Let's add to the fact that we're suddenly seeing gas prices dip drastically just before the elections. I'm fully aware there's a natural dip in prices as the summer travel season ends but the rapid changes we've seen in the last year are unprecedented considering that the geopolitical forces that set the price of a barrel of oil have changed so little since the fluctuations began.

Here's my take on it. Word went out to the oil companies before summer that the Republican party was in sore need of political help once the elections drew near. The calculation was probably made that if intense profits were generated during the summer, long before the campaigns became vigorous, that the American public would grumble and scream when they had no real feedback. The oil companies could build up a huge profit reserve for later. Then, once the campaign signs began to show up, the companies would roll back the prices drastically. I wouldn't be surprised if they even drop below profitability through the election months.

The voting sheep then forget about their earlier manipulation and see the Administration as their heroes and return them to power. What's scary about this is that the tactic is entirely valid. It's exactly what works with our uninformed electorate. Here's the test. Let's just watch GM and Ford sales in the next few months. If suddenly you start to see a boost again in large automobile and SUV sales it'll be proof as to the gullibility of the marketplace.

Please tell me Americans are smarter than this. I have my doubts.

Art