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Posted on 11/09/2005 7:16:55 AM PST by libertarianPA
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I made a simple point that oil is energy, as such it is rightly regulated. I am all for much less govt, get as close to anarchy as possible without endangering safety, and guaranteeing free flow of info and goods, but it ain't gonna happen. As long as we have to compromise on regulations, why not err on the side of the consumer?
"Some folks don't have enough "luxury" items in their budgets to cut back on."
What luxury items don't the poor have?
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?id=3720
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?id=3143
Just another lib philosophy - no matter how small a minority, the majority must alter its behavior to accomodate it.
Question: Why, almost before Katrina struck, did the gas prices zoom up? And why, then, after the other 2 hurricanes struck, did gas prices continue down?
Fair is an overworkerked relatively meaningless term. (Within the boundaries as established by rule)
The correct terminology is "market based prices".
As to your post #46, you should be ashamed, then banned.
The gas prices zoomed up because the oil companies knew that a good number of their refineries reside in the gulf region. They also knew that the category 5 winds would destroy or incompacitate many of them - limiting the supply of gasoline in the U.S. Therefore, they had to raise the prices to curb the demand. That way, there would still be gasoline to be bought for weeks and months after the hurricanes - no shortage.
The reason they went back down is because they were able to get many of their refineries back online and working - providing a steady flow of gasoline to the public.
It's called supply and demand. Why is it people still don't understand this concept? Anything else you'd like to know?
Should be. But somehow... not
Should be ashamed and somehow not, or should be banned and somehow not?
Anyone who accuses another of molesting his kids needs to apologize, period.
If he wants to apologize to me for his comment, I'll be glad to. If someone takes me on, I don't pull punches.
I agree the pols are pandering to the ignorant. As for your statement "where's the proof" I am not sure what you meant.
Info I saw on MSNBC about a week ago showed oil company profits at between 7-11% of gross income. It is, as you say, much lower then many other businesses generate.
This is silly, there's a place for "gouging" and the recent hurricanes are a perfect example of that. Very high prices puts lots of pressure on consumption during a period of time when consumption needs to be reduced. Markets work.
The worst he called you was a troll, and you answer with 'child molester'. You call that defending yourself?
Shut him up, didn't it?
They had to raise the prices to curb demand....they HAD to raise prices so we wouldn't drive so much. Our business runs on 4 wheels, no matter how high the price of gas. For people who work, an increase in price only means they make less profit every day they go to work. And, let's not forget the hundreds of thousands of Americans who could not drive their cars (or the City of New Orleans bus fleet!) because of the hurricane.
I think the oil companies know that we will pay whatever....we are a society that runs on gas. We'll bitch and moan, then shuck it out at the pump. I know, they'll charge what the market will bear...but the patterns of profits and price hikes look rather opportunistic.
And on a totally personal note, I highly resent an oil company telling me I need to conserve my gas use by jacking the price up.
Oh, I get it. Internet tough guy.
We are now calling it the pork forrest.
And what if they hadn't raised the prices? With all of those refineries down, and people knowing that the supply of gasoline was in trouble. You know what would happen?
People would be hoarding gasoline until there was none left.
Yes. God forbid people are actually asked to behave responsibly in a crisis! How dare we try and discipline ourselves in the face of a supply shortage! We deserve that gas! We deserve to drive anywhere for whatever reason! How dare I have to sacrifice?
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