Maggie's Farm

There are 2 things to consider besides taxes (which do play a role).
The first is the world, which you alluded to as "China". The US rarely thinks of itself as a player in world markets. But we are. Prices move not because we use more or less, but because the world does. Energy consumption around the world has averaged 5% growth a year, even after 2007/2008. That alone would add about $1 to the prices we saw in 2007 (which was at or near $3).

The second is that energy usage, in particular distilled gasoline used for cars, has not declined substantially in the US. It is down, but only about 2%. While this has an impact on world markets, since we're the largest consumer, tack on growth in China, India, and Asia in general.

The US only uses about 25% of the world's energy. On a per capita basis, this is massive. But a 2% drop in 25% doesn't even put us at 24%. On the other hand, considering the total usage is growing 5%, that means the other 75% are growing at close to 6% a year.

It is the growth of other nations, which by the way do not have the level of conservation the US does, that is causing the price increases.

One thing I have continually imprinted on my boys is the need to speak clearly and with authority. I pointed out to them the situation of Obama. He was a man with no credentials, no accomplishments, but he recognized some interesting things about himself.
First, he knew he was a good speaker when he had a script to go by. This is a great advantage. He is only passable without a script, but people don't care. With one, he is mesmerizing to many people.

Second, he recognized people imposed what they wanted on his personality. He isn't any great man, great savior, great change agent. But many people believe it because he says it is so. His hope was that he could make enough people believe that he could be at least a great agent of change, but this lasted briefly. Now, his skills still at a high level, he is playing a remarkably different game, but one he is still very good at playing.

That game is the third thing he is excellent at, attacking back against those who point out his flaws. He is capable of claiming and holding the moral high ground for only one reason. That reason is emotion. He's excellent at sharing his emotions and making an emotional appeal. Perhaps better than Bill Clinton, who was the most insincere, but somehow believable characters who performed this act of legerdemain. I will never forget my sister's comment about Bill Clinton when she saw him walk into a room, and how the first thing he did was to help an older woman and show how 'kind' he was. The man was a master at knowing how to win a crowd before he even spoke a word. Obama is good at this too.

To say he's only good at raising money is to ignore the other things he does well. Politicians succeed or fail based on how well they recognize their limitations. Obama knows his, and is careful to avoid them in public (he never smokes in public, for example).

I don't say this because it shows what a great leader he is, it's just to make a point. We can talk about how much we dislike him, we can discuss how we despise his policies. In the end, it's not going to come down to those things. I wish it did.

It will come down to the idea I once heard "Americans will vote for whoever they think they most want to have a beer with." Obama isn't one of those guys, for me, and many of my friends have a very different political opinion than I do, so I gravitate towards those types.

But many people do see Obama as a great speaker and an interesting man. My wife, who continually says about Obama (and Clinton) "Honey, they are very intelligent men."

I agree to a point. I always say "if they were intelligent, they'd see the flaws in their positions and alter them. But they are very intelligent about themselves, how to win a crowd, and how to keep people interested in what they have to say, even if it's BS. They are less interested in helping people, and more interested in consolidating their power."

Many politicians share this trait, so I don't view it as a Left/Right thing. But it's astounding to me that more people who support Obama don't see through his charade. There's a reason, which I know, and it's because he is smart enough to make himself seem sincere, honest, and caring. That, without a doubt, is a form of intelligence and a skill many people lack.