Need To Vent

[MasterChief]

When you buy a Heavy Duty Truck you shouldn't complain about the mileage, so if I am getting 15mpg or 20mpg I'm fine with that.



What I'm not fine with is paying $4. 00 a gallon for Diesel

Someone please tell me if I crazy but were getting ripped off and those wonderful public servants in Washington would rather spend their time investigating wether or not base ball players are using steroids, when they should be getting a handle these fuel prices. This much I promise you, I will not vote for one single incumbent until they start getting their act together.

"AND I DO VOTE"



Thanks for listening, I feel better

Mike

 

[Dieselnut59]

When you buy a Heavy Duty Truck you shouldn't complain about the mileage, so if I am getting 15mpg or 20mpg I'm fine with that.



What I'm not fine with is paying $4. 00 a gallon for Diesel

Someone please tell me if I crazy but were getting ripped off and those wonderful public servants in Washington would rather spend their time investigating wether or not base ball players are using steroids, when they should be getting a handle these fuel prices. This much I promise you, I will not vote for one single incumbent until they start getting their act together.

"AND I DO VOTE"



Thanks for listening, I feel better

Mike

Do you think it is really the job of the government to regulate oil prices? The same government who is making a HUGE profit on fuel they have NOTHING to do with producing? I can see if you are saying they should lower fuel taxes and the sales tax on fuel (which goes up as fuel goes up) but if the raw oil is going up in price, the finished product will go up in price. The government has no place in business. Just look at what they do have their hands in: Government education. It sure can't do that one right!!

 

[HBarlow]

It is not the responsibility of the blow dried empty suit phonies in DC to regulate fuel prices.



Do you want similar results to what the EPA has given us?



The strength of the world's largest economy depends on the individual efforts of millions of individuals acting in their own best interest in a free market economy.

 

[sstefanini]

Considering how badly we're getting screwed right now, maybe the government should regulate oil prices. After all it is the only energy product that doesn't see any regulation. Your electricity generator/provider and natural gas suppliers would love to get in on these profits but the government (PSC) won't allow unjustified rate increases.

 

[TFucili]

You absolutely would regret Uncle Sam regulating petro prices, HOWEVER some oversight of the shady business of energy trading would be a good thing. Unlike stocks and bonds, a good portion of the energy trades are done behind a curtain. Google "Enron Loophole" and read up a bit. It is not about the executives bilking the investors and employees. It is about their creating the means to "rig the table", and that is not a good thing. It would not be socialistic to have oversight! Sunlight is the best antiseptic.



Price floors, price ceilings, and onerous involvement of the DC carpetbaggers would only make things worse. Never underestimate the ability of the government to gum up the works.

 

[Dbonzi]

Oh my god!!! To all you people with blinders on wake up!!!!

Our dollar is worth next to nothing. That is the feds fault. Which our govenment allows to control this nation. If our dollar can only buy 2/3 what is used to, everything will cost 1/3 more. I am so tired of people thinking our govenment is doing us a favor. They could hoestly care less. The sooner people come to grips with this the sooner they will be able to do some simple google searches and really find out what is going on. It is not that hard people. Check out some of the criminal activity the federal reserve has pulled.



The federal reserve is not part of our government, but controls all of the power of this country. Also do a search on how much gold is actually in our reserve.

 

[robrien]

Mike, I'm with you. The government does have the duty to protect its citizens, this would include being ripped off by commodities speculators and foriegn governments (ie: OPEC nations). I do not what our goverment to regulate oil, but rather regulate the commodities traders and start grabbing their manhood, stand up to OPEC and those who oppose drilling on our lands. While the devaluation of the dollar will raise prices on products like foriegn oil, I do not buy into our government and Wall Street's B. S. . Face it were all being taken for a ride and our own government is in on it. As for voting, again I'm with you there Mike.



Okay, I'll get off my soap box.

_____________________________________________________________

08 Dodge Ram 3500 QC, SRW, LB, 6. 7 CTD, 6 SPD Auto, Ex-Brake

 

[HBarlow]

One of the amazing little details that is rarely mentioned when people rant and rave about issues such as the high and rising price of motor fuels is that most of the folks who rant and rave the loudest also vote for the political party that creates or exacerbates the problem.



Since this is not the political forum I won't spell it out for you.



Another comment: for those of you who want government to take over or regulate certain industries do you realize the effect of your proposal? If the government did regulate the oil industry to reduce the cost of gas and diesel fuel the government could not reduce the cost of crude oil because we must buy that from other countries. So what does that leave? The profits of the oil companies which belong to millions of Americans and make up their pension funds, 401k plans, and individual stock portfolios. The next item on the list that would be cut would be the wages and salaries of possibly one million blue collar working men and women who explore, drill, produce, transport, refine, and otherwise earn their livings in the oil industry.



How would you like to have the government step in and regulate the industry you work in... set and reduce your wages?

 

[RGardner]

A very common misconception is that the government is making more money on fuel taxes as fuel price increases, the federal fuel taxes are a cents per gallon tax and have nothing to do with the price of fuel. I agree that the government should not be setting the price of fuel but they do have a responsibility to protect the average citizen from abuse by big business.

 

[HBarlow]

very common misconception is that the government is making more they do have a responsibility to protect the average citizen from abuse by big business.

I don't remember reading that clause in the US Constitution.



And who gets to define "abuse by big business?"



The ONLY thing the "government" is capable of doing well is running the armed forces and that is only because elected politicians and politician appointed bureaucrats are not permitted to run the military branches. In the military promotions are based on merit under extremelyi demanding circumstances in the case of senior officers.

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

While our Diesel fuel costs us over $4. 00/Gallon the UK is paying over $9. 00/gallon... . and that's in US dollars. Imagine paying nearly $300. 00 US dollars to fill your tank? Ouch! We've still got it better than most other places. Fuel prices are going to keep going up until consumption drops. Oil producing Nations would be fools to do anything else.

Nobody wants to hear it, including me, but I believe that it's the truth of the matter.

Joe

 

[nickleinonen]

While our Diesel fuel costs us over $4. 00/Gallon the UK is paying over $9. 00/gallon... . and that's in US dollars. Imagine paying nearly $300. 00 US dollars to fill your tank? Ouch! We've still got it better than most other places. Fuel prices are going to keep going up until consumption drops. Oil producing Nations would be fools to do anything else.

Nobody wants to hear it, including me, but I believe that it's the truth of the matter.

Joe

it goes that high, my isbe is going out and a p pump 4bta is going in...

 

[CSnyder]

While our Diesel fuel costs us over $4. 00/Gallon the UK is paying over $9. 00/gallon... . and that's in US dollars. Imagine paying nearly $300. 00 US dollars to fill your tank? Ouch! We've still got it better than most other places. Fuel prices are going to keep going up until consumption drops. Oil producing Nations would be fools to do anything else.

Nobody wants to hear it, including me, but I believe that it's the truth of the matter.

Joe

Joe, good point but you also have to consider that you could take one of our trucks over there and circle the entire border of the country on one tank of fuel. I am a US citizen but I was born in Germany and have spent about a total of 9 years of my 35 years there and with the way this country is going Im very tempted to pack my personal belongings and head over the pond permanently. The US is headed for another depression and I want no part of it!

 

[HBarlow]

I haven't checked personally but there are probably connecting flights available from Des Moines back to Germany. So long and best wishes.

 

[AMink]

What the gov't has to do is allow drilling on OUR soil (and water). The oil is there. Right now, China is drilling off the Florida coast in Cuban waters. But we have too many kissbutt, greenloving, nutless wonders in Washington to allow us to do what is best for this country. We need to get oil from Mexico. It's a crime, literally, that all those folks are crossing our borders in the first place. If we go a barrel of oil per illegal per day, we'd have 12+ million barrels per day. I know that sounds far fetched, but why should we be getting the "job" with nothing in return?



As it is, people are going to cut back on travel. Small towns that depend on the tourist industry will suffer, along with all the towns on the way to the tourist towns. What happens to those people? They go on the public dole and our taxes go up to support them. I can see a bigtime crash coming soon. :{

 

[robrien]

Last year when oil was $55. 00 per barrel a lot of individuals were able to enjoy their retirement and travel. Oil has since increased 100%, what about their retirement benefits? How many of these individuals who worked hard all their lifes to be able to retire and travel or drive the vehicles they love, can no longer afford to because the price of oil has doubled.



Are there really 1 millon people who would lose there jobs or benefits by regulating the commodities brokers who are responsible for a major mark up of oil and telling OPEC to pound sand. I think not! And those retired individuals, they're probably lucky if they saw a 2 or 3 precent increase in their retirement benefits, yet some schmucks sitting behind a desk on wall street or in Saudi Arabia can without a whim increase the price of oil. Should we regulate, hell YES! If there were oil shortages I could understand the inflated price of oil, but theres not. When was the last time you went into a fueling station and they were out of fuel? Hum, I remember is was in the seveties. And that was because of an oil embargo, and mostly it was a problem because people panicked and bought out of fear instead of need.



Remember back in February when oil hit the $100. 00 a barrel record, 1 person, a commodities broker, was the cause of oil first reaching $100. 00 per barrel. He stated his reasoning was "just to see if he be the first do it" and he did. That is way to much power for one person or organization to have. That's not free enterprise thats outright greed.



Whatever the rationale of financial people to say oil was more expensive in the 70's then today, when you factor in inflation is B. S. I don't buy it. I like most americans feel it in my wallet and no wall street puke or government official is going to convince me otherwise.

 

[HBarlow]

Regulate the oil industry and you will see fuel stations with no fuel. Guaranteed!



Big oil companies make approximately a 10% profit on their products. Impose regulation that reduced their prices 10% or more and their profit is gone. What possible reason would there be for a big oil company to continue producing gas and diesel if it is unprofitable?

 

[robrien]

I did not mean to imply that the oil companys needed to be regulated. I agree if you regulate them more it would make things worse. When you look at there profit margins they actually are reasonable. I am for regulating the commodities brokers for the reasons stated in my last reply.



I am also for opening up our nations oil supplies. Drilling for oil can be done with minimal impact on the enviroment. In the grand scheme of things as why our government may not push the issue, when OPEC and other countries have depleted there reserves we will still have ours.

 

[Dieselnut59]

A very common misconception is that the government is making more money on fuel taxes as fuel price increases, the federal fuel taxes are a cents per gallon tax and have nothing to do with the price of fuel. I agree that the government should not be setting the price of fuel but they do have a responsibility to protect the average citizen from abuse by big business.

I was speaking of state sales tax, like my state (Georgia) charges at a rate of 7%. Doing the math, 7% added onto fuel at $1 a gallon is 7 cents, fuel at $4 a gallon is 28 cents. Yep, more profit for the government, who has nothing in producing or providing the product. That is a crock!