Political grandstanding over the price of gas is inevitable in a nation inhabited by so many people who don’t grasp the first thing about economics, don’t have any appreciation for the rights of property owners, or both. I’d expect the contagion to spread across the Pacific and land in CA any day now.
Having on a few occasions vacationed in Hawaii, I’m pondering how the average tourist would react to gas lines or having to search around for a station with gas to sell. Not very well. Vacationers don’t want to have their time wasted when they need more fuel for the little rental car so they can drive up Mount Haleakala or tool over to watch a volcanic eruption. Tourism has been down in Hawaii for years and apparently the politicians are content to risk driving even more people into trips elsewhere. That’s what will happen once word gets around that vacations in Hawaii may be partially spent sitting in a line waiting to get a few gallons of gas.
Ah, the majesty of politics, where your mistakes hurt others.