Bloomberg:
Poll respondents pin most of the blame for the 35 percent surge in gas prices over the last year on President George W. Bush, according to the poll. Almost 3 in 10 singled out Bush as the one responsible, followed by the oil companies, identified by 25 percent, and speculators, by 13 percent. Only 9 percent blamed foreign oil producers and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
I’m guessing that these options were the only ones presented by the surveyors. i don’t know if I’d feel better or worse if that weren’t the case. If it weren’t, and respondents volunteered these answers, then that would suggest that close to 100 percent of Americans (+_ the margin of error!) have no idea what’s going on. Which, I guess, shouldn’t surprise me.
If these were the only options asked, then shame on the survey designer for not including the most plausible culprits–global demand (including that created by you, survey respondent!) has grown steadily while global supply has not. No conspiracy or presidential idiocy required.
Of course, they might be saying these prices are Bush’s fault because he’s failed to push policies that got us out of our cars and off oil. Somehow, I doubt it.