Posted on 08/19/2005 7:31:12 AM PDT by Sybeck1
WASHINGTON - (KRT) - Americans are mad as heck about soaring gas prices, and Democrats hope they'll take it out on the Republicans who control the federal government in next year's midterm elections. "Bush does nothing to combat rising prices," the Democratic National Committee said this week in a new attack seeking to link President Bush, his party, gas prices and oil-company profits in the public mind. "Republicans are in the oil companies' pockets and Bush is in the oil companies' pockets." The White House responds that no one can turn around gas prices instantly, that Bush fought for years to enact an energy bill and that the new plan, signed into law earlier this month, will take years to produce results. "This is a problem that took decades to develop; it's not going to be solved overnight," Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said. Polls suggest that most Americans tend to blame oil companies and foreign oil producers more than Bush or other politicians. But if gas prices inflame inflation enough to drag down the economy, that could be the straw that breaks the Republican grip on Congress. Polls show voters are already deeply unhappy with their lawmakers. Approval ratings for Congress now rival the lows that preceded the 1994 voter revolt, which ended a 40-year Democratic House majority. The news from Iraq isn't brightening the public mood. Throw in resentment of high gasoline prices, topped perhaps by a resulting weak economy, and it could be a rough election year for incumbents of the governing party. That's exactly what Democrats want. (Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Is the price of gas too expensive?
Yes, but at least you can buy all that you can afford. I remember back in the seventy's when you had to wait in line for an hour just to buy 3 gals. of everpriced gas.
Those are cents, not PERcents. Big difference.
"Bush does nothing to combat rising prices," the Democratic National Committee said this week"
But...But.. I thought we were in Iraq to steal the oil and keep prices down.
You are exactly right! Multiple blends of gaoline with limited refinery capacity leads to increased prices. The federal government should mandate a single national blend for each grade of gasoline. They could frame the argument as a national security issue. Just my humber opionion.
humber=humble I have got to learn to read!
I think that if this is the tack they are taking they are in for a huge problem.
Who has been fighting drilling in Alaska, fighting new refineries, etc...
Bad idea.
If they wanted to do something helpful, they might remind people of the things that they can do to adjust, if the prices are bothering them. In fact, people will make adjustments in what they drive, how far they drive, and even in where they live as they see fit. We don't need a bunch of comand and control one size fits all federal government solutions.
Nut bags.
The market controls the price. Markets can be manipulated, however. See what Soros did to entire SE Asian economies. I wonder how he is betting this market? Or do we just see the natural market response when the country with the largest population on earth discovers the joys of the automobile.
(Cant' say I'm really knowledgable on this subject. Just wondering out loud...)
I must have missed that. I will take your word for it. I am just frustrated.
I did some quick and dirty calculations (but probably not wildly inaccurate, and if they are, they came out low) from here and came up with:
1973 gas in 2005 dollars is $3.19/GL
You may now return to your regularly scheduled panic.
Anyone with better figures (and they are out there) may correct or confirm as warranted.
I don't see a problem with the math. The table doesn't have an individual column reflecting the 18.4 cent federal gas tax; it is just added to the rightmost column.
They have ... though I will admit not loud enough
A number if pubbies in the senate need to find their spine and fight back
Good point. I would just ask Howard Dean, what his plan is.
Enough of this garbage.
"So how would you lower gas prices Howard?"
Didn't algore want higher gas prices to cause more conservation?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.