A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days

The battle over increasing gas prices has officially been joined and while everyone understands that the Democrats are out to benefit, the following excerpt still deserves attention:

While Democrats are eagerly laying blame for the situation on the Republicans, they did little to advance energy measures in eight years under President Bill Clinton. Democrats remain split to some degree over how to proceed, but in general favor greater investment in "clean fuel" technologies, more incentives for driving fuel-efficient vehicles and stronger steps toward reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Those positions were included in a measure sponsored last year by more than 30 Democratic House members who opposed the Republican version of the energy bill. Even so, 75 Democrats in the House and 25 in the Senate voted with the Republicans to pass Mr. Bush's bill.

I am all for the development of alternative fuels, but note that in the short term, there appear to be no ideas for how prices are to be magically reduced. No discussion of opening up ANWR for drilling or building new refineries to increase supply. Nothing whatsoever to somehow cause us to pay less at the pump anytime soon.

I have no problem with gas prices being a political issue, but only if we all understand how markets work and what the potential consequences of any particular action would be. If all that emerges from this debate is "the other side is bad for making you pay more for gas," then nothing of any real significance or consequence is accomplished. And those who seek to score points--whatever side of the partisan dividethey may be on--should be called on the carpet for such a failure to provide a serious policy response to this issue.