<< Here comes price controls!
And it worked sooo well the last time they tried it. Guess everyone has forgotten that though. >>
I don’t think even the ‘rats will be dumb enough to try that again, by fixing prices either “at the pump” or up through the refining/processing/delivery chain.
(ASIDE: you never know about Obama, though - he’s an out-and-out Marxist at heart, with an elite superiority complex that might prompt him to “order the masses” to whatever he declares.)
There have been several discussion threads today about the rapidly-escalating price of petroleum and gasoline, but I’ve yet to see anyone speculate on what the ‘rats actually will attempt to DO about it, once they’re in power. And make no mistake about it - they WILL be in power if prices keep rising at the pump as they have the last few months. $6.50-7.00 gasoline isn’t going to help Mr. McCain or any other Republicans, regardless of B. Hussein’s skin color.
So, I’ll toss out MY ideas of what they will do to try to get things back under control again...
I sense that, at heart, at least SOME influential ‘rats understand the relationship between supplies, demand, and prices.
There is no “supply crisis” in the United States. There’s plenty of fuel to go around, if you have the $$$ to buy it. There _is_ the reality that currently, worldwide demand is growing faster than worldwide supplies can fulfill those demands, putting an upwards pressure on prices. This is NOT likely to change anytime soon. It may not change in our lifetimes. Indeed, price-pressures may accelerate upward in the next few years.
So, if a “crisis” exists here in the USA, it is one of _rising prices_, not supply. And there isn’t much we can do about worldwide demand. Notice, I said “worldwide” demand.
But I’m guessing the ‘rats will conclude that the action that must be taken to force prices downward is to REDUCE DOMESTIC DEMAND. What, then, will they do to accomplish this?
First, expect to see the 55mph limit re-imposed nationally. Actually, I can’t argue with this, because it is a proven fact that vehicles consume fuel more efficiently at 55 than at 65 or higher. This IS going to happen. The only question is when.
Next, the ‘rats are going to figure that if they can’t “tax prices down” with windfall profits on the oil producers (they will TRY this first, of course), they’ll force “big oil” to reduce prices by reducing “demand at the pump”. The only way to do this is to take actions that will effectively limit the SALES of gas at the pump.
We may again see the imposition of “odd/even” days for fuel purchases, based on license plates.
When that doesn’t work as planned, we may see the ‘rats take other steps to _force_ Americans to buy less fuel.
I would expect some kind of “mileage tax” based on miles driven. I believe this has ALREADY BEEN PROPOSED up in Oregon (proposed, not implemented). Vehicles will be checked either electronically, or, perhaps a once- or twice-yearly “checkstop” at designated locations, where state officials will record vehicle registrations and mileage - and then send the vehicle owner a tax bill. Drive less, get taxed less. And driving less cuts the demand for gas.
Eventually, they may resort to out-and-out gas rationing, based on monthly ration cards or the like. Again, their reasoning will be to limit the amount of fuel that can be purchased, with the expectation that lower demand will force the oil companies to lower retail prices.
What the ‘rats DON’T count on is the various ways in which sellers, processors, and buyers will fight back to thwart their attempts.
Nevertheless, I predict that these are some “solutions” that the democrats will try to impose upon Americans to “get prices down”.
Freepers, the flame suit is on. Feel free to shoot me down!
- John
I tend to agree with the majority of what you said.
I do think the cost is eventually going to cut into demand. Part of the absurdity about it being a crisis. Must not hurt the majority too damn bad or they would quit/reduce buying.
The Red Rocker is going to have to get busy and update the song!