There is much anger and frustration about gas prices these days as the national average climbs toward $4 per gallon. While there is much hand-wringing about the sharp increase in prices, there is also a lot of finger pointing. Unfortunately for the left, it deserves much of the blame.

For the last few decades environmentalists have blocked efforts to increase the supply of domestic oil and gas. They have protested, lobbied and demanded that Congress not build new oil refineries. They have successfully prevented us from opening up Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf to exploration. They have done this while at the same time decrying “price gouging” and “greed” by the oil and gas companies.

Some folks need a basic lesson of economics in supply and demand. Price is the data point that tells us where supply meets demand. Since oil is a global commodity, there is a global supply and a global demand. India and China are growing economically at rapid rates, which is a good thing. But, this is causing a much higher demand for oil and is thereby putting pressure on world oil markets. China in particular is cutting deals with oppressive regimes to access their natural resources. The U.S. has a similar relationship with Saudi Arabia. But instead of suing OPEC or demanding that the Saudis produce more oil, Congress should encourage domestic exploration to increase the supply of oil available on the market. Unfortunately, the left still opposes common sense measures like this in the name of protecting Mother Earth. But exploration is much cleaner and safer than it was in the past. We can explore and be good stewards of the environment.

FreedomWorks is launching a new petition site next week called Gas Price Protest in order to build a consensus for increasing the supply of available oil and gas. With your help we can put pressure on Congress to do something that will actually make an impact on future gas prices. The left has blocked our attempts for years, but perhaps now there is enough frustration and anger to apply the political pressure necessary to enact a common sense energy policy in this country.