Gas Prices-Don't Blame Bush?

As the former oil man and his VP crony Chaney do their best to keep who was on the energy commission out of public knowledge gas and oil prices continue to rise. The oil companies are reaping record profits and OPEC which is full of Muslims who are disgusted with the US at the present time continue to cut production. Meanwhile the average citizen is really starting to get hit in the pocketbook which will eventually slow down the economy.

Yes, if one looked at each one of the above individually no one would draw the connection. However, all the dots do connect. I guess the president's and vice president's blind trust are growing at an enormous rate while they "don't know it".

When will the people catch on?

[Edited on 5-5-2004 by John bull 1]

Stop complaining, it's much, much more expensive in the rest of the world! You have really cheap gas compared to us!

It's hard for me to have any sympathy for you guys, as you have cheap gas and such large, gas-guzzling vehicles.

$0.02

Originally posted by Zzub

It's hard for me to have any sympathy for you guys, as you have cheap gas and such large, gas-guzzling vehicles.

$0.02

Yes but not all of us drive those large, gas-guzzling vehicles. I've always wondered... If people say we went to war for oil, why don't we have tons of oil now and why aren't our gas prices going down? Kinda strikes me as odd, because that seems to be what should be happening.

our fuel prices are cheaper than the rest of the world and we have the guzzling monsters. The guzzling monsters are another reason to look at Bush. The oil man should be telling the American people to think smaller and instead turns a blind head as the vehicles get larger. He is our "leader"?

True, it was unfair to imply that you all have these things.

However, the actions of your government don't help. SUV's are unrestricted on the polution they make, and Bush wants to phase diesel back in. Diesel engines are a major source of pollution.

I'm not sure the aim of the war was to take the oil, I thought it was to protect the sales of oil to the US, etc.

You do know some people need large trucks and what not for movement of heavy loads and so on. If you're a painter and have to carry all of your paint around, are you going to uncomfortably stuff it all in to your little Honda Civic, or would you rather place it gently in the bed of your pick-up truck???

People don't buy SUV's and Pick-ups because they want to pollute the environment or pay more for gas. They buy larger trucks because they find it much more convenient for their everyday needs.

[Edited on 5-5-2004 by WaStEdDeAtH777]

You make your bed, you lay in it.
You drive a 12/mpg SUV, suck it up when gas prices break 2.00 for the cheaper grade stuff.
Me?
I'm a happy Republican driving my fuel-efficient car: I'd rather cram my stuff into the trunk and save a good amount of cash (Let's see..I get about 400 miles to the 12 gallon tank. For a Landcruiser, I'd get about 150 miles to that amount of gas. You do the math).

If the Iraqi war was so obviously about oil, the gas prices would be way lower now. However, OPEC has our nuts in a vice, so to speak, and we'll likely not see low gas prices for quite some time; if ever. It's not Bush's fault we have high gas prices: He's stuck to his guns over the justification of this war (however questionable it may be). People don't want him drilling in Alaska (I mean, gee, providing jobs and a supply of oil? Egads..). He's dumping more money into alternative-fuel research than Clinton did....

Le sigh.

There is most likely not an end in sight, however, regarding gasoline prices. People vote with their wallets: As long as they keep paying this amount of money for a gallon of gas, they will also keep buying cars which get ridiculously low mileage.

I've heard from some on this site (but have yet to research due to time) that it is not about oil, so much as it is about the oil being sold for US dollars rather than with the Euro (which the switch was pending).

The "It's all about oil" banner phrase, if this is true, would be for the masses to rally under to gain support.

Most people don't understand macroeconomics and world markets.

another reason people always seem to overlook is the rapid industrialization of china. this is leading to more and more people buying cars. so china is starting to use up more and more oil/gas. demand increases, price increases.

and as mauskov said, buy more fuel efficient cars!

and what about the people that have an SUV that don't drive much? I now have about a 50 mile commute, and drive a mid size car. I'm a bigger offender than someone that owns an Expedition and drives little. Aren't I?

Is it the job of the government to tell us what to drive???

If they shipped more oil, we couldnt refine it. We could allow certain regions - that require different fuel - to use more abundant fuel, but that wouldn't be good for the enviroment. I think the high oil price is simply a matter of the market working, nothing more - nothing less.

I'd surely like to see them lower, obviously (read above about my commute).

Originally posted by Bob88
and what about the people that have an SUV that don't drive much? I now have about a 50 mile commute, and drive a mid size car. I'm a bigger offender than someone that owns an Expedition and drives little. Aren't I?

You raise a really interesting point. I, for one, don't much care what anyone drives: If you want an H2, with its 8mpg, go for it. Hell, I'm not paying for it. (feh, at least not directly.) There's a good chunk of populace though, who shake their fists and contort their faces over the prospect of having to pay huge amounts for gasoline, but don't drive efficient cars.

Is it the job of the government to tell us what to drive???

Definitely not.
Electric cars are around, these are efficient. What's going to dictate what we drive are the country's "Breaking points." What price is too high for a gallon of gas?

I don't have environmental concerns, not in the least. Rather, I think that as gasoline prices rise, gasoline demand rises (particularly in the East, as mentioned), we will see consumers adapting to this.

What would the grounds be for governmental regulation of vehicles? Besides the various clean air standards set forth by the EPA, I can't feasibly see how the government can invoke a sort of mpg restriction. After all, it is partially their pockets we're lining, too. There's always a bit of self interest.

Originally posted by WaStEdDeAtH777
You do know some people need large trucks and what not for movement of heavy loads and so on. If you're a painter and have to carry all of your paint around, are you going to uncomfortably stuff it all in to your little Honda Civic, or would you rather place it gently in the bed of your pick-up truck???

People don't buy SUV's and Pick-ups because they want to pollute the environment or pay more for gas. They buy larger trucks because they find it much more convenient for their everyday needs.

[Edited on 5-5-2004 by WaStEdDeAtH777]

What I don't like is seeing the larger SUVs and pickups driven around just to be driven around. True it is nobodys business but themselves however all Americans are paying for the gluttony of these vehicles. I still have heard no one comment about the energy policy writers, and the administrations reluctance to let go of the participants. Blame OPEC? How about blaming the man who has incensed all of the Arab world by now.

The big misconception is that gas prices are derived solely from OPEC sales, which it is not. Right now, gas is $1.82 USD for 1 gallon of 87 octane regular where I live. The gas station pays only about $.80 USD for that gallon. So where does the other $1.02 go you ask? It's taxes. I know a few people that own gas stations.

The war wasn't for oil. It's for money. Money for Bush/Cheney and the corporate backers like Haliburton.
I used to say God Bless America now it's
God Help the American People

Originally posted by madmanacrosswater
our fuel prices are cheaper than the rest of the world and we have the guzzling monsters. The guzzling monsters are another reason to look at Bush. The oil man should be telling the American people to think smaller and instead turns a blind head as the vehicles get larger. He is our "leader"?

What about the steps Bush is taking to lower our dependence on fossil fuels? This is a step in the right direction, IMO:

Hydrogen fuel cell cars

Through the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, the Federal government, automotive and energy industries, universities, and national laboratories are working together to overcome the technological and financial barriers to the successful development of commercially viable, emissions-free fuel cell vehicles that require no foreign oil.

OMG, where do you think that war is for anything but money? Please tell me you aren't that blind to world history that you don't realize that all war is for money. Land=power=money. Every war, whether it was started under the pretenses of religion, righteousness or anything else resembling something of higher purpose boils down to money.

Please tell me that it was a war for money is not the complete basis for your argument against the war in Iraq.

I was responding to the statement that it was a war for oil. As far as my reason for opposing the war in Iraq how about???

They didn't do anything to us. They were incapable of doing anything to us. We dismantled him in the Gulf War. Colin Powell and Condeleeza Rice said so right before 9/11. He wasn't in league with Bin-Laden. He had no weapons of mass destruction. My objection is that I know when I am being lied to. I want to know what the real reason is. Oh I forgot I said that, it was to make Bush and his benefactors richer.

The gas prices always go up durring an election year . . .

Gee, I wonder why

"Its the refineries stupid" emulating the famous Clinton saying "its the economy stupid"
A problem brought to by the very same people that want you to duke it out in traffic with a tinfoil cracker box vs that 80,000 pound truck that blows you off the road in its bow-wake.

Refinery Capacity

And that old saying "Its the economy stupid" aptly applys as you may read in this Bloomberg article.

Bloomberg

Originally posted by AdmiralGates
The war wasn't for oil. It's for money. Money for Bush/Cheney and the corporate backers like Haliburton.
I used to say God Bless America now it's
God Help the American People

Oh please.
Inundate us more with your bumper sticker morals and pithy sandwich-board comments.

I feel enlightened already.

To all else:
I'm sorry for the flame, but c'mon.