Quote from rew:
A popular myth in America is that if only we drilled a lot more oil here gas prices would plunge. The reality is that the price of oil is determined by world supply and world demand. If we doubled our oil production (a wildly optimistic scenario) that would result in a modest percentage increase in global oil production (perhaps enough to offset declining oil fields in Saudi Arabia, Russia, Mexico, and elsewhere). But global demand for oil will continue to soar thanks to the increasing fraction of Indians and Chinese who are joining the middle class. The combined population of India and China (about 2.5 billion) ensures that this phenomenon will overwhelm whatever steps we take here in America.
Drilling for more oil here will help with our trade deficit, and will provide some jobs here. But if you expect to see $2.50 gas again you are dreaming.
Quote from nutmeg:
You know what's conpsicously absent?
Not much outrage from the trucking industry about fuel prices.
Remember back in the day, the truckers might stop driving for a day protest high prices.
The trucking industry must be hedged, maybe speculating themselves, ya think?
What's deisel these days, $4.25? getting about 2-3 mpg. Woo hoo!
Quote from pspr:
The solutions are right in front of us, but this administration flatly refuses to explore them
Quote from cgroupman:
Good points, and as I said, we enjoy very low gas prices. Much like taxes I guess, even though they're low in comparison to the rest of the world, or history, we are pretty spoiled.
Several good discussions lately based on what others are paying. Some say we are becoming a welfare nation, well, in this regard, we are a spoiled nation IMO.
c
Quote from peilthetraveler:
Ugg...I absolutely hate this but its something I have to admit. I actually agree with the president on his policies about not letting us drill for oil on our own soil right now. Its pretty obvious that oil consumption is getting larger year after year around the world and it makes oil more expensive, but oil isnt going to be around forever. Obviously the president is lying because he cant tell the truth about why he really doesnt want us drilling for oil. And thats this simple truth. Better to use the OTHER guys oil while its still cheap, and then when they run out and have nothing left, we still have trillions of barrels of shale oil.
Think of it like 2 guys on a desert Island and both have 5 orange each. I'm going to buy the other guys oranges for $2 each until he is out of oranges. Then when he wants an orange, I'm going to charge $50 each. Pretty smart really.
Quote from 377OHMS:
I noticed that too when fuel prices went up dramatically during Bush's second term. I kept thinking the truckers would protest or otherwise start raising holy hell....nothing. Not a peep out of the truckers.
I think the trucking firms simply pass those fuel costs along in the form of transport costs their clients. Those clients simply pass the additional cost onto the consumer. The consumer just stupidly pays the increased prices and doesn't necessarily attribute them to fuel or anything else specific.
Quote from denner:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23903144/ns/business-oil_and_energy/t/truckers-protest-high-fuel-prices/
The independent truck drivers took it up the arse. There was plenty of discussion of this back in 2008.
Quote from Max E. Pad:
There isnt much Obama can do to drive down oil prices, but what i find funny is that his response has been "if you dont like oil prices eliminate the subsidies" as if increasing the tax burden is going to lower the cost of oil.
Im actually in favour of eliminating oil subsidies(as i want a fair tax code) but i find it funny that is what obamas response is, as if punishing oil companies is going to bring the cost down......
Canada soaks the oil companies with taxes, and the cost of gas in Canada is a dollar more per gallon than the U.S. even though Canada has all the oil, so americans better be ready to pay for it if we get Obamas way and start hammering the oil companies with new taxes......