Help Me Explain This

[kat8585]

How can I explain the rise in gas prices to a liberal who insists it's all because Bush keeps getting richer and richer off of it because he is in with the Saudi's? To hear them tell it, Bush is a heartless devil who gets richer by the day and doesn't care about us little people who have to pay these prices.

I don't understand about this, but Bill O'Reilly did say that the president could do something about it if he only would, a while back.

[warnerfranklin]

How can I explain the rise in gas prices to a liberal who insists it's all because Bush keeps getting richer and richer off of it because he is in with the Saudi's? To hear them tell it, Bush is a heartless devil who gets richer by the day and doesn't care about us little people who have to pay these prices.

I don't understand about this, but Bill O'Reilly did say that the president could do something about it if he only would, a while back.

Well that depends. If they are just Bush haters and won't listen to reason don't bother.

If they are open minded remind them that:

1) due to the ongoing industrialization of China & India the demand and price for fuel has increased accordingly (i.e. economics 101 - simple supply and demand).

2) we have not exploited any of our on resources here in the U.S. for a number of decades (ANWAR, gulf coast, etc).

3) there have not been any new nuke plants, refineries, etc built for a very long time.

4) litigation that prevents the use of alternative fuel sources (nuclear, wind, solar, etc)..

5) continued instability in oil producing countries and a weak dollar has exagerrated the price of fuel.

As far as the president doing anything about fuel prices that is not likely as he has a congress that is dead set against any real solving of the energy crisis.

[Guest]

Well that depends. If they are just Bush haters and won't listen to reason don't bother.

If they are open minded remind them that:

1) due to the ongoing industrialization of China & India the demand and price for fuel has increased accordingly (i.e. economics 101 - simple supply and demand).

2) we have not exploited any of our on resources here in the U.S. for a number of decades (ANWAR, gulf coast, etc).

3) there have not been any new nuke plants, refineries, etc built for a very long time.

4) litigation that prevents the use of alternative fuel sources (nuclear, wind, solar, etc)..

5) continued instability in oil producing countries and a weak dollar has exagerrated the price of fuel.

As far as the president doing anything about fuel prices that is not likely as he has a congress that is dead set against any real solving of the energy crisis.

Exactly!

#1 is one of the main reasons - 2 countries with huge populations wanting to use energy the way we do. 20 years ago, this wasn't and issue, but now economics kicks in.

[Marnie]

No president can do anything about gas prices, unless he gets the government OUT of the oil business all together. Oil is just a commodity and its price is driven by supply and demand. In theory. But, because of government meddling in the energy sector of the economy, imposing ridiculous regulations on gas companies, and because they keep lowering interest rates making our dollar worth less, this commodity keeps going up because: investors are investing in oil to make money, the demand is going up around the world so the price goes up, the law keeps us from drilling in our own country, and, companies are greedy. There's more than enough blame to go around, but it all starts with Uncle Sam who encourages the high price of fuel; an unintended result of their relentless meddling. Think about all the taxes that go into one gallon of gas: there are federal and state taxes mixed in and other fees. Governments can do this because gas is a guaranteed source of income. Geeze, Uncle Sam should change his name of Uncle Mario because, talk about extortion! They're like The Family!

Oil company profits, by the way, come in like waves. Some years they appear make a lot because in that particular cycle they're not searching or developing. Another year the profits seem to be less because during that cycle they are engaged in exploration or whatever. The oil industry is not like any other industry in that their capital expenditures are so high. I don't like to defend them, because like any business, there is an element of greed. Perhaps the greediest industry, though, is not oil industry but agriculture, yet it's not chic to criticize the nation's farmers.

It's unlikely gas prices will ever go back down regardless of what happens in the future. People continue to drive like crazy; most of us have to because we live in rural areas, and gas is not a luxury. America is finally catching up to the rest of the world in terms of gas prices.

[artsylady]

America is finally catching up to the rest of the world in terms of gas prices.

In Canada gas is about 5.10 per gallon and in Europe it was about 10 bucks a gallon. Tell your friend that.

[Marnie]

America is finally catching up to the rest of the world in terms of gas prices.

In Canada gas is about 5.10 per gallon and in Europe it was about 10 bucks a gallon. Tell your friend that.

Yeah, I've traveled in Europe....they have it bad. No wonder they drive around in tin cans with wheels!

[Smalcald]

It is a hard transition but people can and will adjust.

When prices rise we use less and find other alternatives. The problem though is for people who cannot adjust, those on fixed incomes, those who's industry such as trucking relies on oil etc.

I chose to buy a car this year that gets about 35mpg, I used to drive a truck which got closer to 15. I liked my tuck but I am indeed now driving a tin can with wheels! So with double the mileage, I can actually absorb into my budget a doubling of gas prices and still be where I was before.

[WayneB]

How can I explain the rise in gas prices to a liberal who insists it's all because Bush keeps getting richer and richer off of it because he is in with the Saudi's? To hear them tell it, Bush is a heartless devil who gets richer by the day and doesn't care about us little people who have to pay these prices.

I don't understand about this, but Bill O'Reilly did say that the president could do something about it if he only would, a while back.

Well that depends. If they are just Bush haters and won't listen to reason don't bother.

If they are open minded remind them that:

1) due to the ongoing industrialization of China & India the demand and price for fuel has increased accordingly (i.e. economics 101 - simple supply and demand).

2) we have not exploited any of our on resources here in the U.S. for a number of decades (ANWAR, gulf coast, etc).

3) there have not been any new nuke plants, refineries, etc built for a very long time.

4) litigation that prevents the use of alternative fuel sources (nuclear, wind, solar, etc)..

5) continued instability in oil producing countries and a weak dollar has exagerrated the price of fuel.

As far as the president doing anything about fuel prices that is not likely as he has a congress that is dead set against any real solving of the energy crisis.

Good summary of the issue. Pretty much hit all the major talking points.

[Smalcald]

The government can help ease the pain of some of the most severely hurt, but that is all it can ever do. I honestly believe we must stop looking toward the government to solve our problems. I think it gives a feeling of comfort to believe that government can solve big issues, the fact is though it can't do much about commodity prices, nor should it.

Gas prices are indeed spiking. So what can we do, do we have any power as individuals? Yes we do, we can live closer to work, we can drive smaller cars, we can make more money, we can drive less, we have things in our control that we can do. I would rather do these things than nurture the illusion that the government can ever really do anything

[exrockstar]

I'm not a liberal, but I'm inclined to agree with the person you are talking to.

Fact is, in 2005 Oil Companies showed record profits IN SPITE of all the damage the various hurricanes did to refineries and offshore rigs. How is that possible? Simple. They were charging us almost double the fair value of the oil, simply because they found out they could get away with it. And now they found out they can get away with charging twice as much more.

Its STandard Oil + Muslim Oil.

They own everything, either directly, or by proxy. And they'll kill to keep it that way. It HAS happened before.

So many christians vote republican because they are the "conservative" party, but do you actually realize their fiscal policy hurts everybody except the richest people? The only people it helps are your local real estate tyccoon and CEO and a few other people who struck it rich by abusing someone else.

Bush and all your little senators and representatives are either owners of Big Oil, or they are puppets for Big Oil. That's why none of them ever do anything substantive to change the oil situation. They are loving it. They use Oil + that little green thing called a "Dollar" to take us for everything we've got.

if you could go back and time, would you stay awake during High School Economics class or would you still fall asleep?

just curious

by the way, these huge oil companies are traded publicly which means that YOU can take the money you spend on your XBOX and

buy a share of XOM.

People don't save on rainy days and when it rains they get upset with those with umbrellas.