MISGUIDED SOLUTIONS

Misguided solutions
Scripps Howard: Rising gas prices work a particular hardship on some low-income groups, are especially threatening to some industries and could slow the nation's economic recovery.
It follows that politicians will spout off about solutions, even though no quick political fix is in sight. It should not follow that some will spout utter nonsense, as when Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says President Bush should quit purchasing oil for placement in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Numerous problems
Problem Number One. The action would be spit in the ocean. The impact on prices would be a few cents a gallon, some have estimated -- and might not be that. Problem Number Two. The reserve is there for a real emergency, something that could be crippling to the nation, and should not be tinkered with for the moment's political advantage.
For the long term, Sen. Kerry wants the nation to do more to develop alternative fuels. Here is the good news for him. As oil prices reach levels where it makes economic sense to begin bringing some of these hugely expensive alternatives to market, they will be brought to market.
The senator is indignant about campaign ads saying he favors a hike in the gas tax. Now he doesn't. He used to, but his gas-tax enthusiasms have died in this year when the White House seems within reach.
He would probably be loath to admit that some of his highly questionable environmental enthusiasms also have the effect of raising gas prices. Even President Bush -- who is seldom portrayed as an eco-freak -- goes along with Kerry on the desirability of ethanol, which happens to contribute to higher pump prices as it simultaneously wins support of corn farmers. Ethanol, not a few students of the subject tell us, does not do much to keep the air clean, despite contrary propaganda.
President Bush deserves credit for wanting to do more to ease restrictions on expanding the country's oil-refining capacity, although the expansion cannot occur overnight. What both Kerry and Bush should understand is that high prices tend to combat high prices: They lessen demand as people drive less and increase supply as oil producers seek additional means to bring their product to a rewarding market. And even the OPEC nations understand that they could do themselves long-term harm by overplaying their hand. There is reason to think things will get better if the politicians do not put the worst of their "solutions" in the way.