Quote:
Originally Posted by ducati996
but it is always easier for those who have an abudance of material items to be lazzie fare on how things should be regulated when there clearly is a need for consumer protection.
Bob_Skurka
Protection from what? The consumers, you & me, in the US are using MORE AND MORE oil every month. Consumption is going UP. So if the oil companies make 5% on every gallon of fuel, and they are sell more and more fuel, then they SHOULD make more money. Now in additon to the fact that they are selling MORE fuel to you and me, they are also being charged more so the 5% margin equals an extra penny or two per gallon. But that is not gouging as you suggest. What you are suggesting is simple communism. Fix the price and let the economy go to the dumps. That is the fact of what you suggest.
Duc reply:
Again they are price fixing; they control the market with fictitious market manipulation. And supply shortages – the best example is when a tropical depression forms and the price of oil soars. You know darn well no oil was effected, and the tropical depression falls apart – Can we ask for our money back? They are gouging plain and simple – not sure the color of your sky but I’m able to understand fully the world around me. I’m definitely not alone.
Funny they used to be profitable when crude was $40 and under a barrel, so mid $45 seems perfectly acceptable. Sure as heck $70 and what ever the market will bare or when the judicial systems call them into congress to explain matters..
The Govt responsibility is to provide basic rights and protections from over zealous corporations anti-cartel and anti monopolies are against the law- regardless if you agree or not.
Im just as annoyed with the telecom industry as posted earlier, so don’t think I just have an axe to grind with “big Oil”. I make my living in the technology world.. I don’t like what the FCC has done to it- I blame Powells son who was worthless as **** on a bull.
The economy will only improve when the price of oil is back in check with reality. I don’t understand why you don’t get basic economics. You fail to acknowledge that oil is the biggest part of inflation right now, you know the thing that the feds keep doing to keep in check – i.e raise the interest rates. You think the economy has been so rosey with GWB at the wheel, the only thing carrying the whole debacle was the housing market - I suppose you have others do you books and you missed this part of 101
Quote:
Originally Posted by ducati996
I would like you to set the example and give up your prized possesions which you feel isnt that important as a whole. I honestly dont believe it....
Bob_Skurka
I'm not sure what you are asking here. But I could give up guns, Swiss watches, dogs, and Hawaiian shirts without impacting oil.
Ducati:
I think I was asking do you practice what you preach? The answer is no if you are only willing to give up what truly doesnt matter – watches, plumbers, diamond dealers, and cell phones
Quote:
Originally Posted by ducati996
I would also like to see how you can get around the impact of Oil has in your life and family - I would assume you would then be living like those in 3rd world nations.
Bob_Skurka:
Wow bad assumption! I would likely not live where I live, or I would have built a different house if I chose to live without much assistance and impact of oil. But my choice was not to do that. Again it was my choice. I could have put photovoltaic panels on the roof to generate electricity, as well as heat collectors to heat water. As I live on a ridge line with prevailing winds, I could up up a wind generator. People here on TBN have done all those things. I simply choose not to. I've looked at, and considered, and done cost analysis on hybrid cars. I chose an inefficient SUV instead. It was my choice. I understand the consequences.
Ducati:
< Oh yeah now this really makes sense – you are probably the only one to afford a wind tunnel or photo electric cells, hybrid cars, the skys the limit- in other words MOST FOLKS cant afford these little toys to help be self sufficient. So they don’t have that luxury of choice my friend like you do – HENCE the campaign and frustration regarding the control of Oil.
We can try to control or be able to afford what should or was affordable by all for just a simple and basic living - This is something you do not grasp at all – Just because you have or made a choice, its really isn’t applicable to those less fortunate than you – The theme you have been promoting is identical from the majority who have the means. They all preach the same logic. Sorry just don’t buy it or believe in it.
Bob_Skurka:
What I don't understand is how anyone today can espouse communist style price controls when all that does is destroy nations and people. I'm just old enough to have been able to extensively travel to a couple of the communist nations of eastern Europe while they were still solidly under the grip of communism. I can tell you first hand, it did not work! Quality fell. Innovation ceased. You tell me, in what nation that built an economic model based on price controls are the people better off than in ANY western nation?
Ducati:
Funny been to the same places (and recently too) most likely Im sure when this great country first started things didn’t go smoothly either. I didn’t just happen for us, and they expected it to happen like magic – for which it did not. However Russia now has billionaires – never had them when under full communist control
Bob_Skurka:
I do understand that you have some emotional reason to want price controls, but you clearly do not understand the consequences. What you want is less pain at the pump. But you think the answer is simple, just fix the price. While I want the same thing, less pain at the pump, I understand that the answer is complex. I realize that if the government would get its head out of its rear end we could be driving a lot more diesel vehicles, and those are more efficient so we would not need as much fuel. Demand would drop if we had just 5% of our cars running diesel, but imagine if we had 40% of our vehicles running diesel!!! Further, if we had more diesel vehicles, we would actually have a market for "bio-diesel" so we could further reduce the need for importing oil.
Ducati:
Its not an emotional reaction from me – but Im sure it is for those who cant afford it.
I think straight forward and through the lies and B.S and see things for what they are. Its is how I explained it –it dosent matter if you agree or not
Im in support of all things in search for oil, alternative fuels, as well as ANWAR (just to shut people up), hybrid ideas and anything that gets us off oil and out of Big Oils control. Wind falls profit tax can be used effectively or call it any other name – by taking the greed out of excess and using the excess to develop these ideas you and I both mentioned. But it takes total control out of the Oil companies and their distribution network. Give grants to fund these new ideas, and develop better distribution methods away from refineries and such. Am also in support of breaking up monopolies with any legal method or means possible. Keep in mind thats the real problem here and why a free market dosent work in this example