1$/gal. gasoline? Maybe, but what does it mean really?

[oldballs]

Good post John White.....should save some of us a similar post.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[CurlyDave]

Yep - A friend of mine commented if we all had to write a check every week for what we pay in taxes most folks would be a bit more critical as to what services the government should provide. I vote we start with the big welfare packages, Medicare and Social security, once the recipient has received their contributions plus 10% compounded yearly they should stop receiving distributions. Painful but glass houses and stones.

To me, the best way to get government spending in line would be to make income tax withholding illegal. If every taxpayer had to pony up the entire amount on tax day, they might remmed er that number come election day.

As far as your Medicare and Social Security thoughts go, all I can say is "dream on". If I were to receive a 10% return on my SS contributions since the day I started paying in, I would have to live forever at about 3 times my current benefit to come close to breaking even.

And, keep in mind, the deal the government made with me when I started paying in was that my benefit would be tax free, and there was not even a whisper about any kind of means test. Over the years the government kept changing the deal and my end of the stick got shorter and dirtier. Now 85% of my benefit is taxable, and there are serious proposals on the board about "means testing".

Do I really need the SS I receive? Well, not to keep me from starving, but a deal is a deal. The government promised a benefit to me in exchange for the taxes it took from me. The courts can say they don't have to provide it all they want, but the rules of ethics and good conduct say they have to keep that deal. I kept my end of it. I paid in and didn't forment revolution, which I might have done if I had known that they would renege on the deal.

 

[Green Power]

Along with oil being low, The AG Market is terrible, in the last two years corn became a third of what it was, Wheat is less than half of what it was. The low price of oil is nice but the ag Market is so poor right now that it is very hard to make any money...

 

[Tomtint]

Along with oil being low, The AG Market is terrible, in the last two years corn became a third of what it was, Wheat is less than half of what it was. The low price of oil is nice but the ag Market is so poor right now that it is very hard to make any money...

Those low AG prices have not been reflected in food costs.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Along with oil being low, The AG Market is terrible, in the last two years corn became a third of what it was, Wheat is less than half of what it was. The low price of oil is nice but the ag Market is so poor right now that it is very hard to make any money...

The prices in the supermarket aren't going down though are they?

 

[Green Power]

The prices in the supermarket aren't going down though are they?

That certainly is true, the middle man is thriving, but the farmer is on his knees...

 

[dirt ditch]

The price of fuel is down at the pump but not the price of a quart of motor oil, ATF, or gear oil, etc. in the stores.

 

[NoTrespassing]

The price of fuel is down at the pump but not the price of a quart of motor oil, ATF, or gear oil, etc. in the stores.

I agree, I think we're getting hosed on lubrication oil. Their costs have to be down big time. Maybe we'll see the price come down in the future but I doubt it. It's almost like unspoken collusion if you ask me. You'd think all it would take is for a major player to cut their price and they would all come down. Maybe it takes quite awhile to work it's way through the pipeline so to speak?

I know machine lube is at least double what it was 10 years ago.

Kevin

 

[Bocephous]

Good post John White.....should save some of us a similar post.
Cheers,
Mike

Agreed, +1.

 

[charlz]

You'd think all it would take is for a major player to cut their price and they would all come down. Maybe it takes quite awhile to work it's way through the pipeline so to speak?

That is probably what it will take.... just like two gas stations across from each other... one drops then the other etc. Until some major retailer like Walmart starts having/advertising motor oil sales no one has a reason to drop their retail price even if they are saving a ton on the wholesale price.