Comments on: The Real Reason Why Gas Prices are Increasing http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/ Conservative and Libertarian Intellectual Philosophy and Politics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Democrats Disguising Real Reasons for High Gas Prices – Rachel Alexander – Townhall Conservative « Gds44's Blog http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-86921 Democrats Disguising Real Reasons for High Gas Prices – Rachel Alexander – Townhall Conservative « Gds44's Blog Tue, 17 May 2011 15:01:01 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-86921 [...] is déjà vu this year with gasoline prices, which are currently hovering around a high of $4 a gallon. Every [...] [...] is déjà vu this year with gasoline prices, which are currently hovering around a high of $4 a gallon. Every [...]

]]> By: Democrats Disguising Real Reasons for High Gas Prices | Tea Party Tribune - Tea Party & Political News http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-86914 Democrats Disguising Real Reasons for High Gas Prices | Tea Party Tribune - Tea Party & Political News Mon, 16 May 2011 21:03:10 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-86914 [...] Real Reasons for High Gas Prices Written by Rachel Alexander Editorials May 16, 2011 It is déjà vu this year with gasoline prices, which are currently hovering around a high of $4 a gallon. Every [...] [...] Real Reasons for High Gas Prices Written by Rachel Alexander Editorials May 16, 2011 It is déjà vu this year with gasoline prices, which are currently hovering around a high of $4 a gallon. Every [...]

]]> By: Democrats Disguising Real Reasons for High Gas Prices | Parcbench http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-86912 Democrats Disguising Real Reasons for High Gas Prices | Parcbench Mon, 16 May 2011 18:06:11 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-86912 [...] is déjà vu this year with gasoline prices, which are currently hovering around a high of $4 a gallon. Every [...] [...] is déjà vu this year with gasoline prices, which are currently hovering around a high of $4 a gallon. Every [...]

]]> By: Democrats Disguising Real Reasons for High Gas Prices | Right Wing News http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-86911 Democrats Disguising Real Reasons for High Gas Prices | Right Wing News Mon, 16 May 2011 18:05:33 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-86911 [...] is déjà vu this year with gasoline prices, which are currently hovering around a high of $4 a gallon. Every [...] [...] is déjà vu this year with gasoline prices, which are currently hovering around a high of $4 a gallon. Every [...]

]]> By: Jack http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-12811 Jack Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:36:30 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-12811 Until someone is willing to say straight out that the ever rising price of oil/gasoline is a planned strategy to encourage people to cluster in cities, in apartments, close to jobs and to also empoverish them, no one will 'understand' the higher oil costs. Oil is the one commodity that raises the cost of food, clothing energy for homes and cars and housing. The fact that all levels of government tax it also adds to its ability to cluster wealth in the hands of the few while impoverishing the many. Until someone is willing to say straight out that the ever rising price of oil/gasoline is a planned strategy to encourage people to cluster in cities, in apartments, close to jobs and to also empoverish them, no one will ‘understand’ the higher oil costs. Oil is the one commodity that raises the cost of food, clothing energy for homes and cars and housing. The fact that all levels of government tax it also adds to its ability to cluster wealth in the hands of the few while impoverishing the many.

]]> By: Greg in NY http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-2918 Greg in NY Tue, 09 May 2006 22:16:42 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-2918 In reality, the best anyone can do is theroize why gas prices are so high. Ms. Alexander is a lawyer. Oil markets are well outside of her expertise. Her therory may be right, partially correct or completely incorrect. Chances are, the truth is somewhere between her theroy and the theroy that we're being screwed by big oil. That said, one thing is certain. We need to develop alternative energy sources. We will run out of oil someday. Oil finances, enables and propagates our problems in the Middle East. Cut off our need for their oil and we'll go a long way to solving the problems facing us. I believe cheaper energy alternatives can be developed, but we have to demand that it happen. Playing the "conservate position" vs the "liberal position" solves nothing. That's a game that politicians play to keep the electorate blind and ignorant. Until we mature beyond the label game, we are screwed...not by big oil, or enviromentalists, but by the political machine itself. Greg in NY In reality, the best anyone can do is theroize why gas prices are so high. Ms. Alexander is a lawyer. Oil markets are well outside of her expertise. Her therory may be right, partially correct or completely incorrect. Chances are, the truth is somewhere between her theroy and the theroy that we’re being screwed by big oil.

That said, one thing is certain. We need to develop alternative energy sources. We will run out of oil someday. Oil finances, enables and propagates our problems in the Middle East. Cut off our need for their oil and we’ll go a long way to solving the problems facing us.

I believe cheaper energy alternatives can be developed, but we have to demand that it happen. Playing the “conservate position” vs the “liberal position” solves nothing. That’s a game that politicians play to keep the electorate blind and ignorant. Until we mature beyond the label game, we are screwed…not by big oil, or enviromentalists, but by the political machine itself.

Greg in NY

]]> By: David Roney http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-2906 David Roney Mon, 08 May 2006 22:18:30 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-2906 Gas is not expensive, it just costs more. It costs less than milk, and milk isn't extracted from the bottom of the ocean nor deep in the earth. It isn't refined or shipped around the world either. Why no protest against the price of milk? Funny how people only complain about prices when they buy, not sell. I don't know a single seller, who sold their home during the housing boom, who turned around and offered a rebate to the buyer after closing because they felt they were gouging them. The only reason we feel gas prices are high is becasue WE need it. It's pure selfcenteredness, and is the result of the same. Had we been willing to take more time to vote for decent candidates, to perhaps conserve, to allow refineries in our own backyard, to fight against the idiocy of a dozen different regional fuel mixtures, we might have averted some of the current pain. But we were too busy. Who's to blame for this mess? Us! Gas is not expensive, it just costs more. It costs less than milk, and milk isn’t extracted from the bottom of the ocean nor deep in the earth. It isn’t refined or shipped around the world either. Why no protest against the price of milk?

Funny how people only complain about prices when they buy, not sell. I don’t know a single seller, who sold their home during the housing boom, who turned around and offered a rebate to the buyer after closing because they felt they were gouging them.

The only reason we feel gas prices are high is becasue WE need it. It’s pure selfcenteredness, and is the result of the same. Had we been willing to take more time to vote for decent candidates, to perhaps conserve, to allow refineries in our own backyard, to fight against the idiocy of a dozen different regional fuel mixtures, we might have averted some of the current pain. But we were too busy. Who’s to blame for this mess? Us!

]]> By: John http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-2762 John Thu, 04 May 2006 20:40:46 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-2762 Mike's comments on the gas price going up before we actually start using the more expensive crude, and coming down way after the price of crude has dropped is spot on the money. The more the price of crude fluctuates, the more opportunities the oil companies / gas stations have of riding this wave. I work for an oil and gas company as a Systems Administrator. I don't know the 'ins and outs' of the whole trade, but one interesting thing that I have noticed is that when crude was between $10 and $15 a barrel in 2000 - 2001, the Unleaded futures price on the New York Merchantile Exchange, and the price at the pump differed by between 10 and 15 cents per gallon. The difference now, since prices started skyrocketing, is between 90 and 95 cents per gallon. To me, that is a HUGE difference, and smacks of profiteering somewhere along the line. I can understand the argument of profit percentages bringing in more per gallon as there are more dollars involved in that gallon, but the difference I have just pointed out defies explanation. To me it reeks of a ripoff! I would love to hear you explain THAT one away Ms. Alexander! Mike's comments on the gas price going up before we actually start using the more expensive crude, and coming down way after the price of crude has dropped is spot on the money. The more the price of crude fluctuates, the more opportunities the oil companies / gas stations have of riding this wave. I work for an oil and gas company as a Systems Administrator. I don't know the 'ins and outs' of the whole trade, but one interesting thing that I have noticed is that when crude was between $10 and $15 a barrel in 2000 – 2001, the Unleaded futures price on the New York Merchantile Exchange, and the price at the pump differed by between 10 and 15 cents per gallon. The difference now, since prices started skyrocketing, is between 90 and 95 cents per gallon. To me, that is a HUGE difference, and smacks of profiteering somewhere along the line. I can understand the argument of profit percentages bringing in more per gallon as there are more dollars involved in that gallon, but the difference I have just pointed out defies explanation. To me it reeks of a ripoff! I would love to hear you explain THAT one away Ms. Alexander!

]]> By: Mike on LI http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-2739 Mike on LI Thu, 04 May 2006 13:24:53 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-2739 Great essay.  It's nice to read straight ahead information.   Record profits, 18 gazabillion dollars, people like Chuck Schumer popping up making another stupid demagogery comment, 'news' programs comparing cost per gallon for bottled water & olive oil, the cost in Eurpope (don't you have to add in for Americans the cost of health care and factor in the borderline-evil medical experience for Europeans to get a reasonable comparison?), and then finally I had to look up for myself what percentage of sales these record profits were - 9.something - not exactly 'record profits' for any industry. State tax where I live on a gallon of gas is about 53 cents - that's about DOUBLE the oil company profit.  What does that add up to in a quarter?  Great essay.  It's nice to read straight ahead information.   Record profits, 18 gazabillion dollars, people like Chuck Schumer popping up making another stupid demagogery comment, 'news' programs comparing cost per gallon for bottled water & olive oil, the cost in Eurpope (don't you have to add in for Americans the cost of health care and factor in the borderline-evil medical experience for Europeans to get a reasonable comparison?), and then finally I had to look up for myself what percentage of sales these record profits were – 9.something – not exactly 'record profits' for any industry. State tax where I live on a gallon of gas is about 53 cents – that's about DOUBLE the oil company profit.  What does that add up to in a quarter? 

]]> By: Mike http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/05/02/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/comment-page-1/#comment-2719 Mike Thu, 04 May 2006 04:43:49 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-real-reason-why-gas-prices-are-increasing/#comment-2719 This is a strawman - the issue is *profits,* not price. People generally understand that gas pricing is influenced by the cost of oil. Profits, however, are not. Oil company profits go up because they increase the pump price of gas before the actual production and distribution costs can possibly flow through the system. To put it another way, the gas at a gas station was produced and distributed at a point in time when the price of oil was lower, but the pump price is increased nonetheless. Then, when gas prices go down, they never quite go down to where they were before, regardless of actual costs. This is a strawman – the issue is *profits,* not price. People generally understand that gas pricing is influenced by the cost of oil. Profits, however, are not. Oil company profits go up because they increase the pump price of gas before the actual production and distribution costs can possibly flow through the system. To put it another way, the gas at a gas station was produced and distributed at a point in time when the price of oil was lower, but the pump price is increased nonetheless. Then, when gas prices go down, they never quite go down to where they were before, regardless of actual costs.

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