Originally Posted By mrichmondj What's interesting to me is that prices at the pump have fallen faster than the price per barrel in crude oil. If there wasn't any price manipulation in the market, the two prices should almost be a direct correlation. Crude oil prices on the open market are still about 15% higher than their post-Katrina lows, yet price at the pump is at a 15% discount to the crude oil price. Awfully suspicious to see the oil companies giving up 15% in revenues 2 months before an election.
Originally Posted By fkurucz One thing to keep in mind is that gasoline supplies ae limited by refinery capacity, which is pretty tight in the US. So during high demand sumer months there could be limited gasoline supplies, which drives up the price, whereas demand slumps in the fall, and with it prices.
Originally Posted By jonvn One of the reasons people are upset at the Republicans is high gas prices. It serves the purpose of the oil companies to keep them in power. So, right before the election, they lower the prices. Only to about twice what we used to pay a couple years ago--and everyone is happy all of a sudden because we're all morons. So, the gas prices are down, one less thing to be annoyed about. When the election is over, the prices will probably go back up, and some excuse about "winter heating oil prices" will come about as a reason. To me, the reason is the oil companies lowered the price prior to the election because it is in their best long term interests to do so.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh No it's not. Elections happen in November, when driving is down but before the coldest months have started. There's no conspiracy that gas prices are lower then.
Originally Posted By YourPalEd Taxes are lowered every presidential election year, republican or demcocrat. I've read ecomists, who have proven this, through a study of tax law changes that occur before every presidential election. This fact is printed in the letters column, and discussed as little as possible every presidential election, too.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>No it's not. Elections happen in November, when driving is down but before the coldest months have started. There's no conspiracy that gas prices are lower then.<< It didn't it was probable or likely. I also said that prices hitorically drop in the fall. But even I have noticed that they are dropping faster than usual. IIRC, we didn't have prices like these until the middle of winter last year.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <It didn't it was probable or likely. I also said that prices hitorically drop in the fall. But even I have noticed that they are dropping faster than usual. IIRC, we didn't have prices like these until the middle of winter last year.< Usually they drop in the fall because major cities stop using their " summer blends' for lower polution -- that hasn't changed over yet .. although like I say - here in Chicago we have not seen that decrease. How can the gas be $2.08 in St. Louis ( where my daughter called me from yesterday ) and $ 2.95 in Chicago and $2.79 in the far western suburbs of Chicago. Tax makes up some of that, but nowhere near that much.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh Higher rents and operating costs probably contribute to higher prices in places where the costs of living are highter.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Then it should be $5.00 / gallon in NY and California compared to Chicago. the plain and simple fact is that the companies can charge whatever they want wherever they want- and do.
Originally Posted By YourPalEd Under democrats the fluctuation after the summer was only about 10 percent in gas prices in an otherwise stable economic environment. Under bush, it has gone up from $1, to $3 and back down to $2, creating an unstable market with no possibility for price stabilization. This destabilization was a bad theory to begin with, one only a criminal would repeat as respectable, or someone paid off. What is interesting though, is the destabilization theories works against cheney and bush, who's actually wealth, which is in unbridled power, is cut to a tenth. Destabilization of the economy is the worst thing cheney, and bush has done. For me, i feel sick, i feel guilty, cause everything i need is easier and easier to get, while the republican follower's are finding they can't juggle their real lives, to keep their dreams afloat. Their nightmares have become reality, cheney's nightmares, without a glimpse of the happy dreams, that drives them to destruction.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <the plain and simple fact is that the companies can charge whatever they want wherever they want- and do.> Within certain boundaries (they couldn't charge a dime a gallon and make any profit; they couldn't charge 10 bucks a gallon yet and sell much), that it absolutely correct. Of course the market plays a role, but there is much more behind prices at the pump than simple market economics.
Originally Posted By YourPalEd <<<Of course the market plays a role, but there is much more behind prices at the pump than simple market economics.>>> Simple crooks and traitors are behind it, cheney, rove, bush. Traitors all. They are your enemy and always will be. All they can do is continually lie.
