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The questions is, why is there are supply issue when there is a glut of oil available to the market? The answer can be found in something that happened in late 2015, when Congress lifted a 40-year old ban on the exportation of oil from the US to other countries.

The oil export ban was signed into law in 1975, part of the reaction to an OPEC embargo that created a shortage of crude and slammed the American economy with skyrocketing prices.

Today, the world has too much oil — thanks in part to America’s shale oil boom. Crude oil prices crashed below $35 a barrel, and a gallon of gasoline is on the verge of falling below $2 per gallon.

In other words, there is no longer an oil scarcity that justifies keeping it at home. As the glut of gas supplies has dwindled in the US, the prices have risen, much to the delight of those in the Oil Fields and OPEC who desires to have $80 to $100 a barrel oil, which in turn pushes the price at the pump to the $3 range or so.

Blame Trump for the increase, but he wasnt the POTUS when this change in policy took effect.

Simple. It comes from outside the country — about 93 million miles outside.

But really, the means to convert it to electrical power can be done with solar panels. The cheapest ones are imported. Jacking the price up some 30 percent to force Americans to pay more reduces convertion to solar, increases dependency on foreign fuel supplies which may be cut off in time of war.

Yes, oil field workers and coal miners get more work but at the cost to everyone. As a former drilling engineer for Texaco, I am somewhat familiar with the oilfield.

And no, I don’t really blame or praise the various presidents for everything which happens, but those who worship the president — whichever one it is — tend to give him credit for all good things, those who despise the president — whichever one it is — tend to blame him for all bad things.

That said, constantly provoking others and trying to start wars DOES tend to raise prices, so there IS some effect.

David for peacemakers