Just like clockwork, in case you haven't noticed yet,

[Mr. Evil]

gas and food prices are on the rise. Right before the re-election of a popular Democratic president.

I think Vegas should've had a line on this starting about a year ago. I would've bet everything I have (what little that is)!

[AllaN01Bear]

1. before that

and to try and use as a smear tactcic like was done to all other dem preses .

[Mr. Evil]

2. Yup!

[AllaN01Bear]

3. i remember the 1976 energy crisis so well that it hurts and i still feel it was contrived ,

not by arabs but the us oil cos .

[twodogsbarking]

10. There is a difference? Jus' askin'.

[Permanut]

4. It's that darn inflation..

It's not gouging, mind you.

[BaronChocula]

11. Oh of course it's not gouging!

We passive patriotic unquestioning Americans have been taught to believe the inanimate market sets prices and not the benevolent folks who stand to be enriched by higher prices.

[markodochartaigh]

13. How shocked people would be

if they actually read Adam Smith's work.

[Johnny2X2X]

5. Actually not true

Grocery prices were flat last month and the month before. 0.0% increase in February and March. Restaurant food went up 0.3% though.

Gas switched over to the Summer blend, so it generally goes up in March every year.

And Trump is not as popular with corporate America as people seem to think. He's a loose cannon and unreliable and his ideas on trade are a huge threat to the economy. Plus, most boards and CEOs know that fascism is corrupt and bad for business.

[lapfog_1]

7. Trump is very popular with Russia and the Saudis

who collectively have been lowering their targets of oil production starting just month ago or so in an attempt to raise the PPB enough to hurt both Biden and the West.

USA is a net exporter of crude however the oil market is a world market so any reduction in oil production affects prices around the world. I expected that gas prices would rise to an average of $4.50 a gallon in the USA over the summer.

The oil companies are all to happy to add their percentage margins to the cost of basic crude and have a few banner profitability years after the pandemic years of shrinking demand.

Long term this will drive the adoption of electric vehicles.. .but for now, the resulting pump price and inflation will be used by the pro-Russian party to blame Biden and "government restrictions", etc on Democrats.

[Mr. Evil]

8. Well,

I was only going by what I've personally seen. About 3 weeks ago gas at Kroger was $2.99. Now it's $3.49. I pay close attention to food prices. They've been steadily ticking up.

Was also being a bit snarky because it always seems to go that way when a Democratic president is running for re-election. You know the rube's logic, 'vote for TR*** and gas prices will come down. As if gas prices are the most significant bellwether of a successful presidency.

[onenote]

9. Except gas prices almost always go up in March. They did that in 2004, when Bush was running for reelection

The only reason they didn't go up in March 2020 is that the pandemic caused demand, and prices, for gas to plummet that month.

[markodochartaigh]

19. On the other hand,

There is the real world of facts and figures in which a part of the US electorate lives, and there is the world of belief, in which another part of the US electorate lives. In the world of belief, Fox "news", OANN, churches, business leaders, co-workers, friends, and family develop a zeitgeist to be inhabited by people who are uncomfortable with facts which grate against their "reality". These are not voters who chart a myriad of prices on a monthly basis.

As for corporate America, I love Les Moonves' quote "It may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS". And I'm sure that not everyone has forgotten how many companies withdrew support from Republicans immediately after The Epiphany Day Coup Attempt only to backtrack and quietly resume support as soon as they saw that accountability was going to be slow in coming. You don't get to be a c-suite officer without knowing on which side your bread is buttered.

[Think. Again.]

6. Next you're gonna try to tell me...

...that gas prices go up for no reason around major holiday weekends...

Oh, wait...

[lefthandedskyhook]

12. Ukraine

Biden did not want Ukraine to take out russian oil production. It was all about inflation. Strange how that worked out... The baby faced speaker of the house was able to basically end our military support for Ukraine? Ukrainians are fighting and dying for their country against a monster and we are playing with our hands tied because of some very stupid people who are up to NO GOOD

[Probatim]

14. Biden needs to remind voters that corporate profits are at an all time high.

And make the connection between high prices and profits.

[Mr. Evil]

15. Yes!

I have complete confidence in him that he will do just that. Record profits too.

[Mr.Bill]

16. Okay, here's how it really works...

It's a well kept secret, but in the White House hidden in a medicine cabinet in the private presidential bathroom next to the oval office, there are two knobs. One is labeled "stock market" and one is labeled "gas prices". Some presidents never find these knobs, but the ones that do can control Wall street and the price of gas by turning the knobs up or down.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Mr. Evil]

17. Hah!

That is priceless!

[bluestarone]

18. Exactly!