In such a fit, U.S. President Barack Obama offers fanciful alternative energy technologies as a solution to rising pump prices and a task force to ferret out fraud in energy markets.

Even before disturbances in Egypt, Libya and elsewhere, economists expected oil prices to increase from September lows of $75 per barrel to more than $100 a barrel by this summer.

Economic recovery is pushing up gasoline demand and jet travel; Obama's restrictions on off-shore drilling are curtailing U.S. oil supplies; electric vehicles and hybrids won't appreciably dent U.S. gasoline consumption before the end of this decade; and Chinese oil imports are growing 10 percent a year. All Middle East strife did was accelerate the price surge.

When political unrest or natural events make future oil prices uncertain, big consumers, like refineries and airlines, limit their risks by purchasing contracts for future deliveries and the cost of reasonably insuring those contracts adds to prices.

For example, Egypt and Libya, alone, had the potential to disrupt delivery of 5 percent of the global crude oil supply. However, the short-term flexibility of global consumers to curtail consumption is very low -- the immediate price effect of such a loss in supply could be more than 25 percent. Measured against the September or October prices, that would be about a $20 dollar jump.

When refiners, airlines and others purchase contracts for future delivery, if the expected jump in prices is in the range of $20, traders on the other side of those contracts bear the risks of even higher prices and need a buffer to offset potential losses. Hence a $30 jump on a 90- or 180-day contract is hardly unreasonable.

Between the effects of increased demand and tightening global supplies, expected before the Egyptian rebellion, and continued concern that the democracy movement could spread to autocratic and mildly repressive regimes like Saudi Arabia, a price increase from $75 in September to $105 in April is quite reasonable.

Also, profiteering in the gasoline market appears equally remote. Prices have increased about $1.10 gallon since September to $3.86, while the cost of crude oil has increased a bit more than $33 a barrel or 80 cents per gallon. When market conditions improve, such as during the summer driving season, refiners' margins generally improve. Another 30 cents seems well within what could be expected and there appears to be little room for speculators in the gasoline market to be taking an outsized slice.

Before readers pounce on refiners -- refining, historically, isn't a high-profit business. If margins don't increase when prices are strong, those folks can't stay in business. It's like hotel rates, seasonal fluctuations and unusual events are built into the business model.

All this has profound effect on U.S. growth. Economists expected that the economic recovery could withstand a gradual increase in gas prices to more than $3.50 by summer but the sudden jump this winter and spring caused most forecasters, this one included, to scale back first quarter growth estimates from 3.3 percent to something in the range of 2.8 percent.

Add other festering problems such as the debt crisis in Europe, state governments accelerating layoffs, uncertainty imposed by the budget and debt ceiling melodramas in Congress and business fears about the administration's penchant to scapegoat and regulate, most forecasters are expecting the Commerce Department to report Friday first quarter growth was closer to 2 percent. Already, new unemployment claims are on the rise again, and the recent improvement in the monthly jobs creation numbers may be short-lived.

Americans could have it another way. U.S. oil consumption is about 15.3 million barrels a day, with imports supplying 9.5 million barrels a day and domestic production at 5.8 million barrels a day. Prudent emphasis on more fuel-efficient vehicles -- not just whiz-bang electrics -- could cut domestic fuel consumption by 2.5 million barrels a day, renewed development of economically viable oil reserves could increase domestic production by about 4 million barrels a day and imports could be cut by one-half to two-thirds.

While gas prices might still be high, the money Americans spend at the pump and on better vehicles would stay at home to create high-paying jobs and boost growth and living standards for all Americans.

More domestically produced oil wouldn't add to environmental problems -- those have to be managed whether oil is produced in the United States or imported. Indeed, greater reliance on domestic oil would be kinder to the environment because U.S. policymakers are better able to require safe production methods at home than abroad.

Instead, seizing on public anger about rising gas prices, Obama fails to take responsibility for his policies and relies on his best asset -- his fine speaking voice -- to troll for votes by villainizing oil companies and faceless speculators.

Such demagoguery imperils an already fragile American prosperity and debases the presidency. All politicians need to run for re-election but presidents are elected to be statesmen and put the national interest above their own.

Mr. President, we are waiting.

(Peter Morici is a professor at the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland School, and former chief economist at the U.S. International Trade Commission.)

(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)

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