Posted on 05/24/2007 5:47:10 AM PDT by Dick Bachert
OK ... so I can't really say that on the air, but at least those of you who read the program notes will know how I really feel about this. The trick today is to avoid sharing this absolutely accurate word with my listeners.
The vote was 284 to 141. There were 56 "Republicans" in the mix. The bill was a bone for the ignorant; an anti-price gouging bill. This was in response to the recent rise in gas prices. These politicians wanted to go home for the Memorial Day break and tell their constituents that there were actually doing something to ease the pump pain. As soon as the House passed the bill a local Congressman -- Democrat, of course -- rushed out a press release:
REP. JOHNSON SAYS NO TO GAS PRICE GOUGING Fines May Support Energy Assistance for Nation's Needy
Now isn't that so special? Not only will Congressman Johnson be able to go to his town hall meetings over the weekend and tell the myrmidons that he is doing something about gas prices, but he's also doing something to help the poor, poor pitiful poor as well! What a guy? (By the way, Hank Johnson now occupies the seat once filled by the Cutest Little Jihadist in Congress --- none other than Cynthia McKinney.)
So, what constitutes price gouging under the bill? Well ... that's hard to say. After all, the purpose here wasn't to really establish what is price gouging and what is not. The purpose was to pander to the voters. So the politicians decided to tell us that price gouging occurs when the price is "unconscionably excessive" or "indicates that the seller is taking unfair advantage of unusual market conditions." Well .. that pretty much nails it down, doesn't it?
What this bill really does is set the stage for even more political posturing in the future. Let this atrocity become law and the next time gas prices go up political hacks will hold grandstanding hearings to see if anyone out there might be taking unfair advantage of market conditions or charging a price that is unconscionably excessive. Since those terms are so vague, the politicians will have wide range to strut and grandstand before the TV cameras as they grill evil oil company executives.
Bush is threatening a veto if it the bill should get through the Senate, but just when has the president shown any determination to keep the government from interfering in the free marketplace? Sorry, but outside of the war against Islamic fascism and the big "A" I'm not really looking for the president to show any leadership on this point.
The concept being presented to us here by our rulers is that free enterprise, the time-tested law of supply and demand, should only be allowed to work for things that you do not need.
This is nothing less than an orgy of pandering by power-drunk politicians pandering to the government-induced economic ignorance of the dumb masses. Does that sound insulting? Are you offended. Well, perhaps you shouldn't be. You, after all, listen to talk radio. I'm referring to the vast majority of the American people who get their daily dose of news from Entertainment Tonight and feel that the most important decision to be made anywhere in the free world before another sunrise is who will be the new American Idol. These people can't name their two U.S. Senators, they don't know how long congressmen serve, and they couldn't name two cabinet-level departments in the executive branch of government; probably not even one.
Our rulers couldn't get away with this price-gouging absurdity of the American people had even the most fundamental economic education. In virtually every news story I have read, heard or seen concerning gas prices and the push for anti-price gouging legislation there has not been one single reference to oil company profit margins. Profits? Oh my yes! Our rulers and the media know that we understand high profits, and they also know that not one out of ten Americans know the difference between a profit and a profit margin. It's not how much money you make, it's how much money you make on each dollar of sales. Hank Johnson -- our local congressman with a penchant for pandering -- knows this. His press release .. the one where he cleverly added in a shout-out to the "needy" ... cites the profits of the oil companies, but not one word about profit margins.
Why are Americans so damnably ignorant? Does something like this happen by chance? When I was doing research for the chapters in "Somebody's Gotta Say It" about our government education system, I was shocked to learn that some of the people involved in the formation of our present system of government education had a goal of making sure we enough to function, but not enough to be much of a threat to the ruling class. The details and references are in the book, but let me share a few gems with you.
Let's go back to 1888 and the Senate Committee on Education. The committee was addressing local control of education. Concerned was expressed that local control of the government education process might actually result in our children being taught too much! The committee report actually says "We believe that education is one of the principal causes of discontent of late years manifesting itself among the laboring classes." In other words, the more someone knows the more discontent they become in later years. Discontent with what? Their rulers?
I'm trying not to give away too much of my book here, but this dumbing-down of the American people deserves your attention. You can, after all, click here to get an autographed copy of "Somebody's Gotta Say It" for your dad for Father's Day. So just one more quote. We go to the Rockefeller Education Board. This is the group that funded the creation of many of our early government schools around the country. Direct quote my dear friends ... read this and try to absorb it:
"In our dreams ... people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hands. The present educational conventions (intellectual and character education) fade from our minds, and unhampered by tradition we work our own good will upon a grateful and responsive folk."
Come on people! Do you understand what was being said there? Was this the goal of those who created our system of government education? Were our children to be molded into grateful and responsive citizens bowing to the "good will" of the ruling class? There's more to the Rockefeller Education Board's report. Buy the book.
Oh ... and by the way, "Somebody's Gotta Say It" will also show you why anti-price gouging legislation does nothing more than produce shortages.
The bottom line here is that if the American people had a clue about free market economics the politicians couldn't get away with idiotic nonsense like this anti-price gouging law passed yesterday by the House.
For a short rundown of the stats on the failure of (WARNING:OXYMORON AHEAD!) "government education," click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0lR1KQq2-U
Maybe shortages are just what this country needs. People keep buying up the gas, but eventually, if they hit enough times when they can't buy gas because it's not there, they'll eventually give up and change their lifestyle.
Maybe shortages are just what this country needs. People keep buying up the gas, but eventually, if they hit enough times when they can't buy gas because it's not there, they'll eventually give up and change their lifestyle.
It’s very manly to drive a V8 truck, or any other 300hp vehicle.
Or to own 2-3 cars.
It’s really comfortable to heat your house to 70F or cool it in the summer.
It’s so reassuring to own giant fridges for our tons of Sam’s club purchases.
It’s really entertaining to watch DVDs own giant plasmas, in a 3000SF house.
We are burning this energy and helping to drive up the demand.
If you surrender your choices and responsibilities to the legislature, you will only get mocked.
I’ve been conserving gasoline for years — I don’t drive, so I have to take the bus, walk or ride with someone when I can. But it’s easy to say, take the bus or walk or ride your bike if it can be done. However, there are some times and some places where you just can’t do it.
Where I live, we used to have really good public transportation. But in recent years, it’s gone downhill. In June, the bus authority is going to cut even more service — some really drastic reductions. Some parts of the city won’t have any public transportation at all.
I will walk to a lot of places — been known to walk for miles...it can be done in the city or close to it. But when the planners laid out the better suburbs, they neglected to put in sidewalks. So walking is out of the question in some places. And heaven help you on a bicycle. We have a few bicycle routes (special lanes for bikes), but around these parts, motorists think it’s cute to try to run over bicyclists, even those in bicycle lanes. It’s dangerous to ride a bicycle here.
We are not as car dependent as some cities, but we’re getting there. It’s nice to say, change your habits, and yes, we should when we can. But please understand that in some places, it’s just not feasible.
I quite enjoy all those luxuries. If one can afford the energy, why should one care? Supply and demand will dictate eventually those who cannot will allow demand to drop.
Duh.
I understand that entirely, and I live by a similar lifestyle (walk when I can, take a bus when I can’t). However, necessity breeds change. I know it may appear difficult to make these changes, but eventually it will need to be done.
What exactly is "unusual" about our current economic conditions?
What is "unconscionably excessive" about a price virtually doubling in 7 years? The cost of tuition has practically done that, and it is wholly unrelated to gasoline. Shall we destroy the collegiate system in the US while we're at it?
The university system is well overdue for massive overhauls. Its problems are an entirely different breed than the gasoline situation.
I enjoy those luxuries as well.
Moderation is the key here.
If we keep escalating the amount of enjoyment and possessions,
the price will keep going up to the point where we will all suffer.
Try $6 gas for example. Or $10,000 heating bill for the winter.
You can afford the luxuries today, but think of tomorrow.
Will you give all of that you like away, when this happens?
Sold the big Town Car 4 years ago and now down to one rice-burning Toyota.
It’s really comfortable to heat your house to 70F or cool it in the summer.
Thermostats here set at 78 in summer and 68 in winter.
It’s so reassuring to own giant fridges for our tons of Sam’s club purchases.
Getting ready to replace the 20 year-old fridge with a new, more energy-efficient unit.
It’s really entertaining to watch DVDs own giant plasmas, in a 3000SF house.
My bad. Got 3,500SF here (paid for) but spent mucho dinero on better insulation, ceiling fans, squiggly light bulbs, etc.) No plasma.
We are burning this energy and helping to drive up the demand.
MORE NUKES! If the frogs can use them to produce 80% of their juice, what the hell's wrong with us doing so. After all, more folks died in Teddy Kennedy's back seat than died at Three Mile Island.
This is about ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENCY, NOT GLOBALONEY WARMING -- which, BTW, IS NOT MAN CAUSED.
Then you cut back and the price drops.
Whats the problem?
There was some democrat representative on our local radio talk show talking about how this price gouging bill was a victory for consumers. The host then asked him about the claims that it would lead to shortages. The democrat replied,
"If big oil attempts to hold Americans hostage by cutting production, we will pass another, tougher law with severe civil and criminal penalties, which will FORCE them to produce enough to meet demand."
Hugo Chavez would be proud...
The problem is that most of us already borrowed to buy the house, the fridge, the TV, the 3 cars, and we owe lots of money on them, including immense credit card debt.
We will not be able to shift our demand downwards as swiftly as the oil price is adjusting upwards.
We are not so liquid.
You said it bro
My job requires driving. I won’t be one of the ones to stop.
Now with the price of gas being so high I really can't afford to go on such trips nearly as often.
My truck is paid for, and still very useful, but I'm going to have to get a different vehicle for everyday driving, and trips where I don't need my truck.
I even be happy to ride my bike the 10 miles I have to go to work if I didn't have to ride on some busy roads to get there. I take 20+ mile bike rides several times a week anyway, so riding to work several times a week wouldn't take up any more of my time.
You see my point though right?
You are being prudent, and you are able to choose when to use the energy.
The majority of the people have neither the prudency, nor the ability to choose.
I’ve found that the price of gas makes it cheaper to fly a lot of places now. Even with airfares up too.
Yep, it’s cheaper to fly. What are we going to do if airfare sky rockets because of oil’s price, now that you bring it up? Imagine $1000 tickets Dallas-LA.
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