[CD]

Oil and gas prices are through the roof and Obama, Hillary and John just seem to be ignoring it. Gas prices are a major player in our economy with filling the tank on my truck over $60.00 now. Diesel is $3.19 here and gas is over $3.00. Instead, we talk about the war, the plans to spend money we don't have to provide insurance to everyone etc....
I have listened to several debates and not one question about gas prices was asked.

I have either missed it or none of the candidates are addressing it.

[hddoc94565]

Yep you see it, but everyone else is asleep at the switch. The press wont talk about it except to point fingers and try to blame the prez. If you want to blame someone try looking at OPEC the traders on Wall St. and the press for being so biased in their reporting. We can also blame the tree huggers for not allowing us to explore and utilize the resources we have in the good ol USA.
Gas here in Cali is 3.57 for reg and over 4.00 for diesel. Cost me over 100. to fill my truck(its got a 35Gal tank...LOL. But i digress) The biggest culprit in this whole mess is the mainstream press IMO. They report only what they want us to hear, Vilifiy any one that has an opinion that is contrary to theirs. Hell they even manage to pick the candidates in our elections. Think about that one...They start proclaiming whose going to win or lose before the campains even start. If they choose to cover a candidate he might get somewhere. But if they decide your not worthy or you dont follow their agenda, your history, or worse you go unreported. Kiss of death for the candidate. Case in point Fred Thompson. Time to stop listening to those folks and start thinking for ourselves.

[Red Rider]

All three of those pathetic presidential candidates have signed on to the myth of man-made global warming, (Gorbachev's first stop after the collapse of his Soviet Union...hmmm, why? ) so expect gas prices to keep climbing. Heck, there's talk from the dems in Congress of adding another 50cts in tax per gallon, too!

Wish we had a leader with guts that encouraged more nuclear plants be built, allowed new gasoline/deisel refineries to be built (30 years since the last one was) and led the effort to have a sane expansion of drilling in our country. The REAL threat ain't global warming, it is the certain and undeniable approach of a global cooling period (last year was the coldest in a long time, and many of you know this year is matching it from preliminary data). With cooling caused by solar activity that stimulates wider and thicker cloud cover, solar power is reduced, fuel transport is hindered and the world's population will want to stay warm.

Only nuke power has a prayer of giving us what we need. Yet so many folks automatically freak at the mention of it....even though just about all our aircraft carriers and submarines run on it and have safely for over three decades. Why are so many Americans so friggin' STUPID? It is so sad that half the people who saw Jane Fonda smear our efforts in Vietnam and were angry seem to have no problem with her efforts to smear the nuke power effort in The China Syndrome.

[02dyna]

Have to agree with you CD. Today here in Rhode Island $3.18-$$3.30 for the cheapest unleaded I could find. $80.00 to fillup my 26 gal tank in my pick up which will lastme about 5 days round trip to and from work. The only thing the local new is saying is $ 4.00+ by laborday. I know other parts of the country pay this already, but here in new england the general trend has been ( and seems to be continuing) heating oil prices drop drop in the summer and the gas jumps just in time for the travel/tourist season.
It's like they raise the price of gas 25 or 30 cents a gallon, then drop it down 7 or 8 cents and everyone thinks their getting a break.
To your original question, no i have not heard any of the candidates address this. Don't think they will. If they fess up and tell the public the truth they won't be very popular with them. And with looking for support, well you know. Sorry Rant over

[ringo912]

Originally Posted by CD

Oil and gas prices are through the roof and Obama, Hillary and John just seem to be ignoring it. Gas prices are a major player in our economy with filling the tank on my truck over $60.00 now. Diesel is $3.19 here and gas is over $3.00. Instead, we talk about the war, the plans to spend money we don't have to provide insurance to everyone etc....
I have listened to several debates and not one question about gas prices was asked.

I have either missed it or none of the candidates are addressing it.

Gas here in Michigan is $3.30/gal and diesel is $4.60/gal. Yer right, these idiots don't have a clue on what needs to be significant. The time is gettin close for the big R, (revolution) in this country. Are you ready?

[bikerputz]

Record prices / Record profits. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT.

[ringo912]

Originally Posted by bikerputz

Record prices / Record profits. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT.

It's all bullsh$t. These guy's have been making record profits for the last 10 years. Remember, the USA is not a country anymore, it's a corporation. It's all about greed and power. Five percent of the people in this country control eighty percent of the wealth. What's that tell ya?

[maxpower_hd]

I had a brainstorm. I've been asked to work more hours because we are shorthanded at work. I'll start raising my salary by $1.00/hr twice a week. Then when they cut my hours, I'll raise my salary again. Then when they become short handed I'll raise it again. Then when they bitch, I'll lower it to the last price I gave them and they'll think they're saving money.

Sounds fair to me.

[SK]

So..the big 5 oil companies in the US went in front of Congress yesterday and said everything is cyclical, and they're just in a upward trend at the moment. I can't ever remember oil companies losing money, so I don't buy that thought. Supply and demand is obviously playing a huge part as China and India are wanting more and more with their economies booming. I understand oil is a business and when you look at the percentages, their margin of profit isn't really greater than a lot of other commodities. But when you look at the total volume of sales, it's really ridiculous. The pharmaceutical industry has a much lower margin of profit (due mostly because research and development to create the next big drug is so costly).

I think we need to drop the tax breaks given to the oil companies (who are supposedly using the savings to invest in renewable and alternative energy) and just use that money to make sure we invest in others types of energy. No doubt we'll be relying on oil energy for decades to come, but while new alternatives will be costly at first, they'll become more economical the more is spreads. In the mean time..we have HUGE oil deposits just off-shore of California we need to tap into..Alaska too.

I also don't mind buying up Iranian oil big time (which is a current US policy with an ulterior motive). They're going to run out of oil as their deposits are becoming limited in the next decade at the rate they're pumping it out of the ground..then they'll be broke and won't be able to afford nuclear development.

[CD]

Originally Posted by SK

So..the big 5 oil companies in the US went in front of Congress yesterday and said everything is cyclical, and they're just in a upward trend at the moment. I can't ever remember oil companies losing money, so I don't buy that thought. Supply and demand is obviously playing a huge part as China and India are wanting more and more with their economies booming. I understand oil is a business and when you look at the percentages, their margin of profit isn't really greater than a lot of other commodities. But when you look at the total volume of sales, it's really ridiculous. The pharmaceutical industry has a much lower margin of profit (due mostly because research and development to create the next big drug is so costly).

I think we need to drop the tax breaks given to the oil companies (who are supposedly using the savings to invest in renewable and alternative energy) and just use that money to make sure we invest in others types of energy. No doubt we'll be relying on oil energy for decades to come, but while new alternatives will be costly at first, they'll become more economical the more is spreads. In the mean time..we have HUGE oil deposits just off-shore of California we need to tap into..Alaska too.

I also don't mind buying up Iranian oil big time (which is a current US policy with an ulterior motive). They're going to run out of oil as their deposits are becoming limited in the next decade at the rate they're pumping it out of the ground..then they'll be broke and won't be able to afford nuclear development.

I saw that on CNN. Talk about a bunch of smug a#%^$whipes! When asked if they would consider suspending the record profits.. silence for 15 seconds. Only smug looks of "you can't touch me". Later, a Shell executive said we should use less gas... Doh!

[ringo912]

Originally Posted by SK

So..the big 5 oil companies in the US went in front of Congress yesterday and said everything is cyclical, and they're just in a upward trend at the moment. I can't ever remember oil companies losing money, so I don't buy that thought. Supply and demand is obviously playing a huge part as China and India are wanting more and more with their economies booming. I understand oil is a business and when you look at the percentages, their margin of profit isn't really greater than a lot of other commodities. But when you look at the total volume of sales, it's really ridiculous. The pharmaceutical industry has a much lower margin of profit (due mostly because research and development to create the next big drug is so costly).

I think we need to drop the tax breaks given to the oil companies (who are supposedly using the savings to invest in renewable and alternative energy) and just use that money to make sure we invest in others types of energy. No doubt we'll be relying on oil energy for decades to come, but while new alternatives will be costly at first, they'll become more economical the more is spreads. In the mean time..we have HUGE oil deposits just off-shore of California we need to tap into..Alaska too.

I also don't mind buying up Iranian oil big time (which is a current US policy with an ulterior motive). They're going to run out of oil as their deposits are becoming limited in the next decade at the rate they're pumping it out of the ground..then they'll be broke and won't be able to afford nuclear development.

They won't be broke, they are using the billions they have been making buying up as much as they can in the US. They might be out of oil in 10 years but it won't matter. They will own a major chunk of the US economy by then. As always, money is power, and with power comes ownership and the authority to make changes to further your agenda.

[FLHTbiker]

Diesel here in Oregon is now $3.99 a gal. and we have parked our Diesel for the time being. I read today that Obama is looking to bring Gore into his cabinet if elected. If he is the next President and Gore is on his team then you can forget about adding any offshore drilling off California or Alaska.

[SPORSTERBOY]

Don't Get It Either, They All Talk About Politics That Don't Matter. You Would Think If They Want A Vote, At Least They Could Lie To Us About Lowering Oil, Gas Prices. Don't Know How In 8 Years It Can Increase 400 Percent. I Remember 99 Cents A Gallon In 2000. And It Took What, A 100 Years And How Many Wars, And Hurricans To Get There? Things That Make You Go Hum?

[AFNurse]

I am not FOR big business, but I think this is truely sad.... The GOVERNMENT is questioning businesses on their practices...... ok, I can see getting rid of the tax incentives..... but I pose this question.... Who do you think the responsibility falls on to DEVELOPE alternate fuels??? The OIL industry??? No wonder they looked so smug.... they are private business (or at least not Government run). That is like telling a carpenter that because HE builds houses, that he now has to develop a new way to dig and place foundations...... That is just not HIS part of the job....he works with wood..... Oil industry does oil....can they help it if America in her greed for self gratification has done NOTHING in developing alternatives? Oil is now looking more like supply and demand....makes sense to me...you want it, you pay for it. Just think about what would happen if you could get ALL the farmers of the USA to actually CONTROL the amount of dairy, grain, and meat they produce.....where do you think the price for dairy, meat, and grains would go???? WAY up!!! limited supply will either force finding alternatives or drive up the cost (or both). Oh, and I do TRUELY HATE paying the prices at the pumps right now......

[FLHTbiker]

I think its total abuse of the private business system and it shows their worst side. When a private business or businesses can effectively control and greatly affect the economy of this country then yes something needs to be done. The freight haulers (truckers) who many are independent haulers who transport the majority of the consumer goods of this country are now being forced out of business due to the extreme high cost of fuel then again I say its time for something to step in. The oil companies remind me of the Mafia who had control of many things and were brought down by the government. The big difference I see is the oil companies due it legally but still, is it right.

I know for us we are having to really think about what were going to do and is the cost of the fuel worth it. I've heard people in our HOG chapter say they won't be doing as much riding or going to a even due to the cost of fuel, now that just plain sucks especially just so certain private companies can continue to make exceedingly high profits.

[ironhorse]

what i am thinking is that it is slowly becoming the" each for thier own screw the other guy states of america, mexico, japan, china, korea, kwait" instead of the united states of america. with the credit feasco, fuel costs, gang bs, school violance, war, middle east finance, so on and so on. it is a matter of time and it will come to a head. and only the strong will survive. I INTEND ON BEING ONE OF THE STRONG!

[SK]

Originally Posted by FLHTbiker

The freight haulers (truckers) who many are independent haulers who transport the majority of the consumer goods of this country are now being forced out of business due to the extreme high cost of fuel then again I say its time for something to step in.

And that..is whey pretty much everything we buy is going up in price big time.

I understand that gas is actually cheaper here than most places, especially Europe. I don't mind paying a little more, but I'd like to see our infrastructure (highways and byways) improved greatly with added tax. That's not happening. It's mostly going back to the oil companies and Bush cronies.

[Art_NJr]

Originally Posted by SPORSTERBOY

Don't Get It Either, They All Talk About Politics That Don't Matter. You Would Think If They Want A Vote, At Least They Could Lie To Us About Lowering Oil, Gas Prices. Don't Know How In 8 Years It Can Increase 400 Percent. I Remember 99 Cents A Gallon In 2000. And It Took What, A 100 Years And How Many Wars, And Hurricans To Get There? Things That Make You Go Hum?

I remember diesel @ 17.9 cents/gallon, regular @ 19.9 & "ethyl" @ 21.9 (dating myself ain't I) & it would take a LOT more space than I have available here to explain why prices are what they are today, but I do know & will just list a few points. I have been researching such things going on 17 years & my Dad taught Post-Graduate Economics for 27, so perhaps I might have learned a little something & unfortunately, you'd have to do as much research as I have to verify the points - but the facts are in university & law libraries. There's a great deal on the internet too, but you have to go thru a ton of actual documents 1st to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.

1) The Federal Reserve ("Fed"), created by an Act of Congress in 1913, which delegated Congress' Constitutional authority to "coin money, and regulate the value thereof", is neither federal nor a reserve - it is NOT a Gov't. agency, never has been & doesn't even claim to be. It creates "money" out of thin air & the whole "fiat money, fractional reserve banking" system is a fraud, mathematically doomed to failure.

2) It only took from 1914, when the Fed opened it's doors, until 1933 to bankrupt the U.S. Many say there was an official "bankruptcy" but that's not true. But what is true is "The Bank Holiday of 1933" & that is something I highly recommend studying. In brief, right after FDR took office as president, he got a memo from the Fed Chairman who feared a "run" on the banks & for good reason - the Fed had put so many notes into circulation, supposedly backed by real gold, that there was only 40 cents on the dollar to back the notes up (look @ a dollar bill - says Federal Reserve Note, doesn't it?) & if the general public found out about that, to use Henry Ford's words, "I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning". FDR did what he was told - the banks closed for a few days (9-13 March 1933) & when they re-opened, the laws had been changed - unconstitutionally.

3) By definition, a "note" has no real value of its own, but it's supposed to represent something of real value (doesn't have to be gold) & the note can be a dollar bill, a check, any number of things. As long as you can exchange that note for something of real value (i.e. food, gasoline), then that note is "money". Remember this if you remember nothing else - "Money is merely a medium of exchange for goods & services."

4) But we tend to think backwards - simple example - if a dozen e