This is the kind of thing more than two centuries of metastizing executive power has led to — the belief that the president, as “great national daddy,” can and must do something about everything. Witness this bit from Reuters (which I have edited for style according to the pub I work for):
The White House said on Tuesday gasoline and energy prices were too high and the US needed to continue to address the “root causes” of high prices.
“If you look at the economic indications it shows that the economy is poised for continued strong growth, but at the same time there are issues that directly affect American families that we need to continue to address — high energy prices, increase in healthcare costs,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
While steps have been taken to address those concerns, there was “more we need to do,” he said. “Gas prices continue to be too high, energy prices continue to be too high.”
US gasoline prices are at the highest level in 11 weeks, averaging $2.34 per gallon this week, the Energy Department said.
“Too high?” Exactly what part of “free market” do these people and their acolytes understand?
4:50 pm on January 24, 2006
