# What happens politically if gas prices go through the roof? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [March 2, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133 "2026-03-02T14:48:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/161 "2026-03-23T13:52:06Z")
I think the threat was to bomb “Power Plants” in general, not just nuclear power plants, in fact nuclear power plants would probably not be attacked for fear of a radiological incident (I hope…) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/162 "2026-03-24T14:23:31Z")
Attacking nuclear plants is a specific war crime in itself. ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/163 "2026-03-24T15:25:23Z")
My hopes are that it hurts the GOP to the point that Democrats overwhelmingly take back control of the house and senate and push’s MAGA back under the rocks and mud from which it came! 1st move is publishing the Epstein files the way they were supposed have been. 2nd Increase the size of the Supreme Court and add term limits 3rd Complete oversight on the Trump administration 4th Tell Israel not a penny more! They are there own problem! ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/164 "2026-03-24T21:08:40Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > US oil companies are not going to sell at $80 per barrel domestically when they can sell it abroad for $140. Easy… you make them **not** sell it on the international market by export Taxes of $60+. That’s public policy 101. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/165 "2026-03-24T22:32:42Z")
That’s Blasphemy against the Holy Invisible Hand of the Free Market citizen, present yourself to the nearest execution squad for punishment. ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/166 "2026-03-24T22:35:42Z")
Yes sir I’m for that! Give me a candidate! ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/167 "2026-03-24T22:38:50Z")
In MAGA times there is no blasphemy! What ever flushes, Big Oil has had it to good for to long! ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/168 "2026-03-24T22:38:58Z")
Last I checked US public policy was staying the Hell out of the way of multimillionaires struggling to become billionaires. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/169 "2026-03-24T22:40:57Z")
But export Taxes on oil would also be Blasphemy against the Holy Profits of the oil companies! ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/170 "2026-03-24T22:50:53Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > That’s Blasphemy against the Holy Invisible Hand of the Free Market citizen, present yourself to the nearest execution squad for punishment. don’t you SEE it, … we are now making the OTHER countries paying 60 bucks for our cheap gas … ain’t Donnie “da man” ? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/171 "2026-03-25T00:34:00Z")
Tariffs and taxes are great. We tariff = tax stuff coming in and other countries pay it. We tax stuff going out and … other countries pay it. Heads we win, tails we win. So much winning. It’s the MAGA way. Gaah, the fantasy is strong in those idjits in the current criminal regime. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/172 "2026-03-25T03:13:20Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Last I checked US public policy was staying the Hell out of the way of multimillionaires struggling to become billionaires Nope, current policy is to siphon the millionaires’ money to the billionaires so we can get our first trillionaire. Much more lucrative this way, than the old way of trying to get more money from the poors. Of course no excise tax is necessary to spray government money onto the billionaires. Use deficit spending, then raise taxes on everyone who can’t avoid them with a buy, borrow, die chain. Or the current plan, which is crush all renewables, and then drive up the price of oil with yet another Middle-East war. The classic oil barons reap the rewards, and everyone else (especially millionaires in their gas guzzling SUVs) get to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/173 "2026-03-25T12:22:31Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > Easy… you make them **not** sell it on the international market by export Taxes of $60+. The US Constitution absolutely [forbids all export taxes](https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#1-9): > No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/174 "2026-03-25T13:24:36Z")
Brent crude oil price has dropped over 5% today and is now trading around $99 a barrel. Speculation is that this happened because of the 15-point peace plan that the US sent to Iran, or perhaps because more US troops are being deployed to secure the Strait. Wonder if gasoline prices will follow? ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/175 "2026-03-25T17:59:27Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. How about **fees** then? … Or **authorizations**? /s ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/177 "2026-03-25T18:01:54Z")
**Moderating:** As this is drifting off-topic, please take the Tariff/Fees/Authorization conversation to another thread if you wish to continue. * * * * * * **If you are responding to something in a thread that is basically off-topic or likely to lead to a hijack, try this:** How to **Reply as a linked Topic** : Click Reply, in the upper left corner of the reply window is the reply type button, _looks like a curving arrow point to the right_. Choose **Reply as linked topic** and it starts a new thread. As an example, you can choose GD, IMHO or The Pit for it. That is actually the best method. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/179 "2026-03-27T16:20:25Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Brent crude oil price has dropped over 5% today and is now trading around $99 a barrel. Speculation is that this happened because of the 15-point peace plan that the US sent to Iran, or perhaps because more US troops are being deployed to secure the Strait. > > Wonder if gasoline prices will follow?. Not likely. I’ve heard it said that gasoline prices rise like a rocket when crude goes up, and drops like a feather when crude goes down. Also, Brent oil price is now trading at $111.40 as I type. The crude price is too volatile and the situation too uncharted for gas prices to drop much. AAA currently has average national gas price at $3.98/gallon. I expect that to actually go above $4.00 shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2026, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/180 "2026-04-05T11:49:27Z")
Part of whatever happens politically will be influenced by the general public not knowing fuck all about where their gasoline comes from. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > retrofitting US refineries to handle the heavy crude we produce and export, as opposed to protecting access to light crude we import - from largely reprehensible regimes? We export light, import heavy, mostly from reprehensible regimes like Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/181 "2026-04-06T16:17:33Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Part of whatever happens politically will be influenced by the general public not knowing fuck all about where their gasoline comes from. No shit. Here in the Great White North, there are lots and lots of people who are posting idiocy like: - The increase in gasoline price at the pumps is the fault of Carney and the Liberals - Why don’t we have refineries in Canada (we have 18) - If only we had more pipelines to ship diluted bitumen offshore, our gas prices would decrease. - It’s all because of “taxes” - Anyone who disagrees is a “libtard” - Here’s a meme. Takeaway message: People are stupid. Don’t count on them knowing why the price at the pumps has increased. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133/182 "2026-04-06T19:01:53Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Takeaway message: People are stupid. Don’t count on them knowing why the price at the pumps has increased. You guys need to get some Trump-“I did that” stickers for the pumps. Speaking of which, are these stickers becoming common on pumps in the US? I don’t even know if they’re common around here, since I never buy gas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-politically-if-gas-prices-go-through-the-roof/1028133.md?page=10)