Politicians and Gas Prices

[ptjoe]

Originally Posted by thegoldpt

i get tired of people complaing, especially when you are driving around your Urban Assualt Vehicle around that takes $100.00 every 3 days. So i don't want to here it okay!

Actually, Have you seen gas prices in Europe? Everyone there drives small fuel efficient cars and in England gas is nearly $7.00 per gallon...
Oil companies have stockholders..
Consumption falls..Price rises to offset the change and maintain profits.

In these volatile times, you should be happy much of excessive and ignorant America remains attracted to the beasts our American auto industry took pains to create and glamorize as our new modern daily driver and their way to relief from the competition with Toyota and Honda.
As long as that mentality continues, it offers us, the economy minded driver an option to beat our capitalistic system by simply driving circles around the clueless with smaller cars.
When America finally does wise up, (hope that doesn't happen) it'll cost you and me more, lots more.

The American auto industry is pushing ethanol big time to keep folks in their big rigs by spreading the cost of driving high profit trucks and oversized SUV's into other areas of the economy.
They're doing that rather than simply raising fuel standards and promoting smaller cars to lessen our dependence on foreign oil for the same reason gas prices will rise if demand drops...profits.
Nothing about the way we're dealing with the high cost of gas makes sense these days except as I pointed out, hope that status quo continues and those folks who love the big rigs remain ignorant, giving the rest of us the opportunity to beat the system and save a few dollars with our PT Cruisers

And one more item to ponder..
Since this discussion is about politicians and gas...Have you ever wondered why you'll never hear a politition speak out and just tell America our excessive and stupid behaviour has made us the laughing stock of the world..?
Or, just wise up America and reject excess.. Only buy fuel efficiant cars and for once do something that WILL work without shifting the cost into other areas of our economy...
Joe

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by soonercruiser

You can blame the greedy politicians, maybe even say Republicans are in the pockets of big business. But, refineries stopped being built in the 70's. What party was in charge of Congress for over 40 years? (Who stopped it...Democrats) When the Republican Congress attempted to get together a comprehensive energy bill, who stopped it? (Democrats) So who's the obstructionist here?

??????????? WHAT comprehensive energy bill? They've had complete control for 6 years - who was stopping them?
I'm not a democrat but after these past years, I'm certainly not likely to vote for a republican, either. You guys crack me up - everything is Clinton's fault. That excuse is really wearing thin. 6 years of unbridled greed and incompetence and corruption.
Cheney came up with an energy policy - a give-away to oil companies.
The best government money can buy.

I would really, really, welcome a bi-partisan campaign - a Kucinich/Ron Paul slate. If we get Hillary, or Giuliani, forget it - it'll be politics as usual - which stinks.

[bados]

Well, I have to agree somewhat with quicksilverdon. I'm an Independant and vote for the best person. I'm also tired of all the Republicans bashing Clinton and it is getting old and wearing thin. Everyone benefited from Clinton's administration, especially those who had stocks. We need a lot of changes in this country and my bet is that the Republicans will be out. Perhaps Hillary and Bill might be the way to go. "Don't fix what wasn't broke." I made a lot of money from "Bill," so if he got some "oral gratification" as a perk, then good luck to him.

[fritz_t_coyote]

"Comprehensive Energy Bill"

Thats how the denizens of Mordor, I mean DC, say "Repeal the Law of Supply and Demand and pass around the Pork to EVERYONE!" in the dreaded vile tongue used only by Orks, Goblins, and politicians.

The bill will include subsides for multiple biofuel boondogles, plenty of subsidies for Corn-to-Ethanol to keep the powerful corn lobby happy, lots of cash and privileges for energy megacorps that have the smarts to talk green (and fork over the campaign green) and greenmail to every pressure group that lines up at the door (Research into energy-efficient sex toys? sure!. Special funding to encourage alternate energy use by left-handed-lakotan-lesbian-librarians? No problem.) along with the usual perks of power (prohibiting windmills within view of the Kennedy family property on Martha's Vineyard? You Betcha.) Research funding, a new lab, a pilot plant, or just another bridge to nowhere in every home district? You Betcha.

We don't need an energy bill. We don't need an energy czar.

They need to leave the market alone to handle the supply pinch.
Raise your hand if you remember Gas Lines and 'Odd-Even' rationing:
Keep your hand up if you think that was better then free-market pricing.

[satellite66]

Why is it that the left wants to bring back Carter and all his mistakes? Instead of placing more taxes or restrictions on oil companies how about letting them find oil in this country? The mess we will make by pushing ethanol will take years to undue.