“...gasoline locally for me is over $3.00—Gee when Trump was Pres., it was under $2. I turn off lights, and my electric bill is over $400/month.”
You have raised a number of interesting issues, some of which I may respond to after the holidays are over, but for the moment I will address gasoline and other fuels. I will also say that if you do not understand that stopping Putin in his expansionism and effort to maintain control of fuel markets is significant then you are not paying enough attention. Putin’s decision to invade Crimea in 2014 and send merceneries into eastern Ukraine to foment trouble were a direct response to contracts Ukraine signed in 2012 with US oil majors to explore gas and oil reserves around Crimea and in eastern Ukraine. Putin did not want Ukraine to become an independent supplier of European fuel needs. His current “not war” is the result, and he has lost the European market anyway. Our efforts to help Europe with this winter’s fuel, especially LNG, have caused what I hope is a temporary rise in the heating fuel market. The six months you mention should answer that question.
Regarding gasoline, the link below from April 2020 should explain part of why gas prices are high today. While Trump did not create the oil glut that resulted from March decisions, and the major reduction in civilian travel in the US and elsewhere, his decision or lack of one to allow Fauci to direct his Covid response had a significant impact on oil prices and futures. The sudden glut of oil caused many oil companies to cut back or suspend their production of crude. Several large US recent finds and fracking fields cost around $60 per barrel to be profitably pumped. Many producers had to reduce their production or even seal their wells altogether. Many have not been reopened. They also ceased development of new wells, and currently there are a large number of undeveloped leases. The recent behavior of oil companies appears to have been to raise prices to unusually high levels to make quick profits while people are desperate for fuel. Fortunately, they have been reducing prices toward what I call “more civilized levels.” Ultimately the market will have to determine a price that gives companies reasonable profits without gouging the consumer or causing another glut. It will not likely be as low as Trump gas prices, but nowhere near as high as in the recent past. I suspect it will be slightly above or below $3 per gallon. In my mid-Atlantic travel area including 4 statewide fuel tax rates, I have recently bought gas for between $3.09 and $3.44 when buying at the cheaper stations.
Below you can read the reason I am strongly on the side of supporting Ukraine, and why 2 of my grandchildren recently decided, without any influence from me, to join our military
this fall. This book is being taught in Russian military schools and is reported to be a significant influence on Putin’s thinking. Be sure to read the author’s 10 point plan for the future of Europe. Then read his additional 10 points for his goals regarding the rest of the world. This is why our military is convinced we must nip Putin in his bud. I hope you are NOT part of Putin’s widespread, subversive efforts to influence people to support his aggressive goals, including here on FR.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics
Thank you Gleeaikin for your common sense and your efforts in helping the victims of Kremlin’s propaganda.
You sent us quite some quality reading here !
All the best,