Gasoline: All Politics
Ah, it is a sad statement on what this country has become. Bush has announced his investigation into gas prices to determine if there is "unfair pricing." Unfortunately, this is 100% political with zero basis in reality and facts.
If there is "unfair pricing" it means that every single retail outlet in the country has gotten together and had a meeting. At that massive meeting, they all agreed to raise their prices and to not charge less than a certain price so they could all profit. Then, after they all got home from that meeting, all the individual station owners all have lived up to that agreement and no one has tried to sell gas for a lower price. Either that, or every single refiner of gasoline got together and had a meeting with the same results. What a damn load. If one company thinks they can sell more by lowering their price and still make a profit, they will. Gasoline sales are not declining -- if they were, prices would go down. It's a real simple economic system, even if most Americans apparently don't get it. Instead, what drives prices up is government interference. When government changes regulations and states determine what exact formulas of gasoline they will permit in their state, that makes the price rise. When a state changes it's formula for each season, or each month, that makes the cost of making the gasoline go up. If gasoline gets too expensive, stop buying it! The prices WILL drop if people don't buy it. All industry trends right now show that people are still buying the gasoline, so why in the world should they lower prices? Need help? Buy a bicycle. Telecommute to work. Carpool. Take the damn bus. Get a new job closer to home. Combine trips to Wal-Mart and soccer practice. There are many, many things people can do to reduce gasoline usage -- they're NOT doing it so prices will not fall. However, in this case, this "investigation" is not about economy or the markets. Instead, it is about politics. There is an election this fall and all 435 seats in the House are up for election. Yes, I'm aware that most people didn't know that and don't plan on voting. Yes, I'm aware that the vast majority of those seats are not actually having an election in November due to gerrymandering. However, the perception from politicians is that Republicans are going to be voted out of their seats because of high gas prices. In a way, you can hold them responsible -- NOT because of "price fixing" but because of onerous government regulations -- mostly at the state level. But, none of that matters. All that matters is that Republicans think that if the American people see them "investigating" and "doing something" about high gas prices, then the People will vote for Republicans. Morons, all of them. Oh, how I yearn for freedom.
Comments
1
"Democrats sought to turn gas prices — like Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq war — into an issue that hurts Bush's standing with voters. "What happen to Iraq oil, Mr. President? You said Iraqi oil would pay for the war. Ain't seen no money. Ain't seen no oil," Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland said."
This has to be the best comment I have seen from a politician about the gas "crisis" were in.
This has to be the best comment I have seen from a politician about the gas "crisis" were in.
Posted by: Quality Weenie at April 25, 2006 06:44 PM (XG7jZ)
2
I wish these petty people with play with things that don't actually affect peoples lives.
Posted by: Ogre at April 25, 2006 06:59 PM (/k+l4)
3
Your kidding right? He DID say it would pay for the war. With the money we've spent in Iraq we could have rebuilt EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL IN AMERICA TWICE OVER!!!! Every kid could have a new school without asbestos, leaky roofs, rotting floors.
That's just one example.
As for oil prices, are you kidding? OPEC decided a long time ago that they would control the oil prices in this world. Do some google searches and see how pissed off Venezuela is that OPEC won't lower prices. They want to dump oil and make some money, but OPEC won't let them.
That's just one example.
As for oil prices, are you kidding? OPEC decided a long time ago that they would control the oil prices in this world. Do some google searches and see how pissed off Venezuela is that OPEC won't lower prices. They want to dump oil and make some money, but OPEC won't let them.
Posted by: Robert P at April 26, 2006 04:27 PM (5swqh)
4
So paying money to investigate the free market is to pay for the war? Huh?
And you do realize that OPEC isn't owned by Exxon-Mobil, the primary target of these "investigations," right?
And you do realize that OPEC isn't owned by Exxon-Mobil, the primary target of these "investigations," right?
Posted by: Ogre at April 26, 2006 09:11 PM (AS9yK)
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