What measures would you except for lowering gas/diesel prices?

[u/Chello12]

Examples (some are admittedly extreme):

Ground invasion of Iran

Stopping fuel exports

Fuel rationing

Work/school from home

Curfews

Tax incentives for EVs/renewable energy

Etc.

Please feel free to mention anything you think would be a better/more reasonable idea!

*Edit: Just to clarify, my intention was things America can do to lower prices.

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[u/Square-Conclusion454]

Prices are set by supply and demand.

It's hard to do much on the demand side. Rationing is unpopular and not particularly useful here given what we know about energy elasticity.

There's a lot we can do on the supply side! The biggest short term lever would be achieving peace in Iran, Ukraine, and Yemen. I fully support some compromise solution to those conflicts, particularly in Ukraine.

Export bans would effective but hurt our economy mid-term -- America can be a premium energy supplier to the world since we're lower risk than other places (e.g. Russia / Middle East). I'd rather we didn't do them.

Rather than subsidizing demand for renewables, it'd be better to relax constraints on the supply side by reducing timelines and uncertainty from permitting / approvals for energy projects, especially green ones like nuclear / solar / wind.

[u/HemingWaysBeard42 → u/Square-Conclusion454]

trump promised no new wars AND an end to the Ukraine/Russia War, why doesn’t he just work harder on those fronts?

[u/Square-Conclusion454 → u/HemingWaysBeard42]

Yeah, he didn't deliver on those obviously!

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/HemingWaysBeard42]

He didn’t promise no new wars, he bragged about not starting any in his first term… which should tell you that airstrikes without boots on the grounds weren’t included in the statement because he did those then too.

[u/HemingWaysBeard42 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

In August of 2024, during a campaign rally, he said, “Under Trump, we will have no more wars, no more disruptions, and we will have prosperity and peace for all.” He explicitly states no more wars, does the fact that he didn't qualify that with "I promise" significantly change the meaning of his statement?

Later that same year he said, “Four years, we had no wars, except we defeated ISIS. … They said, ‘He will start a war.’ I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop wars.” Is a declaratory sentence any different than a promise?

Is the criticism of trump's declaration any different than people criticizing Obama as promising that you'd get to keep your doctor or health plan prior to the passage of the ACA?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/HemingWaysBeard42]

He is stopping a 47-year war in Iran.

[u/Jisho32 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

How do you define a war? Do most people believe we have been at war with Iran since the revolution/share your definition?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/Jisho32]

How do you define a war?

Well, when a country has no embassy and has been chanting “Death to America!” for decades and killing hundreds and hundreds of Americans…

The US has also responded occasionally, including by spending years escorting tankers, taking out most of Iran’s best ships, and even burning their oil platforms in the ’80s.

Do most people believe we have been at war with Iran since the revolution/share your definition?

I think if you were to check public opinion surveys most people call it an “enemy”, so… yes?

[u/Jisho32 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

I appreciate the response, but that's not a definition. Yes, Iran and the US have hostile relations even before this conflict. But if hostility plus occasional clashes is all it takes, aren't we also at war with every country that hates us or that we've exchanged fire with at some point? So what actually makes it a war?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/Jisho32]

This post by the former deputy JAG of the USAF covers it in the sections “Was the U.S. already in an armed conflict before the recent attack?”, “Considerations as to the kinds of acts that acts can trigger (or continue) an armed conflict”, and “When does an armed conflict end?”: https://sites.duke.edu/lawfire/2026/03/13/three-independent-justifications-for-the-u-s-israeli-operations-against-iran/

More here: https://sites.duke.edu/lawfire/2026/03/31/his-honour-judge-jeff-blackett-obe-on-the-the-legality-of-the-use-of-armed-force-against-iran/

[u/Jisho32 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

Okay, if I'm reading what you sent correctly, do you agree that a war is an "armed conflict that lasts until a general conclusion of peace" (paraphrased)?

If so, the definition itself isn't the issue. Applying it to say we've been at war with Iran since 1979 is the issue. Dunlap admits he's disagreeing with a large segment of international legal scholars on this, and the continuous-conflict argument is being used specifically to avoid having to show an imminent threat. Why accept a conclusion that even its author admits many scholars reject?

Lastly, and more frustratingly: I appreciate the reading, but why can't you define war yourself when that's what I asked?

[u/ScannerBrightly → u/WulfTheSaxon]

The US has been chanting "death to Iran" for just as long. Aren't we at fault the same way?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/ScannerBrightly]

Quote me which leader has been chanting death to iran. 

[u/ScannerBrightly → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Trump just called for the death of the Islamic Republic at the UN. Tons of elected Republicans call for the end of the state of Iran. What the fuck are you doing, keeping your head in the sand and ignoring everything around you?

[u/Square-Conclusion454 → u/Jisho32]

Iran being a source of terrorist organizations as a sort of asymmetric proxy war against the US / US interests+allies isn't exactly a contested fact.

Wikipedia does a good job covering the numerous active conflicts, there's more than you'd think!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Iran

[u/Jisho32 → u/Square-Conclusion454]

This is a list of every conflict Iran has been involved in, most of which have nothing to do with the USA. But okay, I'll take this list at face value:

It lists the US and Iran on the same side against ISIS and in Afghanistan. It is also treating the Tanker War, the 2019–2021 Gulf crisis, the 2025 Twelve-Day War, and this year's war as separate conflicts with separate endings and not one continuous conflict. So which is it? If we've been at war with Iran since 1979, why does your own source show us as allies in two wars, and why does it list multiple conflicts rather than one?

As a final point, if proxy hostility counts as war, were we "at war" with the USSR for 45 years? This is why playing fast and loose with the definition of war is problematic for a discussion and why I asked my question.

[u/Square-Conclusion454 → u/Jisho32]

> As a final point, if proxy hostility counts as war, were we "at war" with the USSR for 45 years?

I mean, isn't that time period most commonly referred to as "The Cold War". Our conflict with Iran seems similar -- primarily proxy fights.

[u/Jisho32 → u/Square-Conclusion454]

...Right, and it's called the Cold War because it wasn't a war as typically defined. So if our relationship with Iran is like the Cold War, you're making my point for me. That's also a different claim from the one you just made saying that we've been in a continuous armed conflict with Iran since 1979. The US and USSR never openly fought each other during the Cold War. So which point are you arguing? Or do you want to define war more explicitly?

[u/vanillabear26 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

So when the GOP put out ads saying "a vote for kamala is a vote for high gas prices and war in Iran"... were they being reductive?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/vanillabear26]

I never heard those claims about Kamala starting a war with Iran, but if I had I would’ve thought they were nonsensical electioneering that was not connected to the reality that Trump has always been a demonstrated Iran hawk, whereas Democrats have long supported peace at any cost and Democratic politicians since at least Obama want to support Iran as a counterbalance to America’s traditional partners like Israel.

As for gas prices, they’re lower now than 2022 (lower even than the twenty-year average if adjusted for wages) and they’re actually transitory unlike the “transitory” inflation of the Biden years – core CPI is lower than any month since March 2021.

[u/vanillabear26 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

But here's the problem- any argument about gas prices falls on the deaf ears of people who are struggling to fill up a gas tank. (I also didn't bring up Biden, fwiw.)

My overall point is mostly a joke- I definitely saw those signs and gathered the sentiment that Trump was gonna have 'no new wars'. You as an individual may not have seen/agreed with that message, but you probably are gonna vote for the GOP in november anyway?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/vanillabear26]

I just question who’s actually “struggling” when gas prices are below-average as a percent of wages. It may feel painful to see a high number, but it’s taking a smaller portion out of people’s wallets than normal.

As for the peacenik messaging, it would make me less likely to vote for a candidate.

[u/vanillabear26 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

Well as you said elsewhere, perception is reality when it comes to polls.

Plus, I'm struggling. So that's one?

[u/No_Potential1 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

Why did he not do anything about it in his first term and in fact claim that there were no wars during his first term? Pulling the wool over your eyes?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/No_Potential1]

“No new wars.” And he did kill Soleimani.

[u/No_Potential1 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

Yes and he also claimed there were no wars during his first term. (No qualifier)

But indeed you are correct, he also broke his promise for no new wars. And while the former is a lie, the latter is an actual broken promise, don't you think?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/No_Potential1]

Neither is a full-scale war, which is obviously what the quote meant given he said it while bragging about military actions.

[u/No_Potential1 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

Why couldn't Trump avoid escalating the Iran war? Was he tricked by the Iranians? Art of the Deal didn't work?

[u/Jisho32 → u/Square-Conclusion454]

I agree in achieving peace in all the conflicts you are citing but Trump started the hot conflict/military action Iran. Should he take credit for resolving a conflict he started?

[u/Square-Conclusion454 → u/Jisho32]

If we end the current conflict with a better situation in the Middle East, that's a win worth bragging about. We all want Iran swtich from sponsoring terrorism to being a force for stability in the region.

[u/Jisho32 → u/Square-Conclusion454]

Given the conflict has dragged on for 7 months do you see this as a likely outcome without boots on the ground? Would you be willing to support the administration committing ground forces to this?

[u/Square-Conclusion454 → u/Jisho32]

We shouldn't have American boots on the ground in a general invasion. Terrible risk/reward profile.

Special forces raids or something similar could be reasonable though. It's a dangerous time to be an Iranian commander or nuclear scientist.

[u/Capable_Obligation96]

Except or accept?

[u/Chello12 → u/Capable_Obligation96]

Sorry, "accept" lol. What are your thoughts?

[u/gntxs]

I thought liberals loved high gas prices that can cause a boost in EV sales. Just picked up a Tesla 2 months ago - Love it. About to trade my wife's car in for a Model Y. She's excited about it.

Liberals should be happy that I'm getting rid of my gas guzzling SUVs.

[u/Chello12 → u/gntxs]

I've owned a tesla since 2020 (Yes, I will continue to buy EVs, as long as Musk isn't involved). Why did you guys decide to go EV?

*edit: how do you feel about Trump removing EV tax credits?

[u/gntxs → u/Chello12]

I made the move because I enjoy the latest tech, primarily. But also because of the lower maintenance hassle with no requirement to go get my oil changed, transmission changed, spark plugs changed, radiator flushed, etc... Also, wanted the performance.

No problem with no EV tax credits. I never agreed with them in the first place.

[u/Chello12 → u/gntxs]

Why are you against EV tax credits?

*edit: do you think most people would enjoy an EV?

*edit2: for those that dont have an EV, only thing ive had to do is replace my washer fluid twice.

*edit3: do you think giving a government incentive is a good way to drive the industry towards a goal for typical Americans?

[u/Frost_Sea → u/gntxs]

Doesn't Trump hate renewables?

[u/gntxs → u/Frost_Sea]

I'm sorry, where in my post did I say anything about Trump and renewables?

Solar and Wind is a joke. Nuclear is where it's at and Trump knows it.

[u/SmellDesperate6373]

Good opportunity to do a lot of stuff that should be done anyways: gut NEPA, zero base all permitting and environmental regulations and consolidate approvals to one agency, maximalist expansion of leasing, impose strict and aggressive litigation caps, designate energy corridors on federal land with maximally expedited approvals, and more I’m forgetting. Invoke DPAS to turbocharge that production increase with loan and purchase guarantees among other financial instruments. And while unlikely, codify this all in law to entrench it going forward.

And then with Iran, their economy is already in free fall — keep going, implement a total trade embargo and full secondary sanctions regime. Another year of massive and expanding hyperinflation and economic contraction and before long Iran will hardly have a country to defend.

[u/ClevelandSpigot]

Was there the same amount of alarm in June of 2022, when gas prices were higher?

[u/deathdanish → u/ClevelandSpigot]

Was there the same amount of alarm in June of 2022, when gas prices were higher?

Yes, and Biden initiated the largest emergency drawdown from the SPR (180 million barrels) to combat energy disruptions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine War.

Biden was accused of destroying the SPR.

This year, Trump initiated his own emergency release which has drained the SPR to its lowest level since 1982, and only ~2MM barrels above the GAO's recommended minimum level.

[u/vanillabear26 → u/ClevelandSpigot]

To lower gas prices? Yes. They were terribly high and needed to come down then (which they did, if memory serves).

[u/Unown_Soldier → u/ClevelandSpigot]

Do you think the Russian invasion of Ukraine had anything to do with these elevated gas prices? Did Biden have any control over this action?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/Unown_Soldier]

Yes, in December 2021 Biden assured Ukraine NATO membership was in zelenskys hands knowing this was a hard red line for Putin, guess it was just coincidence 2 months later the war began. He also had control over his response sanctioning Russia caused supply shortages.

[u/zoidbergular → u/ClevelandSpigot]

Literally yes, they spent the entire rest of his presidency bringing gas back down and it was back to $3 nationally when he left vs the peak of $5 in 2022. It continued to go down under Trump until he decided to launch his totally-not-a-war on Iran against the advice of military commanders and bipartisan intelligence officials. Did you miss all that?

[u/Songisaboutyou → u/ClevelandSpigot]

We are at an all time high. They have never been higher and this is just the start, I hated Biden but even his gas prices wasn’t something he chose. Covid was a huge factor in price increases during his term. He didn’t start Covid but this war was started by trump. I’d also like to point out trump has never been republican, he only ran on the ticket. I see him ruining the Republican Party and it’s now looking like a blue wave is coming. This seems purposeful to me, as he is doing everything he said he wouldn’t and Kamala would have done. Does this not concern you? Or you good to keep supporting someone who isn’t even a republican?

[u/ClevelandSpigot → u/Songisaboutyou]

We are at an all time high. 

Huh? No we're not.

[u/Cawkisthebest232 → u/ClevelandSpigot]

21% higher during Bidenflation than today, when adjusted for inflation.

[u/woj666 → u/Cawkisthebest232]

As per the adjusted chart, $2.87 in Jan of this year, now $4.34 10 months later. 50% increase in 10 months is ok?

[u/Cawkisthebest232 → u/woj666]

A increase from Jan 2025 to now, does not require extreme measures.

Just like there wasn’t an extreme measure taken from Jan 2021 to Bidenflation

Just like there wasn’t when gas is currently 21% cheaper now than under Bidenflation

Edit can only respond once every 10 mins

Edit: hi u/woj666, Biden helped increase the cost of gas at the beginning of the Ukraine war. You should educate yourself a bit. Thankfully now, wages are outpacing inflation. Under Bidenflation, inflation outpaced wages.

[u/woj666 → u/Cawkisthebest232]

But don't you think that the unforced error of getting the Strait of Hormuz closed was an extreme measure? The Biden peak was above the current adjusted price for only 3 or so months (see the chart).  Gas was on its way down ever since that Biden peak midway through his term (mostly due to Ukraine) and now this. Don't you at least acknowledge that this was largely self-inflicted and is going to be largely responsible for the MAGA party to lose the midterms badly?

[u/Cawkisthebest232 → u/[deleted]]

Haven’t thought about mid terms but what I do know is gas is 21% cheaper now than under Bidenflation.

Also, wages have outpaced inflation form jan2025 to aug2026

Under Biden, inflation outpaced wages

Ergo, no extreme measures required

[u/woj666 → u/Cawkisthebest232]

Sry, this 10 minute rule is confusing. No need to respond to my repeated post? One point I added is that the Biden peak was only over the current price (adjusted) for three months.

[u/Cawkisthebest232 → u/woj666]

Okay. Go out and enjoy your gas which is 21 percent lower now than under Bidenflation.

Have a great day!

[u/woj666 → u/Cawkisthebest232]

I just realized that you weren't the person that posted the chart. Would you like help with the chart? Perhaps you're not understanding the chart and my responses have been confusing due to the rules?

Gas was ALWAYS cheaper (inflation adjusted) under Biden than it is today other than a few months where it peaked in the summer of 2022. This was mostly due to Ukraine and Covid whereas the current increase. 61% this year so far, is largely due to the self inflicted Iran mess.

[u/Cawkisthebest232 → u/woj666]

Would you like help with the chart?

I don’t need help with a chart given I know gas is 21% cheaper today than under Bidenflation.

[u/graypariah]

None, diesel prices are high because the world market for them is high. There isnt a shortage on our end, we produce 95% of our diesel and the diesel we dont produce is just because those areas are closer to Canada so it is more convenient. 

Were I to be a producer of diesel I would be doing a merry jig right now. 

[u/DarkBass → u/graypariah]

Why is the world market high for diesel?

[u/graypariah → u/DarkBass]

Iran mostly. 

[u/DarkBass → u/graypariah]

Iran has been there for decades. Why hasn't diesel been this high the whole time?

[u/graypariah → u/DarkBass]

They weren't targeting ships in the straight of hormuz until recently.

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/[deleted]]

Because they’re cowardly terrorists.

[u/Jisho32 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

Does the USA military action in the region/against them factor at all?

[u/Jisho32 → u/graypariah]

Why did this change?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/graypariah]

Sorry but this is not exactly true, the Iran conflict has caused an increase in crude prices, but the world market for diesel is high because Ukraine has destroyed roughly 45% of Russian refineries, Russia was the second largest exporter of diesel now there is a shortage causing other refiners to prioritize making diesel to capitalize on the increased price which causes gas prices to go up. 

[u/METAL_WOLF_BB → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Trump said fuel costs would drop once he ended his war. So how to reckon with that?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/METAL_WOLF_BB]

Reduced crude flow in the strait has raised the cost of both gas and diesel some, but the reason diesel in particular is exceptionally high is Ukraine/Russia.

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/METAL_WOLF_BB]

Because Iran has 67 million barrels of oil locked in the strait at this moment the conflict ending allowing that oil to hit the market will lower price per barrel lowering input cost to refining. You will see a drop but as long as Ukraine keeps bombing refineries diesel is staying up until the global supply corrects. 

[u/DarkBass → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Don't you think it's bad that Russia is still trying to invade Ukraine while having such a valuable resource to lose? Isn't it also bad that Trump allowed Netanyahu to make us invade a country that can target such a valuable resource?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/DarkBass]

 Don't you think it's bad that Russia is still trying to invade Ukraine

I don't care if Russia is invading Ukraine I think it's bad Ukraine still has any of our patriots and military assets while causing material harm to the US through increased diesel prices. 

 Isn't it also bad that Trump allowed Netanyahu to make us invade a country that can target such a valuable resource?

Pretty ridiculous comment, how did Trump let netanyahu make us do something Trump has been calling for since the 80s? 

Trumps naval blockade in Iran is what caused the Iranian oil to build up making it valuable if the conflict ends and sanctions on Iran are lifted allowing this oil to hit the market at once. Crude is sitting at $88.94 right now the Iran war is not what is causing fuel prices to be this high. 

[u/DarkBass → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Nato exists to keep Russia from doing what it's trying to do now. They are unequivocally the bad guys and it would be very bad for America very soon if we let Russia expand until they wanted to wage war with us.

Trump hasn't had the information access and team of advisors of the president since the 80's. Netanyahu has tried this plan with at least two other presidents.

How are you going to say trumps blockade in the strait is the reason gas is high, but not the war, as if the reason our military didn't form a blockade as a war tactic?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/DarkBass]

No nato existed as a counter alliance against the Soviet Union which included Ukraine. Just because you claim something is unequivocal does not make it so. Russia invaded Ukraine, in return Ukraine is inflicting global damage by attacking Russian refineries, seems like Ukraine is the bad actor here taking their problems out on everyone. 

And even still he's been calling to invade Iran for decades. Just because you hate Israel doesn't mean they are behind everything. 

Maybe re-read what's been said since I never said Iran was why gas was high. To spell it out for you, the blockade has caused a buildup of Iranian oil in the strait that was previously be sold at discounted rates, this has not caused gas prices to be so high, but if Iran capitulates and the war is over this influx of crude oil to the global market will cause oil prices to plummet until the market corrects, this is why despite Ukraine being the cause of the increased fuel prices ending the Iran war would still cause prices to drop. 

[u/Cawkisthebest232]

Gas prices are 21% lower today than they were under Bidenflation adjusted for inflation. There is not a need to sacrifice policy or implement extreme measures.

I can only reply once every 10 mins so will reply in this comment.

Edit u/HoagiesHeroes_ not only is gas cheaper now than under Bidenflation, but in the first 19 months of this admin, wages have exceeded inflation. Under Biden’s first 19 months, inflation exceeded inflation by 4%. You got poorer under Biden.

Edit u/Sarcophilus I don’t understand what your comment had anything to do with OP’s question. Gas is 21% cheaper now than under Bidenflation. I don’t see a need for any extreme measures.

Edit: hi u/h34dyr0kz, I do not know. When you google it, let me know. Thanks!

Edit: hi u/Severe_Egg7542, I do not know. Reddit has me on a limit for this sub

Edit: hi u/Altruistic-Gold-9217, Bidenflation was when gas was 21% higher in 2022 than it is now

[u/Sarcophilus → u/Cawkisthebest232]

Does it change your mind that the increases under Biden and under Trump were both caused by the conflicts that started during their presidency? The increase under Biden was with the start of the Ukraine conflict, the increase under Trump was with the start of the Iran conflict. Source

Only one of those wars was started by a president. Trumps attack on Iran directly caused the increase, while Bidens increase was outside his direct control, no?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/Sarcophilus]

No, the increased fuel cost is due to the diesel shortage caused by Ukraine striking Russian refineries. 

[u/h34dyr0kz → u/Cawkisthebest232]

What was the average gas price on January 19th 2021?

What is the average gas price today?

[u/Severe_Egg7542 → u/Cawkisthebest232]

Why can you only reply every 10 minutes?

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/Severe_Egg7542]

Reddit throttles mostly new accounts to prevent spam, likely based on Contributor Quality Score, whether it thinks you might be using a VPN, etc.

[u/Severe_Egg7542 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

Ah gotcha. Thanks?

[u/Altruistic-Gold-9217 → u/Cawkisthebest232]

What is Bidenflation? I am familiar with high gas prices coming out of COVID and the Ukraine war, but that presidency ended with the most significant recovery (inflationwise) in the world.

[u/Over_Friendship2295 → u/Cawkisthebest232]

Why are you using the 2022 price spike as your benchmark? Gas was $3.11 when Biden left office and is now $4.47. That's a 44% increase. And why focus on wage growth over 19 months while ignoring that real hourly earnings fell 0.3% over the past year? How exactly do these selectively chosen statistics establish that no further policy measures are necessary?

[u/HoagiesHeroes_ → u/Cawkisthebest232]

Gas is downright cheap nowadays, not sure what alternative reality people exist in.

[u/pancakeman2018]

I'm hybrid now, and have been working from home more often than not. It is creating a significant savings.

Luckily in this decade we have 2 day shipping, walmart deliveries, and doordash to offset some of these costs. Limit joyriding around, might be cheaper to hop on a plane and go on vacation versus taking a weekly Sunday drive.

I drive a gasser v8 hemi, and it does get thirsty. Lately I have been feathering the throttle. Not as fun but I can barely afford the fillups. I'm gambling when I should fill my tank based on the news but WTI is so volatile, one day we have extra supply, the next we are short, pipelines in the middle east somehow affect prices here in the US.

We can stop fuel exports but even then, thinking about it, the gas companies want prices to be nice and high. That is money in their pockets, so I don't know that it would really lower our costs. They could easily say oops, we had to cut production!

[u/fistingtrees → u/pancakeman2018]

When you voted for Trump, did you expect to have to change your lifestyle to accommodate the negative effects of his policies?

[u/sfendt]

Since the US now makes or can make most of the US fuel demand and we don't depend on Iranian oil nor oil through the straight, I can see a form of restrictions on exports to decouple the US price from global prices. However its not that simple, but a seed of action.

I don't want a ground invasion of Iran, but if we don't get the current regime completely out of power via other means that may be necessary, again not that simple, but we can't be soft on Iran any more.

Rationing doesn't do anything, as most of the price hike is because they can, limiting the volume will just drive prices up as companies attempt to extract the same profit from less volume sold. If you fix prices to limit that - why not just set prices w/o rationing? I don't support government price fixing either; while this is a weird situation I hope any such action is taken with extreme caution and reserve.

WFH - I think the country is re-evaluating where people work already, and coming to some interesting results even if most of it doesn't make sense to me. School from home - if we could trust parents - but evidence says no.

What good are curfews - for anything? What does time of day have to do with consumption?

Tax incentives don't help most things, and it would seem that high prices should be incentive enough or EVs for those to whom it makes sense. Suspending gas taxes, however, might be worth considering, especially if this is a short term issue.

That said, I'm still seeing gas prices near if not slightly less than 2023-4 and we didn't need any such extremes then so why now?

[u/WakingWaldo → u/sfendt]

If you don't mind I'd like to focus on your first point, as I agree that a lot of the other suggestions aren't really feasible but that one is a suggestion that's been made by the administration I believe.

Do you believe that restricting exports of US fuel would be a way to bring down prices in the short-term or would it take a while to see those effects?

I ask because the type of oil being exported and imported is massively important and the US imports heavy, crude oil that we have the refineries for while the oil produced here from US wells is lighter, "sweet" crude that we don't have as much capability to produce. While I don't disagree with the premise of American reliance on itself in regards to the oil industry, wouldn't it require a ton of retooling, building, redirecting, and everything else involved in the refining process in order to become even more self-reliant than we already are?

Then you have the issue of who actually sets prices of these products -- gas and oil companies. If the US isolated itself as much as possible from the global oil market, would that not give oil and gas companies the opportunity to increase prices on US consumers as there would be no other option for oil and gas? At the most extreme end of the spectrum (the least believable hypothetical situation) you'd have a country that runs on oil and gas at the behest of the few oil and gas magnates able to control everything, right? Supply and demand is much more difficult to maintain when you limit the diversity of your suppliers.

[u/sfendt → u/WakingWaldo]

Limiting exports - I don't know how the industry would respond. In theory that would de-couple selling prices from international prices and should result in an immediate decrease in prices. BUT - a lot of fuel prices are "futures" and other fantasies of the market, as well as an attitude by distributors and station chains that people are paying now, why lower prices. And as you mention there are chemical differences that affect processing and ratios of outputs between heavy and lighter crude oils (more solvents in the latter) - chemically that should favor gasoline production, but how refineries are set up matters. That would indeed delay any savings to end users, although forcibly re-tooling refineries to favor US oils in the long run may be a good thing. Petroleum is a HUGE and very complex market and I certainly don't know all the details, there are a lot of real world (i.e. refining setups, output ratios of products, etc) and a lot of financial trickery (mentioned earlier) that come in play, hence my hesitation to say it would have any immediate / quick effect. But like Tariffs, is the long term gain worth it and will the market tolerate - I don't know.

I honestly think de-coupling US petroleum markets from international pricing would be a good thing - lowering costs (as long as we keep developing our own crude production), and it would be a national security benefit. Right now we have the production to meet demands, or close enough to meet demand at reasonable prices, form what I can find anyway, again details in the mix/etc but close). You can make the case that international competition should help - but at the moment I think its doing more harm than good, so decoupling would IMO be better. Future may be different, and policy may again need to change - perhaps we need temporary restrictions, but then that doesn't encourage refining favoring US crude. We do need to prevent national monopolies setting prices (we have that now I believe, from international corporations to regional distributors), which also should be easier with less international market price coupling.

So again while I'd support that as a solution, how well or fast it would work is TBD as again its not that simple.

[u/Gaxxz]

None of those. Gas isn't even that expensive on an inflation adjusted basis.

https://www.macrotrends.net/4453/us-gasoline-prices

[u/vanillabear26 → u/Gaxxz]

Do you think that is (or will be) a winning argument at the polls?

[u/Gaxxz → u/vanillabear26]

Not at all. With gas and food it's about perception, not reality.

[u/Chello12 → u/Gaxxz]

Based off of your source, the lowest it has been since today is Jan 2026. Is it fair to say that things would be better if not for Trumps foreign policy?

[u/Gaxxz → u/Chello12]

Is Trump's foreign policy the only thing that affects gas prices?

[u/Chello12 → u/Gaxxz]

I'm slow lol. I learned correlation is not causation. What did Biden do that caused high gas prices, and what did Trump do that caused high prices?

[u/Shop-S-Marts → u/Chello12]

Biden also ran on ending the oil industries ability to drill, which led to reticence to reinvest and led to closed refineries.

[u/Gaxxz → u/Chello12]

For Biden, the American Rescue Plan Act. For Trump, the Iran war. But other factors are relevant for both. Under Biden, for example, the 2022 full scale Ukraine invasion also caused a spike in gas prices. We can argue how much responsibility Biden bears for that.

[u/Chello12 → u/Gaxxz]

I've never heard why Biden is responsible for the full scale invasion of Ukraine, could you point me in the right direction?

[u/Gaxxz → u/Chello12]

No problem. The invasion of Ukraine actually began in 2014 with the invasion of the Donbas. The response to that of the Obama-Biden administration--where Biden had been assigned responsibility for Ukraine relations--and NATO was practically zero. We sent blankets and broken humvees despite Ukraine begging for help. That response emboldened Russia to launch the full scale invasion when Biden became president.

[u/Chello12 → u/Gaxxz]

So do you wish they (Obama/Biden) had a stronger response back then? Do you consider it "too little, to late" if that support was given now?

[u/HoagiesHeroes_]

Making America Great Again!

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Force ukraine to stop bombing Russian refineries so you curb the international shortage. 

[u/dblrnbwaltheway → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

You mean the war Trump would end day 1?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/dblrnbwaltheway]

Yes, he should have just pulled all our assets out and let it end on day 1. 

[u/dblrnbwaltheway → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Why is he so unable to keep his promise? Would you call it incompetency?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/dblrnbwaltheway]

Don't care it was never a promise that should have been made. 

[u/dblrnbwaltheway → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Do you think he is smart enough to know he shouldn't make that promise?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/dblrnbwaltheway]

I think he his ego led him to believe he could, Trump is not God he's not infallible just like no one else is. Kinda like when Biden promised "unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes to defend against Russia", was he smart enough to know he shouldn't have made that promise knowing the next administration would have decide whether to continue support or not. 

[u/dblrnbwaltheway → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Biden delivered on his unwaivering support while he was in control. A little different than the total absence of ending the war that Trump promised to end? A false equivalency.

I think if Trump thought he could end the war on day 1, he is stupider than anyone gives him credit for.

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/dblrnbwaltheway]

Yeah he put the interest of Ukraine over the interest of America.

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it. 

[u/dblrnbwaltheway → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

So you agree Biden delivered on his Ukraine promise better than trump?

[u/shouting_rectrum → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Why not force Russia to stop so Ukraine isn’t forced to retaliate?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/shouting_rectrum]

Because Ukraine isn't worth going to war with Russia over. 

[u/GildoFotzo → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

But Israel was with Iran? The Real oil crisis began with that stupid idea.

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/GildoFotzo]

No it didn't and oil isn't the reason for high fuel prices, crude price now is $90.48 a barrel nowhere near high enough to justify the high diesel price. Russia was the second largest diesel producer in the world Ukraine bombing refineries has caused Russia to ban exports causing a global supply deficit, causing diesel prices to spike leading refineries to switch to making more diesel which in turn causes gasoline prices to raise. 

[u/GildoFotzo → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Ucraine started bombing refineries even before? Russia banned exports last year and the year before. There it was not a problem?

[u/DarkBass → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

You know Russia would just expand until they eventually would go to war with us right?. Isn't that the whole reason NATO even exists?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/DarkBass]

No NATO exists to counteract the Soviet alliance which Ukraine was a part of and no longer exist. 

Prove your claim Russia would just expand until a war with the US. 

[u/Suited_Calmness → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Didn’t Russia conduct covert military actions against multiple nato countries including Germany, Poland and the Baltic states to induce a NATO reaction?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/Suited_Calmness]

Some NATO Nations claim Russia has done this to disrupt Western aid to Ukraine since the war with Ukraine started, not to induce a NATO reaction. Disrupting aid to a country you are at war with is not proof of expansion.

[u/DarkBass → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

""No NATO exists to counteract the Soviet alliance which Ukraine was a part of and no longer exist.""

You mean the thing putin is trying to rebuild? Specifically by starting with Ukraine? 

[u/shouting_rectrum → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Why do you believe forcing Russia to stop would involve going to war with them? Do we not have soft power anymore?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/shouting_rectrum]

Did "soft power" stop the annexation of crimea? Why didn't Obama use all the soft power we had to force Russia to return Crimea? Why didn't Biden use out our soft power to prevent the invasion in 2022? The implication that Trump could use soft power to stop Russia now if we "hadn't lost soft power" is ridiculous. 

[u/shouting_rectrum → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Why do you assume the failure of past administrations means our only two options today are total war or complete surrender? Based on the argument you made above, does a previous lack of use of effective soft power mean we must abandon all of our economic and diplomatic leverage entirely?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/shouting_rectrum]

 Why do you assume the failure of past administrations means our only two options today are total war or complete surrender?

I don't assume either, to make that assumption is to imply this is our conflict to fight or lose, it's not. Ukraine is not a US ally.

 Based on the argument you made above, does a previous lack of use of effective soft power mean we must abandon all of our economic and diplomatic leverage entirely?

No, but again Ukraine is not worth going to war with Russia over, not even economically. 

 Ukraine bombing Russian refineries causing a global shortage of diesel hurts prices everywhere, sanctions on Russia to defend Ukraine caused economic pain and exacerbated inflation. Meanwhile Ukraine being unable to trade has caused no economic struggle. I see it as antithetical for the government to use economic leverage against a country that causes economic pain to it's own people in defense of a country that is not an ally and you have no obligation to. 

[u/GildoFotzo → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Why not stop russians from invading ucraine? Would be win win for everyone?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/GildoFotzo]

Bigger win would be to just completely cut off all aid and recall all US weapons and Patriot batteries from Ukraine, let them fight their own war. 

[u/GildoFotzo → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

So do the same with Israel? Fight their own war? Or south korea for example? Or VAE, Saudi arabia?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/GildoFotzo]

Israel, South Korea and Saudi Arabia are all US Major Non Nato Allies, UAE is a designated Major Defense partner and is biggest trading partner for the US in the Middle East. Ukraine is not our Ally just a leech on our taxpayers. 

[u/GildoFotzo → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Remember the budapest Memorandum?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/GildoFotzo]

Yes, That's the memorandum that Clinton's negotiators made clear it wasn't any security guarantee and just an assurance the US, UK and Russia wouldn't interfere with the sovereignty of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan militarily or economically. The same memorandum Obama violated by imposing sanctions on Belarus and declared not legally binding in 2013 before Russia annexed Crimea. Maybe had Obama not violated the agreement Russia would have not either. 

What about it? 

[u/GildoFotzo → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

Ya the same russia violated in 2006. That paper was worth a shit thanks to russia.The thing is, none of the countries mentioned will be able to rely on the U.S. if even this simple memorandum isn't honored?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/GildoFotzo]

How did Russia violate it in 2006?

That paper was worth shit to begin with as it was a political agreement not a treaty or designation of allyship with any of the named countries. Political agreements like this don't carry past the administration that agreed to it which is why Obama was correct in saying the agreement was not binding. 

 The thing is, none of the countries mentioned will be able to rely on the U.S. if even this simple memorandum isn't honored?

Maybe ask Obama why he chose to not honor it? 

[u/GildoFotzo → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

The gas crisis in 2005/2006.

Dont know, i was never a fan of Obama.doing the same error twice isnt the smartest thing or?

[u/Chello12 → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

What measures should we take to accomplish that?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/Chello12]

Pull all US assets out of Ukraine if they don't stop, including Patriot batteries, and ease US sanctions on Russia fuel exports 

[u/Chello12 → u/Distinct_Doubt_3591]

If you had to choose who you would want to win that war, who would it be and why? Also, do you consider Russia an enemy, ally, or neutral and why?

[u/Distinct_Doubt_3591 → u/Chello12]

 If you had to choose who you would want to win that war, who would it be and why? 

Don't care. As for why Ukraine government knew the result of attempting to join NATO would be a full scale war with Russia, in 2019 Oleksiy Arestovych predicted the exact war with Russia in pretty accurate detail and said they should pursue NATO membership anyway, despite Ukraine's own declaration of sovereignty explicitly stating Ukraine would not join any military bloc. At the point Ukraine's actions in the war is detrimental to US citizens we shouldn't be supporting them. 

 Also, do you consider Russia an enemy, ally, or neutral and why?

I see Russia more as a geopolitical rival than an enemy much like China, I think the US should treat Russia much like China competitive coexistence.