Things got pretty heated up this morning when Republican 10^th Congressional Candidate Chris Hackett called into our show this morning. Hackett maintains that the price of gas went down because President Bush announced he would lift the ban on off-shore drilling. Well Kevin and I were having none of that. Honestly, does anyone actually buy that line? The gas prices went down because American’s finally screamed “Uncle” when the price hit $4 a gallon and they did the responsible thing- CONSERVE!  If mere words could change the price of gas, then the responsible thing for Republican’s to do is to bang the Conservation drum, but they won’t. The truth is, they want you to continue to use lots of gas, and they want the oil companies to drill for more oil…then just like a heroin addict you’ll be lining up eyes wide open, and teeth clenched, waiting for your next fix.   

What’s frustrating is that so many people out there actually believe this stuff. For 6 long years, the Republicans controlled the House and Senate and fought tooth and nail against the interest of middle-class Americans. They stood against raising the CAFÉ standards for cars and trucks, more fuel means more money for Big Oil. They stood against raising the minimum wage every year.  The only things they were worried about were tax breaks for the rich, and Terry Shiavo.   For years, conservatives said that people are free to make their choice, if they want a gas guzzler, then they have the right to it. Now that many people realize they can’t afford the big SUV, what choice do they have? The automakers don’t have enough supply of the more fuel efficient cars, and the Republican’s answer is  drill for more oil rather than be responsible and conserve.

The Republicans only want to make more money. They don’t care about you and your financial security. It’s about the rich making more, and the people in the middle and on the bottom getting squeezed. Unfortunately it’s the people in those vulnerable places who are most apt to actually believe the big lie that’s being told.