Likewise, good for Republicans, bad for the country. Finally, if your'e going to say these are the "real" numbers, you might want to cite sources for them. And what on earth are you talking about, no budget in three years? A budget has been passed every year. The President doesn't just get to say, "Here is the budget." He can say what he WANTS the budget to be, but Congress still has to pass it. You may recall learning something about "the power of the purse" back in school....
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,599 Points:621,360 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:37:41 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse blame it on all the smart businesses that find customers who will pay more.
DandyDapple All-Star Author North Dakota Posts:715 Points:330,170 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:35:26 PM Ignore DandyDapple Report Abuse There's more to it than the general public is allowed to know ...
CheeseMan Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,740 Points:1,775,000 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:35:16 PM Ignore CheeseMan Report Abuse I almost fell down a flight of stairs two days ago. At first I thought it was my fault then I realized that it was George Bush's fault. I guess the same reasoning holds true for gas prices too.
badspots Champion Author Houston Posts:2,082 Points:693,105 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:32:46 PM Ignore badspots Report Abuse Ok.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:32:45 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Politicians have a stake in energy. They get money and have stocks. Do youthink they want to slp the hand that feeds them?
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,975 Points:1,457,475 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:31:20 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Way too many people seemed to have asleep during the economics lecture in school. "Speculators" are only investors who hold commodities contracts until they "mature". Sellers (well owners) and buyers (refiners) are the real market force. --duty calls, be back later---
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:575,730 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:29:09 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Hmm, a gallon of milk last me about a week and a gallon of gas will last about 20 mins. :-)
2bigtanks All-Star Author Akron Posts:772 Points:371,610 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:25:51 PM Ignore 2bigtanks Report Abuse Okay.
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,236 Points:1,378,645 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:25:08 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse We all have our opinions.
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,975 Points:1,457,475 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:24:19 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Blaming speculators for bad prices is like blaming weathermen for bad weather. Speculators buying commodity futures contracts are only gambling on a roll of the dice or the turn of a card. They don't roll the dice or deal the cards. They just win or lose on the outcome of somebody else's efforts...
kcboy Champion Author Utah Posts:4,088 Points:1,533,100 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:23:07 PM Ignore kcboy Report Abuse Ok
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,095 Points:2,549,740 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:22:33 PM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse BSS
pastorpaulcg Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,615 Points:775,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:22:16 PM Ignore pastorpaulcg Report Abuse Bush!
monarch57 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,656 Points:138,720 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:21:21 PM Ignore monarch57 Report Abuse Get rid of the speculators.
fieldt Champion Author Lansing Posts:4,050 Points:754,825 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:20:24 PM Ignore fieldt Report Abuse Deg +1
otherdave Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,530 Points:1,295,885 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:20:24 PM Ignore otherdave Report Abuse BHO, big oil, and speculators.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,557 Points:1,498,670 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:20:14 PM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse Interersting article but it still doesn't tell us who is to blame. Closest thing it comes to saying is that some of the blame is on speculators.
Double_Golden Champion Author San Francisco Posts:2,690 Points:631,885 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:18:49 PM Ignore Double_Golden Report Abuse don't forget SPECULATION...
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,436 Points:1,556,195 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:17:31 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse The biggest reason is Wall Street speculators, especially those who never take delivery of product and are only in for money from trading. Obama and the White House are not the culprits.
flahusky All-Star Author Florida Posts:733 Points:154,590 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:17:26 PM Ignore flahusky Report Abuse The American citizen for not revolting.
frostyWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,339 Points:519,235 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:17:17 PM Ignore frostyWV Report Abuse speculation
flagman420CT Veteran Author New Haven Posts:257 Points:711,430 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:17:14 PM Ignore flagman420CT Report Abuse You can't win!!
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,038 Points:1,717,725 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:16:55 PM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse State taxes are one of the biggest reasons for the variance (although they don't change daily). Unfortunately we don't use our gas tax dollars wisely.
yakstar Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,550 Points:506,250 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:16:51 PM Ignore yakstar Report Abuse Use milk instead!
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,975 Points:1,457,475 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:15:18 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse The base price of gas is the same everywhere. Why does it vary state-to-state? One word--TAXES!
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,667 Points:2,107,460 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:15:15 PM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse Ha, You know it's BUSH'S FAULT!!! I overslept the other day and told my boss why I was late that it was Bush' fault and he excepted it!!!
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:3,090 Points:859,430 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:15:13 PM Ignore regout Report Abuse Speculators.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,740 Points:3,518,505 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:14:54 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Obama's EPA is a major reason as is Big Oil.
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:8,922 Points:2,400,630 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:14:51 PM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse Believe who you want
miser709 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,268 Points:1,093,950 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:14:47 PM Ignore miser709 Report Abuse Who to blame for the price at the pump? Easy one. That would be the one who ends up with our money.
spike43 Rookie Author Buffalo Posts:12 Points:314,660 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:14:20 PM Ignore spike43 Report Abuse mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
jkpsr Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,202 Points:1,126,940 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:13:59 PM Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse It is simply caused by loose money and unrestrained investors.
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,674 Points:713,805 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:13:09 PM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse Ok
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,332 Points:487,315 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:12:27 PM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hmmm....
Toppers Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,147 Points:2,497,420 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:09:28 PM Ignore Toppers Report Abuse Take your pick...