Dont Buy Gas on May 15
#51
the people on wall street set the prices..not the oil companys not the refinerys and not the gas stations, most gas stations only make 1 or 2 cents a gallon if that...its all on supply and demand..even is they jack the prices way up..americans are stupid enough to buy it..even if you rally your town not to buy gas its not going to make the prices go down in one town..
#53
Originally Posted by Eye-P
If you think that the US is a free market economy, you have absolutely no business discussing this topic.
A perfect example would be your congressional district. Outside of the federal system, your district gets more federal funds and subsidies than any other district.
And, it also has a very high median income, which, if this were really a free market economy would not be happening.
If you want another example, you can also look at the oil industry, which enjoys enormous federal subsidies and tax breaks, even while making the largest profits in history.
But since you know so much about economics, you already knew this and were just kidding, right?
A perfect example would be your congressional district. Outside of the federal system, your district gets more federal funds and subsidies than any other district.
And, it also has a very high median income, which, if this were really a free market economy would not be happening.
If you want another example, you can also look at the oil industry, which enjoys enormous federal subsidies and tax breaks, even while making the largest profits in history.
But since you know so much about economics, you already knew this and were just kidding, right?

I guess with fewer refineries than we had 30 years ago, a larger domestic demand along with the exploding demand in China and India have no influence on the price. Not to mention the tree hudggers that go ballistic when the mere mention of drilling in the Anwar area comes up. Floridians going ape $hit if anyone considers drilling off their coastline. All the chaos in the Middle East probably has no effect either. OPEC cutting back on production to keep the price per barrel elevated does'nt come into play. Wall Street traders that panic when a fly lands on a donkey's a$$ surely has no affect.
The oil industry's profit margins are right in line with other major industry margins. If not on the slightly on the low side. The oil industry is making tremendous profits, but that is because the demand for their product is thru the roof.
I will agree that the government turning millions off barrels around and shipping it back over seas is increasing the cost off gas. The effect of the government to demand so many different blends of gas also contributes to the cost. The 50-80 cents per gallon of taxes imposed by the Local, State , and Federal Governments don't help either.
Even with all these things going against us. We still enjoy some off the lowest prices in the world.
#54
meh... i lived overseas and they didn't bitch about petrol being almost 3 bucks a liter... as long as gas stays under 5 bucks a gallon until im out of college i wont really care that much...
#55
So can I ask why the local, state and federal governments tax it? To me it seems like they're shitting in thier own nest. Who are they taxing? Us or the oil companies? Where does the 50-80 cents a gallon go? Certainly not alternative fuel research or to feed the hungry.
#56
Originally Posted by UnrthdxDream
meh... i lived overseas and they didn't bitch about petrol being almost 3 bucks a liter... as long as gas stays under 5 bucks a gallon until im out of college i wont really care that much...
#58
Originally Posted by vanillagorilla
So can I ask why the local, state and federal governments tax it? To me it seems like they're shitting in thier own nest. Who are they taxing? Us or the oil companies? Where does the 50-80 cents a gallon go? Certainly not alternative fuel research or to feed the hungry.
#59
"enjoying" is a bit much. ive never been overseas, but how many people in england.. lets say, commute 30-40+ miles one way to work each day. also, theres the option of public transportation there, efficient transportation. unlike riding the "B" here locally,ive seen people sitting at bus stops for hours on end, if you have a schedule to meet, this simply isnt feasible.


