Gas Price Rant Thread
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,858
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From: Dark side of the sun.
Originally Posted by mymechanic'sanidiot
Let's not forget Detroit's part in this. More fuel economical vehicles are possible, just not happening fast as it could.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2004
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The energy act just passed starts to work on several of our problems. It allows utilities to become more streamlined through acquisition and mergers. It provides incentives for expanded development of domestic natural resources and refining plants etc. It makes it easier to place energy facilities. Tax credits and loan guarantees for nuclear plants. It allows the expansion of transmission lines with "transmission corridors" to increase the reliability of our national grid, remember the big problems we had not to long ago? There are renewable energy tax credits for systems online by 2007. Hybrid vehicle tax credits, stricter standards on appliance efficiency and tax credits to home builders to make homes more ennergy efficient. There are also grants, loan guarantees and accelerated depreciation to encourage the development and implementation of clean-coal and gasification projects.
The government can encourage but the market must do.
The government can encourage but the market must do.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
One of the reasons for the oil companies' current huge profits is their TRUE cost of oil. If we have to buy oil from overseas then yes, it's costing the companies $67/ barrel. But don't forget about all the wells currently pumping oil in THIS country, wells that have been pumping for years. It doesn't cost the oil companies one penny more to pump that oil today than it did when they first drilled the well, say 20 years ago. They get to sell that oil at market price, and that's a big chunk of the huge profit picture. I'm not saying it's right, but that's the way it is in this country.
As for anyone looking to our current leader doing anything to control these profits (and prices), a president from Texas who's father happens to be an oil man himself- well, I wouldn't hold my breath.
As for anyone looking to our current leader doing anything to control these profits (and prices), a president from Texas who's father happens to be an oil man himself- well, I wouldn't hold my breath.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: South...
Originally Posted by Cruiseomatic
No,But he can try can't he?
A law would need to be enacted that gives the government power to control businesses and their pricing policies...let's hope and pray that such a law is NEVER passed...that would end capitalism as we know it.
How much control do we want our government to have??? They've already got plenty enough control over our lives already.
Scott
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 121
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From: MI, USA
Originally Posted by Xmen
Its simple econ. 101 ...supply v. demand. There is no conspiracy. Its natural to want to find someone to blame for the high prices, but blaming Bush or claiming conspiracy is just ridiculous. Want prices to go down? Easy, produce MORE GAS...Who/what is stopping that?
We've yet to see a drop in oil prices since we took control of the oil in Iraq... not one. The prices continue to go higher.
Now, the problem I have with Bush, and it's no conspiracy theory sir, is that he hasn't even addressed the issue! You have the whole country complaining and trying to make sense of the oil prices yet this administration can concentrate on is trying to make our continued occupancy of Iraq a just cause? What a joke!
Think about all the other administrations and how they have dealt with similar issues. Most recently, when oil prices began to rise beyond what you could call "simple supply and demand" they took some kind of action. Bush has been silent to the point of guilt on this issue IMO.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 121
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From: MI, USA
Originally Posted by 78Explorer
Try How????
A law would need to be enacted that gives the government power to control businesses and their pricing policies...let's hope and pray that such a law is NEVER passed...that would end capitalism as we know it.
How much control do we want our government to have??? They've already got plenty enough control over our lives already.
Scott
A law would need to be enacted that gives the government power to control businesses and their pricing policies...let's hope and pray that such a law is NEVER passed...that would end capitalism as we know it.
How much control do we want our government to have??? They've already got plenty enough control over our lives already.
Scott
Oil hadn't risen to half these levels during the second Clinton term and he was on top of it asap! Meeting with the heads of OPEC to boost production - which they eventually did, releasing reserves, and at least trying to pass some "useful" legislation to combat the problem.
Guess what... it worked! Now, compare that to what the Bush administration has done during this CRISIS... give me a break!
Last edited by tb40nd; Aug 15, 2005 at 11:41 AM.
Senior User
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TB 40...
Ok.. first of all, we dont have control over Iraqs oil...Its theirs, we're not taking it, stealing it, or shipping it here for our personal use. There is no shortage of oil, that is true...Their is however a shortage of refinaries which covert oil to gas. None have been built since the 70's, and since then gas demand has went through the roof worldwide. So, if our gas consumption has increased enormoulsy over the years, and we only have the refining capacity to produce a limited amount of gas, then you have a SHORTAGE.
Again, we dont control, or own Iraq's oil...They do, we provide infrastructure and security. We're not stealing it.
Ok.. first of all, we dont have control over Iraqs oil...Its theirs, we're not taking it, stealing it, or shipping it here for our personal use. There is no shortage of oil, that is true...Their is however a shortage of refinaries which covert oil to gas. None have been built since the 70's, and since then gas demand has went through the roof worldwide. So, if our gas consumption has increased enormoulsy over the years, and we only have the refining capacity to produce a limited amount of gas, then you have a SHORTAGE.
Again, we dont control, or own Iraq's oil...They do, we provide infrastructure and security. We're not stealing it.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
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CLINTON??? OH yeah, he did a lot. when he released the oil reserves, the transferred them directly to a company called Occidental Petroleum. AND GUESS WHO, just happened to be a majority shareholder of that company...mr. internet himself (gore). When occidentals reserves increased by millions of barrels overnight, Gore made a killing. So, I guess the conspiracy theories go both ways...
PLUS, Clinton didn't terrorism (well, he did but chose to ignor it) hitting the markets and increased demand from China during his term....Clinton (& Bush for that matter) had as much influence over OPEC production as I do. They can ask..thats all. Bush has several time, and when he does OPEC increased output. AGAIN, the problem is getting oil here...ITS HERE, WE'VE GOT IT SITTING ON THE DOCKS...THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE CANT REFINE THE OIL INTO GAS QUICK ENOUGH BECAUSE WE DONT HAVE ENOUGH REFINARIES...PERIOD.
PLUS, Clinton didn't terrorism (well, he did but chose to ignor it) hitting the markets and increased demand from China during his term....Clinton (& Bush for that matter) had as much influence over OPEC production as I do. They can ask..thats all. Bush has several time, and when he does OPEC increased output. AGAIN, the problem is getting oil here...ITS HERE, WE'VE GOT IT SITTING ON THE DOCKS...THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE CANT REFINE THE OIL INTO GAS QUICK ENOUGH BECAUSE WE DONT HAVE ENOUGH REFINARIES...PERIOD.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
There is only one way to stop this madness.
EVERYONE has to park their car/truck/motorhome/bus on the road, bring the whole country to a stand still.
People are stronger in numbers and they have to prove it to the gov't & the oil companies..
EVERYONE has to park their car/truck/motorhome/bus on the road, bring the whole country to a stand still.
People are stronger in numbers and they have to prove it to the gov't & the oil companies..