It's a new record

scaeagles · 07-27-2006, 02:57 PM

If there are gougers out there in terms of gasoline, it would be the government, taking in taxes that are about four times the amount of profit the oil companies make per gallon. (I'm sure this will open the same can of worms it always does.)

SacTown Chronic · 07-27-2006, 03:11 PM

Look, I'm a free market kind of guy myself, sca. But it's not as simple as all that. To my way of thinking, free market means free market. What it doesn't mean is that the wealthy should influence the decision making of the powerful. It doesn't mean that those who need it least get the most welfare from the government. Secret energy meetings? Huge windfalls from the government at the same time they announce record profits? Are you sh*tting me? The government is in bed with Big Oil but you went to defend the Corpos and deride the Politicos.

They both suck monkey balls, my friend.

Moonliner · 07-27-2006, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

If there are gougers out there in terms of gasoline, it would be the government, taking in taxes that are about four times the amount of profit the oil companies make per gallon. (I'm sure this will open the same can of worms it always does.)

Exxon made more than $10 Billion in a single quarter when many people are truly suffering financially in order to keep their vehicles running. Are they gougers? Yes. Who sets the price for a gallon of gas? The only answer you can ever get to that question is vague techno babble about this and that but the truth is, if you are Exxon and you control the source, the processing and the sale you can set whatever price you want and thats what they are doing. They are trying to make the most profit they can and using every excuse to do it. I just hope all of this greed is enough to finally convince people that it's time to bag oil and move on to better energy sources.

scaeagles · 07-27-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonliner

They are trying to make the most profit they can and using every excuse to do it. I just hope all of this greed is enough to finally convince people that it's time to bag oil and move on to better energy sources.

Profit is not the problem.

I'm all for alternative energy sources.

When the alternative energy sources become more profitable, they will begin to move to the forefront. I previously mentioned I can't buy E85 for my truck (comparable in price to gasoline, or so I've heard) because it isn't sold within 100 miles of me. Why? Infrastructure is too expensive to make it profitable in Phoenix at a price I'm willing to pay.

And price gouging? I will again defer to my favorite economist.

Price gouging and gasoline

07-27-2006, 02:57 PM	#1
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	If there are gougers out there in terms of gasoline, it would be the government, taking in taxes that are about four times the amount of profit the oil companies make per gallon. (I'm sure this will open the same can of worms it always does.)
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07-27-2006, 03:11 PM	#2
SacTown Chronic the myth of the dream Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,217	Look, I'm a free market kind of guy myself, sca. But it's not as simple as all that. To my way of thinking, free market means free market. What it doesn't mean is that the wealthy should influence the decision making of the powerful. It doesn't mean that those who need it least get the most welfare from the government. Secret energy meetings? Huge windfalls from the government at the same time they announce record profits? Are you sh*tting me? The government is in bed with Big Oil but you went to defend the Corpos and deride the Politicos. They both suck monkey balls, my friend.
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