Politicians' gas price promises just hot air

By DEAN BAKER and BRUCE BARTLETT | 5/30/12 9:30 PM EDT 

 

The recent decline in gasoline prices has at least temporarily made this a less pressing issue in the presidential campaign. There is a real risk, however, that the summer driving season will again push the price to near $4 a gallon and that it will again assume center stage in the national political debate.

That would be unfortunate. No one can be happy about paying more money for gas. But the question is what can Barack Obama, or any other president, really do about it? The answer, which may disappoint some people, is not much.