Reagan had the right idea!
Ronald Reagan inherited a country experiencing gasoline shortages. Read how he handled this problem. Did we ever run out of gas since? Statement on Signing Executive Order 12287, Providing for the Decontrol of Crude Oil and Refined Petroleum Products January 28, 1981 I am ordering, effective immediately, the elimination of remaining Federal controls on U.S. oil production and marketing. For more than 9 years, restrictive price controls have held U.S. oil production below its potential, artificially boosted energy consumption, aggravated our balance of payments problems, and stifled technological breakthroughs. Price controls have also made us more energy-dependent on the OPEC nations, a development that has jeopardized our economic security and undermined price stability at home. Fears that the planned phaseout of controls would not be carried out, for political reasons, have also hampered production. Ending these controls now will erase this uncertainty. This step will also stimulate ...