When it comes to falling oil prices of course.  Jack Z. Smith, Star-Telegram Staff Writer has an interesting take on the conspiracy theories that are blooming about the falling oil prices.  Bush Lied Oil Slides.

The conspiracy nuts are loose again, just in time for the fall elections. This time they’re falling for a wildly illogical theory with no basis in reality.

Some of the same folks who believed that evil, omniscient forces were conspiring to send energy prices skyrocketing a year ago are now experiencing angst about sharply falling crude oil and gasoline prices.

I love a big can conspiracy nuts mixed with cashews.  Would anyone like to bet which side of the political spectrum the 42% are on?

A USA Today/Gallup poll found that 42 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that the Bush administration “deliberately manipulated the price of gasoline so that it would decrease before this fall’s elections.” Fifty-three percent disagreed, and 5 percent were uncertain.

The conspiracy postulate I’ve been hearing is that the Bush administration, or Big Oil, or the two in combination, are conniving to send gas prices plunging prior to the upcoming elections so that Americans will be happier and less inclined to throw out Republican incumbents (e.g., GOP lawmakers who control Congress).

A little sanity please.

I’m not so wildly biased against George W. Bush and his cronies as to think that they and their Big Oil compadres can simply snap their fingers and manipulate energy prices up or down. (Nor do I believe the ultra-goofy, left-wing conspiracy theory that the Bush administration helped perpetrate the 9-11 terrorist attacks).

If Big Oil can rig gasoline prices at will, why on earth were pump prices low for most of 1986-2000? And why did so many energy companies achieve only modest profits during such an extended period? I’m awaiting your answer, conspiracy theorists.

Mr. Smith goes on to explain why gas prices are down”

• demand is down
• the “fear factor” that was inflating energy prices, particularly on the volatile futures markets, has dissipated.
• Oil giants such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron and BP are powerful companies that can throw their weight around. But they can’t control energy prices at will.

The final dagger to the heart of this conspiracy theory.

Energy prices are most greatly influenced by the global forces of supply and demand. Conspiracy theorists don’t like hearing that because it’s pretty dull stuff. It’s more fun to complain that falling gas prices are the illegitimate child of a political conspiracy geared to produce favorable election results.

I hope I haven’t spoiled anyone’s fun by injecting common sense into the debate.