As is usually the case with government intervention into private enterprise the unexpected results are usually far worse than the original problem congress set out to solve. Doesn’t anybody study history anymore? It was not that long ago that the same ideas were floating around congress during the Carter years. Anyone remember the odd even gas days and the long lines at the pumps because of the government forced oil shortages of the 70’s

Among other mistakes from that period, the government increased the taxes levied on domestic oil producers, as if that would somehow help.

The result was “reduced domestic oil production from between 3 and 6 percent, and increased oil imports from between 8 and 16 percent.”

The government also instituted price controls, which only served to create the notorious gas shortages of that era. Yes, price controls meant consumers could get cheaper gas — but only after waiting in long gas lines and only if stations didn’t run out first.