The oil companies have reduced the number of refineries of their own free will, and this article proves that there is no shortage of refinery capacity, since U.S. consumption is now falling. It is not a supply and demand problem. Oil prices are inflated due to weak dollar and war fears, period, end of argument.

Bush had to make a show of seeing the Saudi King, a pretense of asking for them to supply more. Bush's relations with the Saudis is strong and Bush knows the oil business since he has Arbusto Oil company (with one of the bin Laden brothers). He knew the answer before he went but it was necessary to blame OPEC and prove that Bush himself was not at fault. But he is responsible for the war, and war debts, which have brought you the high oil prices on the trading market, and to your local pump.

If Democrats want to neutralize the criticism for these red herring arguments, and prove Bush is wrong, they should be permissive of oil exploration and new refineries, which will not cure the weak dollar problem.

Refinery capacity and exploration should be open and unhindered, save for holding the oil companies responsible for oil spills or environmental damage for obvious reasons.