There are of course multiple issues playing into the cost of gas prices, but the lack of effective leadership on the issue means that people are still going to keep looking back at Biden as prices keep going up.
The 9,000 unused permits or whatever is a misleading talking point. Just because there is a permit to drill doesn’t mean that land has enough oil or gas to effectively be drilled. That claim is akin to saying to a prospector in 1849, “you have 2,000 acres of land in California, how are you not finding gold!?”
The Department of Interior is already working to increase the royalties the government collects on federal land drilling. The permit process is exceptionally slow and makes it very difficult to get permits approved for drilling that may actually be cost effective. Not to mention the generally hostile position towards fossil fuels from this admin, including cancelling pipelines, etc… All of this is going to impact the market, on top of the Ukraine-Russia problems.
Can Biden wave a magic wand and bring gas prices down? No. But just like everything else that happens during this administration, there is a complete vacuum of leadership.
This admin obviously wants to eventually move America away completely from fossil fuels. I don’t agree with that position at all, but if I were this admin, here is what effective leadership might look like. “American people: my goal is to continue to move this country towards the green and renewable future of energy. But it’s clear the American people are hurting right now. In response to this I am sitting down with US oil companies to find out what we can do to improve US oil production and supply. In addition, I am working to immediately suspend the DOI’s plan for increased royalties and directing them to streamline and trim the existing permit approval process. It’s my mission to make sure American people are able to fill their tanks today while we continue to work towards an alternative fuel future.”
Instead, we get told, “fuck you normal people, these prices are all part of the plan to make you switch to something else for your transportation needs. Boo hoo, you’re going broke right now, not my problem. Oh, and btw, quit your whining, I’m going to go beg to the Saudi’s for more oil.” It’s no wonder people slap “I did that” stickers on gas pumps.
Has this admin genuinely faced some tough circumstances? Yes. But effective leadership is marked by how you handle those circumstances. You can’t just keep pointing blame at other things and people, take no action, and then expect the people your leading to not start to look to you for why things are so shitty.