Gas Price Outrage!

[OperaTenor]

Haggis,

Why is it so fantastical to believe our politics are tied directly to the biggest industry in the world?

[Shapley]

OT,

Nothing fantastical about believing it. But it is fantastical to believe that only Republicans are tied to it. The last time we had drastic rises in gasoline prices Jimmy Carter was in office. The prices came back down under the Republican administrations which followed.

Ties to government do not a conspiracy make, nor does it equate to giving government the power to control the markets. Mnay politicians have ties to the oil industry, just as many have ties to the envirnmental and nuclear industries which oppose them, while others have ties to free-market supporters and others to government-regulation supporters, and all these politicians debate the issues which affect, within the governments power, the price, availability, and content of the gasoline we buy. Sometimes the oil industry wins, sometime it loses, but broad conspiracies aren't to blame for the results, either way it goes.

V/R
Shapley

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Ah b'leeve Ah mought've met Zeke, time er two. Ent 'e one of the third cuzins, lives in that holler over on the West Vajinny side o' the divide? Sounds lake Daisy's doo'n OK, fer a roundheel redneck gal.

Nope. This don' b'long on the "Sumthin' Differnt" thread. This'n 's OK. Heck, OT, thar's a elevator con-spee-ra-see, politics (WHEEEE!!) and you are a x-Zonie, eh?

[Shapley]

I thought it fit here right nicely, myself.

It did mention Wal-Mart and Toyota briefly, which might have tied it into the "Completely Different" thread, but that's actually a different conpiracy theory.

V/R
Shapley

[barfle]

As a gummint "worker," I believe I'm in a position to state that the various bureaucracies are so interested in getting next year's budget increased over last year's budget, and crying about next year's budget cuts over last year's budget cuts, that there is very little energy (or budget) left over to carry out any serious conspiracies (unless it's to deny anyone a patent that might be worth somethng).

[OperaTenor]

Who was the single biggest corporate contributor group to GWB?

What would make anyone think they didn't expect to get a return on their "inestment"?

[piqaboo]

Corn ethanol is a joke, and an expensive one.

Now if Zeke were to work on fermenting.....kudzu?

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Kudzu, crabgrass, iceplant, tumbleweeds

Can we ferment these things? Gotta find some use for them!

[BigJon]

The first two are someone's opinion only, not hard facts.

When you have something more than individual opinions, come back and talk to me.

In a thread about how people's opinions about gas prices and government responsibility for the prices are far removed from fact and reality, I post a link to a public opinion poll that shows how many people are disconnected from the reality of gas prices and government responsibility for them. Then I post a link to another piece that is a good mix of opinion and fact with some trenchant comments below. And follow it up with a link from one of your favorite websites, that pretty much agrees with my contentions on people's opinons. And you, the stuff deleted because I don't want to get banned by HRH asks me for more facts? More stuff deleted because I don't want to get banned by HRH.

From my first post, in case anyone has forgotten.

Where are the cries of outrage when fuel prices behave as a commodity and tumble into the basement? "Oh please George Bush and Congress, please regulate oil so I can continue to enjoy high gas and heating oil prices. My natural gas prices are too low too; can you do something legislatively so I have the pleasure of those high monthly bills again? I really hate saving money."

Sounds just as ridiculous as the idiots and hypocrites who cry when commodity prices are on the way up.

[BigJon]

Kudzu, crabgrass, iceplant, tumbleweeds

Can we ferment these things? Gotta find some use for them!

Sure, with the right genetically modified bugs, we can.

[OperaTenor]

BJ,

You know, if you're really so frustrated by not being able to play your usual game publicly, you can always PM me with the insults...................or does that take all of the testosterone out of it for you?

Opinions, sure, but when you attempt to make a point, it goes a lot further to back it up with facts instead of informed conjecture. English Comp 101: Don't support a generalization with more generalizations.

It's not lost on me that I was right, you're citation of KOS was based on a fallacy. And, FYI, I don't look at KOS unless someone links it like you did. You have no idea what my "favorite websites" are. As a matter of fact, there's a lot about me you have no idea of.

I told you once to stuff the attitude, and I meant it. If you can't, then don't bother addressing any more posts to me.

Sheesh.

[BigJon]

You know, if you're really so frustrated by not being able to play your usual game publicly, you can always PM me with the insults...................or does that take all of the testosterone out of it for you?

Which usual game is that? I don't have one that I can think of. I get my testosterone rocks-off in completely different arenas than forum posting.

As a matter of fact, there's a lot about me you have no idea of.

And that's a good thing, but you have revealed much of yourself in these forums.

I told you once to stuff the attitude, and I meant it. If you can't, then don't bother addressing any more posts to me.

My "attitude", if any, is a mirror of yours, sorry.

[BigJon]

Opinions, sure, but when you attempt to make a point, it goes a lot further to back it up with facts instead of informed conjecture. English Comp 101: Don't support a generalization with more generalizations.

[Catmando]

Ok guys, I'm part of Citizen's on Patrol (internet forum style).

Take it easy guys, break it up....

[Nicole Marie]

stuff deleted because I don't want to get banned by HRH asks me for more facts? More stuff deleted because I don't want to get banned by HRH.

[/quote]

Why do you have to, or want to use a phrase or word that would get you banned? There are many other ways to express yourself. I know you are mature enough to express your opinion without having to use a base phrase. Really... Let's all grow up a bit.

[Shapley]

So.... How about that Clara Schumann?

[piqaboo]

Clara Schumann couldnt join us today, she couldnt afford the gas to feed her hybrid (mule - who's name, incidentally, is "Banned by HRH").

What I find offensive about gas prices hikes, and keeping prices high is not the profits of the gas companies per se. Its the way its done:

Company whines oh woe is me, oil prices are going up next month ouch ouch ouch we must pass on this cost to the consumer right this minute before we incurr it, more public whinging about the pinch. Oil prices drop, gas prices trickle down slowly, when the expensive oil in inventory is used up....
followed by announcements of record profits.

Its the public whimpering and whining by the record-profit-making oil companies that is so offensive. If they shut their traps, we'd not know we were being worked.

[Haggis@wk]

$2.09 in Plano yesterday

[Nicole Marie]

Speaking of gas prices... A gas station near my home was owned by a father/son team. The son went to high school with my husband so we know them very well. They had to close down the gas station this week. I spoke with the father yesterday (who also owns an antique shop I love and happend to be there when I was shopping) said he could not afford the station anymore. He had to pay $12,000 a month to rent the building and $3,000 a month for the insurance. With the irregular price of gas, he was not making any profit, just cutting even so he closed down the business. At least he has the antique shop which does very well. I also noticed that two other stations along the West Hartford/Hartford line closed too. I wonder how much the price of gas is effecting station owners?

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

$2.09 in Plano yesterday

Wish I could afford the commute to Plano.