Enough WHINING about oil already!

[Texas Diesel]

Just my opinion. I'm sure few will like it.

Honn, this is not about US it's about THEM (oil companies) using any excuse to raise prices. They are posting and boasting about RECORD profits. PROFIT, the difference between cost and selling price.



Have you ever thought that we shouldn't be paying for lift pump replacements? Or VP-44 failures? How about warranty denials because we "modified" the truck with an EGT gauge? I remember a member that had that happen.



When our LP fails should we just trade the Cummins off on a Ford? Or complain and try to fix the problem?



Using your logic we would just trade for a Duramax when the trac bar fails, or LP or VP die.



We dent need to move to Australia, we need to FIX the problem here in the USA.



WE THE PEOPLE should come to mind. We need to protest, demonstrate, boycott or vote out politicians and replace them with ones that WILL fix the problem.



My prediction, learn to live with getting raped by the oil companies. GW cant run again, so being friendly to big oil, expect prices to stay $3+ for 2. 5 years. As the election gets near the Demo's will promise lower oil prices to get the vote. GW will get his big oil friends to lower retail a bit to help the Repubs.



Unless the movement to impeach GW gains any strength...

 

[TSpecht]

Texas Diesel do you truly honestly believe the Democrats want to see lower fuel prices? While some Republicans have or at least had ties to the oil industry (like I'm sure a few Dem's do too but that's beside the point), some Democrats have ties to the environmental extremist industry. These people want to see the price of fuel remain high so more Americans are forced to conserve. I bet you'll never hear the Sierra Club, et al lobbying for better prices of fuel, so you'll probably not see their puppets pushing for that either.

Plus the Government should not step in and fix the price of fuel because then we wind up with the problem of shortages. Basic economics comes to mind here. Setting the price floor typically hurts service rather than helps it. I honestly believe we're better off than we'd be if the Government stuck their hands in the cookie jar too. Look how efficient the Government is with other things they do. It just reeks of inefficiency.

Regarding the oil companies' profits, perhaps they're posting profits because it's their job? If more refineries were to open prices would drop. If more refineries were to open their profits would drop dramatically and that isn't what the shareholders want. And since they're private companies, it is their every right to make whatever profit they can. If you want to start your own, you're welcome to it, and I think everyone should, just to see how much it costs to design a plant, get the permits, the testing, and fire it up, not to mention train people. You can thank the Democrats and radical environmentalists for that too. I still think we should annex part of Mexico and use that to put refineries on, since they don't have to deal with the EPA and all it's ridiculousness.

 

[Hohn]

When our LP fails should we just trade the Cummins off on a Ford? Or complain and try to fix the problem?



Using your logic we would just trade for a Duramax when the trac bar fails, or LP or VP die.

No, that's not logic at all, and you should be able to see that.



Using MY logic, when you don't like paying $100 to fill up the truck that you use mostly as a commuter, go trade it in on some little Honda that gets 40mpg+.



Honestly, your post is completely out of left field and has absolutely nothing to do with what I said at all.



You are right about one thing, we need to fix the problem here. Pi$$ing and moaning about it does nothing to fix it. Neither would moving to Australia or whatever other left-field ideas someone may hatch.



The answer to high oil prices just can't be any simpler: use less, and make more!!



So, on the "use less" front, it means driving a vehicle that matches your needs. Using a CTD as a commuter is not the best fit for the job. Now some people may be forced to by their need for a truck for RVing or what have you-- but those are also luxuries. Those are also things that can be sacrificed if you must to be able to get by.



On the "make more" front, we need be enacting policies that are friendly to oil producers. We need to make it cheaper and easier for refineries to be built and placed into service.





Someone please explain to me the logic of killing the goose that lays the goldern eggs, here. I mean, if we NEED oil, then why be ANTI-oil company??? Where ELSE are you going to get the oil products you need????



C'mon people, let's put aside the emotional crying and whining, and THINK about this!!

 

[CIverson]

One limiting factor to lowering prices with more production, is that there is only so much oil able to be pumped a day currently. At least that's what I heard on the news the other day (boone pickens or something like that). Demand is higher than the production of barrels of oil. So supply is less thand demand which equals higher prices.



Now, I will have to agree that people should be whining about the fuel prices. Here, on monday 87 gas was 2. 69 a gal. On tuesday night it was 3. 39 a gallon. It's the same damn gas in the tank, but the price was changed. That is gouging and wrong, and worthy of whining. Now one station went down to 2. 99 so the others follow. Still making profit, so why the . 30cent decrease in price.



Diesel locally has me even more ******. 2. 65 monday, 2. 99 tuesday night. THey lowered gas prices, from 3. 39 to 2. 99 on wednesday, but diesel is still 2. 99. Oh and get this, #1 diesel is usually . 15-. 20 more at a station here, but now it is . 10 less!?!? There is no logic to the prices, just gouging.

 

[Texas Diesel]

So many answers, so little time!



1. I dont know if the Demos would lower fuel prices or not, but lower prices are more likely if an oil man is not in the White House.



My point was fuel will be high/higher for 2. 5 years then when the election gests near BOTH parties will scramble to promise lower fuel prices.



2. "The answer to high oil prices just can't be any simpler: use less, and make more!!"



This is a nice idea but if the producers (OPEC and/or Big Oil) continue to push for higher profits then lower consumption / high production will be off set by GREED. In other words, if cost goes down and profit goes up the retail stays the same



I see your point and it is well taken. What is happening here is the oil companies/opec raising profit margins to crazy levels during trying times for America. We are fighting wars on two fronts and who is paying for the war effort? You and me. Is this the time to gouge us with $3 gallon fuel?



I remember Bush saying once that we need to eliminate Saddam in order to secure a reliable CHEAP supply of crude.



Remember the earlier post about the icompany calling and asking what competetors fuel prices where to set thier prices as high as possible? Nothing to do with cost and fixed profit margin and EVERYTHING to do with setting the price as high as the market will bear.

 

[TSpecht]

Prices will not go down regardless who is in the Whitehouse. Bet on it. In fact if we had Granola boy Gore in the Whitehouse starting in 2000, we'd have gotten to see higher prices sooner due to more over-regulation. Regardless who gets in there and who is in there now (and don't believe for a minute the lobbyists for the industry aren't courting the Dem's too) you won't see relief at the pumps. Excessive regulation will continue to keep prices high. You can't have it both ways highly regulated and reasonably priced. We'll have to decide what we need more.

This is a nice idea but if the producers (OPEC and/or Big Oil) continue to push for higher profits then lower consumption / high production will be off set by GREED. In other words, if cost goes down and profit goes up the retail stays the same

That is incorrect simply because if cost goes down or remains the same and production goes up suppliers will be sitting on stockpiles of fuel, which they don't want to do, since inventory on the shelves so to speak is not making them any money. I suppose if it gets too much like it did in the 90's with a smaller profit margin, they may close a refinery or two which could continue to hurt us, but I think they realize there's only so much they can do before they hurt their business (i. e. start a huge push towards alternative energy sources and thereby eliminate their ability to make a profit). Alternative fuels must be on their minds since they need to balance prices between making a profit and making sure prices are still low enough to where mass use of alternative fuels doesn't make as much financial sense.

The problem is it's not gouging if the supply really is not there. When refinery capacity and transportation capacity we needed goes down, we lose out on supply. Combine that lack of supply with idiots who are running out and filling up every container they can find, and we find there are shortages, which can raise prices. I agree if stations are just raising prices based on speculation, it's not good, and states Attorneys General need to be notified so they can investigate, but if there are legitimate issues, we just need to deal with it, even if it means parking the big diesel in favor of a TDI or similar vehicle. If you have evidence about companies trying to fix prices in a region, the A. G. definitely wants to know about it.

 

[Hohn]

Well, I've wasted enough time and effort on this thread. When people reject logic and evidence, when faced with it time after time, there's nothing a person can do. Enjoy your conspiracies, whining, and foolishness. Play the victim. The world *is* out to get you, or at least those evil oil companies are.





I'm done.



jh

 

[Texas Diesel]

That is incorrect simply because if cost goes down or remains the same and production goes up suppliers will be sitting on stockpiles of fuel, which they don't want to do, since inventory on the shelves so to speak is not making them any money.

Good point!



What do we do? We cant sit and do nothing.

 

[TRCM]

I think I am gonna start my own business.



Cuz the way the greedy people of this country are, with high prices and out-sourcing jobs, pretty soon we won't be able to drive to work, since we know our employers aren't gonna raise our salaries so we can afford gas.



I'm gonna teach Chinese, cuz the way things are going, in probably 10 yrs, that will be the main language here... with English being a secondary one.

 

[Hohn]

Sorry, I can't resist.



For the record, economists have a term for "greed". It's called "profit motive", and without it, you have no capitalistic economy.



"Greed" comes in when some self-righteous wannabe economist decides that THEY are fit to determine what profit a business is allowed to make. When something other than the market makes this decision, you no longer have a free economy or free people.



Instead, you have "central planning". In other words, you have SOCIALISM at the least, COMMUNISM at the worst.

 

[JPope]

Well, you can sign this petition I received by email today, and if you are the 2000th person you get to send it to the President, and I am sure that this will solve the fuel price dilema

To keep it brief I excluded the 1510 names already on the list



>

>

> Subject: PETITION

>

>

>PETITION FOR PRES. BUSH Presidential Petition

>

>Please do NOT let this

>petition stop and lose all these names. If you do not want to sign it,

>please forward it to everyone you know.

>To add your name, click on "forward". You will be able to add your name

>at the bottom of the list and then forward it to your friends. Or, if

>necessary you can copy and paste and then add your name to the bottom

>of the list.

>THE 2,000TH PERSON PLEASE SEND IT ON TO THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL

>ADDRESS: -- email address removed -- Thank you very much.

>

>

>PETITION TO LOWER GAS and Diesel PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES: