The Old Blame Game: You should be boycotting the federal government since it is the culprit causing the increase in the cost of oil. We are sitting on more oil right here at home than the rest of the world combined. Various government agencies, the primary culprit being the EPA, have our resources locked up denying us access to them. As was the case during the last run-up to over $4.00 per gallon oil speculators were bidding up the price of crude. G. W. Bush announced the release of drilling permits for off-shore oil wells and the price of crude plummeted within days from $104 to $33 per barrel....crisis averted. Instead of squawking and squalling about those terrible, greedy oil companies seeking immoral profits, go after the real culprits: The Weenies in Washington.