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.
Sadly, our government entities did not plan for all this — the lack of sidewalks and trails for example, and the sorry state of mass transit, at least where I live. You’re right that we need to conserve, but for many of us, it’s going to be difficult if not impossible. We’ll have to do the best we can because the government is going to be no help at all. In fact, this rotten legislation is just going to make matters worse if it does become law.
But is it, too, “gouging”? I would say “no” to both examples... but the bill, as written, says “yes” to both.
bump
The ‘Price Gouging’ is actually being done by the Federal Government. The Feds make more in tax on the sale of gasoline than a corporation makes in profit the same sale.
So under this legislation, instead of lowering the federal tax, the government will instead enforce price controls, thereby causing shortages which will either put the oil companies out of business or at some point, the controls will have to be lifted, so the cost to the consumers will still go up.
Yup, typical government fix-it.
Wow. That's almost a direct quote out of Atlas Shrugged.
Any government interference in business only hampers efficiency and drives the price up. Enough interference will cause shortages. Get ready for the gasoline lines.
“..they’ll eventually give up and change their lifestyle.”
Why does anyone need to change their lifestyle with regards to fuel consumption?
Ironic statement! You never heard of Liberal professors? Most of the college system has already been corrupted by Leftist ideology for decades. Boortz was commenting on the decline of education in this very article.
I can tell this whole board that, even without “shortages,” gas prices HAVE changed my lifestyle. I’m not going ANYWHERE this Mem Day weekend. I have opted not to volunteer in a June sports event 25 miles away because, in its 4-day run, I would need to spend over $30 in gas money. I am even forgoing a free admission to an event 150 miles away because of the $60 or so I would have to spend for fuel.
Sadly, I have also cut back on charitable contributions. There are people who need help. Right now, I can’t help them.
Sounds like you need to read Dave Ramsey’s, “The Total Money Makeover.” Times are tight, but hope is just a few pages away.
The increase in gasoline prices, if continued for an entire year, would cost me about $500. The increase in taxes on the local level is going to cost me about three times that much. I would like SOMEONE in government to be concerned about TAX GOUGING rather than GAS GOUGING!
Of course that won’t happen, because both parties LOVE the money that we sheep give them for their government-funded waste.
Thank God for the veto. Once we allow price gouging legislation against one group it will move its way across all sectors.
I wish it was 1997 again with regards to gas prices.
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.