Fueling conspiracies

Just as we expected, gasoline prices are rising again. The election is over, so the string-pullers have started increasing prices. We’ll probably be paying $3 a gallon soon.

… I hope you’ve figured out that the preceding three sentences are NOT true. As anyone who has done the pump-and-pay thing knows, gas prices are falling. That’s down, not up.

Average prices are below $2 a gallon. You can even find a few places in Southeast Texas that offer the magic elixir for $1.89. State and national prices dropped an average of six cents last week.

So what does it all mean? It means that yet another conspiracy theory has been exposed as nonsense.

You remember that one, don’t you? When gas prices started falling in the fall after months of increases, the tinfoil-hat crowd had a quick explanation.

The November election was coming, and Republicans wanted to make sure voters weren’t ticked off. So “they” started ratcheting down gas prices. Heck, Bush had been an oilman in Midland once, so what more proof did you need?

Then, once the last votes had been counted and Republicans were safely back in power, the oil companies would get the green light to rake in the greenbacks.

Well, if facts matter, the post-election surge never happened. If this was a conspiracy, it had lousy timing. Plunging prices didn’t even stop voters from dumping Republicans.

Think about that the next time somebody jabs you with his elbow and says “the government” is keeping the lid on a carburetor that gets 200 mpg.

It ain’t so. Life isn’t always that complicated — or mysterious.

Gas prices are falling because demand is down and supply is up. When those factors are reversed, prices will go up.

… Ahhh, so that’s it. “They” are waiting for the right moment to turn the tables. I knew it. You can’t trust “them” … whoever “they” are.