Follow the Money

Here's a quick question before getting into this one: If gas prices were to hit $5 a gallon before November 4th, who would get a 'bump' in the presidential election? Personally, I think the more people have to pay at the pump, the better Obama looks. With that in mind, here's are some observations I've made recently.

Labor Day came and went, and our local gas prices stayed the same.

The Dow lost 500 points, the prices of a barrel of oil went up $10, and our local gas prices stayed the same.

Hurricane Ike slammed the Southeastern U.S., knocking out a refinery or two, and our local gas prices stayed the same. [Now, Ike did cause a run on gasoline and a subsequent shortage in the immediate area. But usually when a refinery goes down anywhere, the oil companies raise their prices everywhere in the country.]

Why is it that the "normal" fluctuations that gasoline prices usually have are not apparent lately? I think it's a rather commonly held belief that gas prices quickly shoot up on any negative news, then fall down slowly (if at all). Odd that they are not reacting to major catastrophes, financial woes, or even the cost of oil itself.

Of course, nothing is really odd if you believe that the oil company execs are holding the price still to help the candidate that they think will help them the most. That alone is enough to decide my vote. I want the guy that they don't.