Posted on 05/17/2004 5:34:34 AM PDT by machman
Edited on 07/19/2004 2:14:12 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
May 17 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush allowed an increase in oil refinery mergers to go unchecked since he took office and may have contributed to the highest gasoline prices in 20 years as the November election approaches.
The Bush administration approved 33 takeovers totaling $19.5 billion, on top of 21 deals worth $7.3 billion under President Bill Clinton, Bloomberg data shows. Reduced supplies were already pushing up gas prices in Clinton's term, according to a Federal Trade Commission study conducted after pump prices rose to more than $2 a gallon in Milwaukee and Chicago in 2000.
(Excerpt) Read more at bloomberg.com ...
But wherever they come from, I hope Exxon and Chevron keep making them. Their stock price is almost back up to where it was 5 years ago.
Medically disabled; went through a small forture when I became unemployed; was homesless and jobless for 2 1/2 years. People like me don't get to save any money, have investments or a rainy day fund. When a person sinks that low, everything gets sold to take care of every day necessities. Can't stop driving as the public transit system here STINKS! Be very, very thankful that you can afford to put money in the bank and pay for the high prices of food, gas and medical care.
Your comment about expecting a subsidy for fuel and medical didn't sit well with me. FYI, I think the drug benefit plan for seniors is a sham and the only one who will benefit from it are the greedy pharmaceutical companies!
Excellent link.
Kerry will fight drilling "tooth and nail" whether or not he is President, as will the Dims. The Republicans will mention the drilling, but roll over and let the Dims win no matter who controls the Legislative branch or the Executive. If I am voting for the best man out of those with a chance of winning the Presidency, of course Bush wins, but he is not a conservative, is not very forceful in pushing his agenda, and is letting the fighting in Iraq(including the treatment of prisoners) be decided by the polls, and the pols'.
That's OK, nobody else is either, but if it sounds like a slam on GWB, the bots will be all over it like white on rice.
Buncha hooey!
Adjusted for inflation, gasoline costs less than in the early '80s', less than in the mid-'60's.
Do you really see anyone driving less?
If folks were concerned, they'd be demanding that environmental regs be revised so that so many states didn't have their own little boutique gas formulations.
And they'd allow new refineries to be built.
I am personally sympathetic regarding the hardships that you have faced, however these hardships in no way justify your statements. Reading your posts makes me suspicious as to why you are on a conservative discussion board. I'll point out a couple of specific reasons I have the suspicions:
"And the vehicles and energy sources needs to be affordable for every income bracket." - Why? Let the market decide its desires and let demand dictate the pricing.
"People like me don't get to save any money, have investments or a rainy day fund." - Why? What aspect of the opportunities in this country were shut off to you? What prevented you from planning ahead before these hardships?
"When a person sinks that low, everything gets sold to take care of every day necessities." - I agree. As hard as it is, these sacrifices are necessary.
"Can't stop driving as the public transit system here STINKS!" - Yes, but you could car pool, you could drive less often, you could do a lot of things to reduce your gasoline costs. Instead, you chose to wallow in the negative press regarding the cost of gas.
"Be very, very thankful that you can afford to put money in the bank and pay for the high prices of food, gas and medical care." - I am very thankful that I have the fortitude to survive, regardless of the situation that I am in. Granted, I have not been faced with the same hardships as you, but I have had my own. The reason I can save and prepare for my future is because I concentrate on saving and my goal of being debt free, instead of concentrating on the "toys" my friends have. I am not saying you did that, but many in my generation are and it is hurting them more than they realize.
"Your comment about expecting a subsidy for fuel and medical didn't sit well with me." - Why? What you desired is an expensive technology to be affordable for all income brackets. You made the statement, yet you get offended when the truth is put back on you. Being a conservative when it is convenient or affordable isn't being a conservative at all.
"FYI, I think the drug benefit plan for seniors is a sham and the only one who will benefit from it are the greedy pharmaceutical companies!" - I agree it is a sham, but why bring in the "evil" corporation comment? What do you know about the pharmaceutical industry, or any industry for that matter? Without those "evil" pharmaceutical companies we wouldn't have the life saving drugs we have today. It costs billions to develop a new drug and if we start to control their prices, they will quit investing in new drugs. Just like every industry, government control harms to the point of destruction and that control is cheered by the sheeple that spew the "evil" corporation lines.
Clearly you may be medically disabled, but you have the capability to type on a computer and to form coherent thoughts. There is plenty of opportunity out there for you to add to your income, if you're willing, that should help you offset this current crisis of added fuel costs.
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