Das chronisch lästige Thema der hohen Spritpreise, respektive des sich-darüber-beschwerens und der Forderung nach einem Eingreifen des Staates, klärt MSNBC-Produzent John W. Schoen bestechend einfach in einer Kolumne namens Answer desk:

There are measures the government could take to ease the pain at the pump, but it’s hard to see how the U.S. government could directly control the price of a global commodity like gasoline — any more than it could limit what you can charge for that big-screen TV you’re trying to unload on eBay. Gasoline prices — like all market prices — are set by a willing buyer and a willing seller. (You may not be a “happy” buyer right now, but your purchases are still voluntary.)

(Entdeckt in Bouphonia via German Joys)