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Obama's Fix for Gas Prices

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What? Where in the world did you hear that ? Maybe my sarcasm meter is busted.
http://projects.newsobserver.com/node/24086

Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue and top administration officials flew to Pennsylvania last week to examine drilling rigs used for shale gas extraction, a controversial practice known as fracking.
The March 5 trip occurred without public notice from the governor's office and included meetings with oil company representatives and local government officials who support fracking. (Perdue's office does not release a regular schedule like other state chief executives.) The governor did not visit with local environmental groups on the trip but her spokesman said she met days prior with Sierra Club and Environmental Defense Fund officials in North Carolina.
The trip was organized by Jon Williams, the assistant secretary for energy at the N.C. Department of Commerce, in consultation with John Hanger, the former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Hanger is a shale gas drilling supporter who works as an outside consultant. (Environmental advocates criticized Republican lawmakers for taking an industry-driven trip in late 2011.)
The governor's office did not provide an itinerary for the trip but said Perdue and the N.C. delegation received a briefing from Shell Oil and a tour of Shell's operations in Tioga County before attending a roundtable with state and local officials at Mansfield University. The delegation -- which flew on the state plane in a up-and-back trip -- included Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Dee Freeman; Kari Barsness, the DENR legislative liaison; Williams; and Nina Szlosberg-Landis, the chairwoman of the Department of Transportation board and a major Democratic donor that Perdue's office said is "well known in the environmental community.
 
Blah blah blah...huff fluff and no real stuff. Our so called leader is an idiot but the people who vote for him are even bigger idiots.
 
Another task force?

Hahahaha.
----------------

Read this closely:

we’ve set up a task force to look into speculation to make sure people are taking advantage of the situation on the global oil markets," President Obama told WKRC-TV.

He actually said that?

---------------------

I don't think we can stop speculation by 'outlawing' it.

The speculators will just to markets overseas to effect their trades.

If speculators are driving up the price, I think we should consider a plan that hits 'em where it hurts - in the wallet.

E.g., do a 'surprise' dump of a bunch of the strategic reserves driving the price down hard and fast and speculators with long positions will take it in the nuts.

Do that a few times and it will make them nervous.

Fern
 
Let's see, we don't have pure capitalism, we don't have free trade, we don't have free markets, we actually do have a world economy and we don't have lack of regulation. You're batting at the Mendoza line, congratulations.

"Pure" capitalism is an oxymoron. The global oil market is about as "free" as it gets, while domestic production has been greatly deregulated.

Obviously, speculation driven price fluctuations are part & parcel of any free market system, particularly against a near vertical demand curve such as we have for gasoline in this country-

630-Gas_Prices-1.jpg


A recovering global economy also puts upward pressure on prices, and foreign buyers will often pay more per gallon because they derive much greater utility from their purchases, using petroleum far more efficiently. A 60mpg diesel Fiat will get you there just the same as a giant 12mpg diesel pickup.
 
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vi...up_a_task_force_to_look_into_speculation.html

Good for him! Glad to see him doing something on the topic of high gas prices. Although I think he is going to go as far it takes to get re-elected and not an inch further, as would any politician it seems. Also, I'm not sure speculation is the culprit. Rather I think its the other 400lb gorillas in the room that he refuses to talk about. Regulation and exploration. Who knows though, maybe they will come up with some decent findings and make a dent in prices, but I'm not holding my breath.

I think we have a better chance going with the Gingrich plan of 2.50/gallon gas personally.
 
Another task force?

Hahahaha.
----------------

Read this closely:



He actually said that?

---------------------

I don't think we can stop speculation by 'outlawing' it.

The speculators will just to markets overseas to effect their trades.

If speculators are driving up the price, I think we should consider a plan that hits 'em where it hurts - in the wallet.

E.g., do a 'surprise' dump of a bunch of the strategic reserves driving the price down hard and fast and speculators with long positions will take it in the nuts.

Do that a few times and it will make them nervous.

Fern

Actually the agency that is suppose to police speculation has been stone walled by your party and since it is an independent agency this is the only move available to any President whether they have a D or an R behind their name.
 
Actually the agency that is suppose to police speculation has been stone walled by your party and since it is an independent agency this is the only move available to any President whether they have a D or an R behind their name.

We have a conservative party now?

Anyhoo, link me up with what you've. Haven't heard anything about the previous task force, who are they, what they're trying to do, or who is stonewalling them.

TIA

Fern
 
We have a conservative party now?

Anyhoo, link me up with what you've. Haven't heard anything about the previous task force, who are they, what they're trying to do, or who is stonewalling them.

TIA

Fern

You seriously are not aware of the Republican obstructionism of implementation the Dodd Frank legislation? Wow....

😕
 
You seriously are not aware of the Republican obstructionism of implementation the Dodd Frank legislation? Wow....

😕

1. I'm hearing a lot about the implementation of Dodd Frank. What part is being help up?

2. I haven't heard of anything related to oil speculation in Dodd Frank?

Fern
 
1. I'm hearing a lot about the implementation of Dodd Frank. What part is being help up?

2. I haven't heard of anything related to oil speculation in Dodd Frank?

Fern

Read this article about the speculation but it was watered down like everything else.

The Dodd-Frank Bill passed by the Democratic Congress to prevent the abuses by Wall Street and banks that caused the 2007 Recession required the Commission to put limits on oil speculation as well. Repeal of Dodd-Frank is a favorite one-liner of Republican Presidential candidates.

Speculation raises cost of oil without assign any value



Continue reading on Examiner.com At last, regulators impose limits on oil speculation - National economic policy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/economic-po...mpose-limits-on-oil-speculation#ixzz1p8jkQlEg

Also read this article which lays out the opposition to the bill and the millions of dollars spent lobbying against it by Wall Street.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72772.html
 
Last edited:
"Pure" capitalism is an oxymoron. The global oil market is about as "free" as it gets, while domestic production has been greatly deregulated.

Obviously, speculation driven price fluctuations are part & parcel of any free market system, particularly against a near vertical demand curve such as we have for gasoline in this country-

630-Gas_Prices-1.jpg


A recovering global economy also puts upward pressure on prices, and foreign buyers will often pay more per gallon because they derive much greater utility from their purchases, using petroleum far more efficiently. A 60mpg diesel Fiat will get you there just the same as a giant 12mpg diesel pickup.

"Pure" capitalism is an oxymoron. The global oil market is about as "free" as it gets, while domestic production has been greatly deregulated.
Glad to see you agree with me for a change.
 
I thought a task force had been setup a couple of years ago?
Yes, but by golly this time they really, really mean it.

Obama can do NOTHING about gas. That's why when somebody like Newt lies about taking it down to $2.50 he should be laughed off stage.

My scorn does not apply to people truly living on the edge of a knife financially, but for most people who should have been paying attention over recent years, you've had plenty of time to deal with the increasing gas prices. If you're still running around like a headless chicken it's your fault now. Things aren't changing. Actually, they are: gas will keep going up. Do something about it. Just because your first kid is on the way no you don't need a Honda Pilot.
 
Gas prices go up globally and they have been going up for a long time. It's not like the gas price sneak up and steal your wallets.

Gas in the states is not even expensive to begin with, I don't get what's with all the moaning. You're up at what, $4/gallon? We pay above $8/gallon and people are still driving. There is no anarchy. People don't lose their homes over gas expenses. The price will keep on rising no matter who's president. Deal with it.
 
Yes, but by golly this time they really, really mean it.

Obama can do NOTHING about gas. That's why when somebody like Newt lies about taking it down to $2.50 he should be laughed off stage.

My scorn does not apply to people truly living on the edge of a knife financially, but for most people who should have been paying attention over recent years, you've had plenty of time to deal with the increasing gas prices. If you're still running around like a headless chicken it's your fault now. Things aren't changing. Actually, they are: gas will keep going up. Do something about it. Just because your first kid is on the way no you don't need a Honda Pilot.

Well, it's a step in the right direction from a Hummer or an outsized muscle car...

I sometimes gauge things from the way people act at my workplace. The guys who squealed the loudest about high gas prices in 2008 were the guys who lived furthest out in the exurbs, and drove the biggest pickups. In the meanwhile, after gas prices came down, they traded in the pickup for another just like it, and they're starting to squeal again... and they still live out there on the other side of never-never land, drive over an hour each way for a job they'll probably keep for 20 years... a few got smart(er), kept the old truck around & bought something with good mileage as a daily driver...
 
Well, it's a step in the right direction from a Hummer or an outsized muscle car...

I sometimes gauge things from the way people act at my workplace. The guys who squealed the loudest about high gas prices in 2008 were the guys who lived furthest out in the exurbs, and drove the biggest pickups. In the meanwhile, after gas prices came down, they traded in the pickup for another just like it, and they're starting to squeal again... and they still live out there on the other side of never-never land, drive over an hour each way for a job they'll probably keep for 20 years... a few got smart(er), kept the old truck around & bought something with good mileage as a daily driver...
A guy works next to me and complains a bit about gas, bought a new pickup last year (replacing one slightly worse on gas). He drives a good distance to work as well. 99% of the miles with that pickup are just him and the bed empty.
 
When the "truth" is immaterial to the discussion at hand, yes.

You have it backwards. You tried to divert using false statements:

Capitalism! Free Trade! Free Market! Global economy! Deregulation!

It's what Righties have championed all along... It's kinda funny that they'd be whining about the all too predictable results...

It's all Obama's Fault, obviously. Everything. Ask 'em- they'll tell you.

I replied to your false statements with relevant truths.
 
they do it every time people bitch about gas prices. NOTHING will come of it.

I'm all about blaming Obama for stuff but anyone that lives in reality knows that he can't fix the prices.

I remember the last time they were this high, people were calling for them to eliminate taxes, release the reserves, invade a country or two....

But the market is going to do what its going to do. Only OPEC can directly make the prices go up and down and that's not even the whole truth with all the different countries exporting now.
 
I'm all about blaming Obama for stuff but anyone that lives in reality knows that he can't fix the prices.

I remember the last time they were this high, people were calling for them to eliminate taxes, release the reserves, invade a country or two....

But the market is going to do what its going to do. Only OPEC can directly make the prices go up and down and that's not even the whole truth with all the different countries exporting now.

lol i said the same when people where bitching out Bush for it. I got flamed then!


But i agree there is very very little the Pres can do about them.
 
You're severely misinformed if you think any POTUS has any significant control over the price of oil. Exploration is nonsense, it creates no sustainable lower gas prices.
 
You have it backwards. You tried to divert using false statements:



I replied to your false statements with relevant truths.

Hardly. Let's review what you offered-

Obama has publicly stated that he wanted higher gas prices. So did his energy secretary.

Should we bump the threads from the Lefties saying W was making money off high gas prices?

So Obama can change the price of gas? Or is that part of your statement an irrelevant non sequiter? And Bush was criticized when the same thing happened when he was in office, for an even greater price spike? That's relevant?

Like I said- the oil market is probably the "free-est" market on the planet, so Righties should expect periodic episodes of speculation & gouging. That's just the way it works, the way it always has in "Free Markets".
 
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