Gas prices and Dem Promises...

[aft_lizard01]

Originally Posted by 88-31-10

Can anyone explain why oil is $100.00+ a barrel and climbing?

Its been explained many times on this board, now if you choose to ignore the explanations then so be it:

Supply and demand, India and Chinas economies are creating far greater demand than what can be outputted.

Commodity market speculating on said demand, raising prices to the stratosphere.

Weak dollar. Which only can account for roughly 1/3 of the price increases.

There are other reasons but those are the big three, fuel prices ARE NOT SET by the the Oil companies.

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by 88-31-10

Can anyone explain why oil is $100.00+ a barrel and climbing?

Yeah, but the last time I tried you threw a big fit and wouldn’t have none of it.

[Binky Bainbridge]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

...and who is to blame for your $10 a gallon gas? How much of that is taxes to pay for your countries socialist spending programs.

The government takes approximately 80% of the pump price, i.e., $8.

I hear that some petrol stations are now offering loans to buy fuel, is this the future?

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Binky Bainbridge

The government takes approximately 80% of the pump price, i.e., $8.

..and you don't see a problem with that? You get "free healthcare" and this is just one example of how you pay for it...

[Binky Bainbridge]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

..and you don't see a problem with that? You get "free healthcare" and this is just one example of how you pay for it...

I know that we pay for it through taxation but it offers a cradle-to-grave protection system. Now you may argue the pro's & con's about that concept, you may even use the word "socialism" to describe it, but its the common norm throughout most of Europe and Scandinavia. Is the US healthcare system better, I don't know, perhaps you can tell me.

Your government spends $Trillions on developing sophisticated weapon systems, but I'd prefer my taxes to be spent on health care provision than weapons of war. When a person is dying or in need of urgent medical attention does it matter whether the state or a private medical hospital provides it? A life needs saving.

[88-31-10]

Originally Posted by aft_lizard01

Its been explained many times on this board, now if you choose to ignore the explanations then so be it:

Oh I wouldn't say I ignore the explanations Lizzy. I may disagree with them, but I don't ignore them. I really do enjoy seeing the different responses given though. They really run the gamut.

Originally Posted by aft_lizard01

Supply and demand, India and Chinas economies are creating far greater demand than what can be outputted.

This is the most common explanation given and the one I find the hardest to believe. If the demand is greater than the supply, somewhere, somebody can't buy oil. I don't believe that to be the case. I think you can buy all the oil you want. Provided you have the money to do so.

Originally Posted by aft_lizard01

Commodity market speculating on said demand, raising prices to the stratosphere.:

This statement here comes the closet to the real reason we're getting raped. Market speculators are using the percieved supply and demand horseshit story to run prices through the roof and get rich doing so.

Same thing happened with electricity in California in 2000. First the markets were deregulated. Then the citizens were told how the increase in computers and servers had created a huge demand for electric power. Electricity was in short supply. Rolling blackouts followed. Prices skyrocketed to levels never seen before or since. $2000.00+ per megawatt/hour. Turned out to be market manipulation. Me thinks the same thing is going on with oil.

Originally Posted by aft_lizard01

Weak dollar. Which only can account for roughly 1/3 of the price increases.

Not sure of the mechanisms/effects of weak dollars on oil price. Did read a blurb about investors putting dollars in oil commodities to protect them against a weakening dollar. Not sure if that leads to a 33% increase though

Originally Posted by aft_lizard01

There are other reasons but those are the big three, fuel prices ARE NOT SET by the the Oil companies.

Who has the most to gain from the higher prices? Follow the money.......

[88-31-10]

Originally Posted by Highwayman

Yeah, but the last time I tried you threw a big fit and wouldn’t have none of it.

My memory of your explanations are somewhat dimmed from the absurdity of it. I believe you said enviornmentalists were to blame? Please explain the "threw a big fit" comment.

[88-31-10]

Originally Posted by Binky Bainbridge

The government takes approximately 80% of the pump price, i.e., $8.

I hear that some petrol stations are now offering loans to buy fuel, is this the future?

Isn't that what a credit card is? A loan.

[88-31-10]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

..and you don't see a problem with that? You get "free healthcare" and this is just one example of how you pay for it...

Health care isn't free here or anywhere. How it is payed for differs...regardless, it is payed for by the consumer. As is everything.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Binky Bainbridge

I know that we pay for it through taxation but it offers a cradle-to-grave protection system. Now you may argue the pro's & con's about that concept, you may even use the word "socialism" to describe it, but its the common norm throughout most of Europe and Scandinavia. Is the US healthcare system better, I don't know, perhaps you can tell me.

and a lot of European countries are trying to slowly move away from the socialism thing and privatizing some things because it's more cost effective.



Y

Originally Posted by Binky Bainbridge

our government spends $Trillions on developing sophisticated weapon systems, but I'd prefer my taxes to be spent on health care provision than weapons of war.

I would prefer a balance of both. When you have some knuckleheads kill 3000 innocent people in one sweep and you have to go after someone it's kind of nice to have those "weapons of war". You can't hunt down a terrorist with a mammogram machine. Your country doesn't have to spend as much as we do because we are more committed to making the world a better place to live. Besides if you guys get attacked we'll save your ass just like we did in WWII.

Usually when something is private and trying to make money it's more efficient. ANYTHING the gov't touches is a boondoggle and a huge waste of taxpayer money. Having said that why would you want the gov't providing healthcare for you...or anything else for that matter. ALso when the gov't provides something for you then they have the control.

When a person is dying or in need of urgent medical attention does it matter whether the state or a private medical hospital provides it? A life needs saving.[/quote]