Debate, and discuss, just dont Bore me.

Yes, the title is true.  Obama wants higher gas prices.  Just not so fast as happened.

But in this era of carefully crafted sound bites, and handlers that craft your mind, as well as your statements, is that bad?

It is well known that the democrats are big on green.  They want to eliminate pollution, (not sign Kyoto as that is just bad law), and reduce greenhouse gases.  And to that effect, they vilify everyone from their grandmother to big oil.  Always blaming, never doing a damn thing, except damage.

But they do not do anything because they cannot!  They can do a lot of harm, but like playing with the laws of nature when you have no idea of the consequences (and let's admit, politicians are totally clueless in that regard), when you try to artificially manipulate the market, you only end up damaging it.  This is not an opinion or theory.  It is a fact (1970s wage and price controls).

So there is really only one way to achieve their stated aims.  You have to jack up the prices, until people have no choice but to conserve, cut back and use less.  And the added benefit is that it also accomplishes another goal of the democrats.  Invest in alternative energy.  Not by government (who will only much it up anyway), but by greedy capitalist that will not invest in floating icebergs to NY in the summer to act as air conditioners, but in viable and effective alternatives.

And Obama as much as admitted that!  Forget nancy Pelosi and Harry reid!  They are simpletons that are basically preening peacocks with no clue as to what they are doing, except looking for scapegoats. 

Obama may have "mis-spoke".  I am sure his handlers cringed at this statement, and the McCain camp is gleefully rubbing their hands at the video.  But the truth is he is right!  And when he is not being manipulated by the vultures that are looking for the dregs of power to flow their way, he appears quite honest and intelligent (must be the influence of the Chicago School of Economics at play).

In this election, with not really a dime's worth of difference between the 2 candidates (other than the letter behind their name), it is refreshing to see some honesty.  Perhaps the only honesty we will see (Obama has changed his line on the Middle east that he should call it the Top, Bottom and Middle East).  And barring any other astounding revelations, a reason to vote for him.

I dont like high gas prices.  I am hurt like all others.  But I also know that if we are to ween this baby from the mid-east spigot, we have to develope alternatives.  And that is something America can do (it has done in other areas in the past).  No politician in washington is going to do a damn bit of good (but lots of ill).  At least a politician who recognizes what is needed, painful as it may be, is hopefully not going to damage the process.

Well I can hope on the last part.


Comments (Page 1)
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on Jun 18, 2008

when you try to artificially manipulate the market, you only end up damaging it. This is not an opinion or theory. It is a fact (1970s wage and price controls).

Very true! However, one could also make the argument that the current administration has allowed nearly unprecedented manipulation of the market, by allowing the big banks to regulate and police themselves, thus leading to the biggest swindle in modern history (bigger than the S & L in scope) whereby the banks created fake money through toxic junk bonds based on debt collateral that would never be realized! After that pipe dream went up in smoke (and it did in august of 07 though all the commentators and officials were too scared to come out and say it) the banks then did 2 things:

1) they pleaded with and received a bailout from the fed to the tune of several hundred billion (if that's not artificial market manipulation and 'nanny state economics' please tell me what is!)

2) with the collapse of the derivatives and CDO market and the loss of hundreds of billions (perhaps trillions) in worthless funds that no one will buy to this day (except the fed, of course, again bailing them out) they decided to speculate on

a) food

oil

And now these are the two commodities whose prices have skyrocketed quite unnaturally, rising far above any level that would be expected with the current supply and demand. There have been food riots in poorer countries around the globe (although hardly covered at all or only in passing by major news outlets over here) and oil has more than DOUBLED in cost since last year. It's been proven that the massive spike in prices have very little to do with production amounts or market demand pressures... it's the fact that the big banks, desperate for capital after their last debacle (which still isn't over, btw) have decided to try and recoup some of their losses by turning the worlds food and energy markets into a giant poker game where the small blind is enough capital to buy the entire soy harvest of Brazil in one fell swoop!

And of course let's not forget the value of the dollar or how this has afffected inflation!

on Jun 18, 2008

I guess we were thinking alike this morning.   I wrote an article about Obama's gas fix before I saw this posted. 

on Jun 18, 2008
I guess we were thinking alike this morning. I wrote an article about Obama's gas fix before I saw this posted.


Great minds think alike?
on Jun 18, 2008
if that's not artificial market manipulation and 'nanny state economics' please tell me what is!)


Refer to my statement below.

when you try to artificially manipulate the market, you only end up damaging it. This is not an opinion or theory. It is a fact (1970s wage and price controls).


Bailouts help for a "bridge" but unless the underlying problem is fixed, they will only be adding gas to the fire.

I am sure glad I dont work for a bank. You would hate me.

on Jun 18, 2008

when you try to artificially manipulate the market, you only end up damaging it. This is not an opinion or theory. It is a fact (1970s wage and price controls).

Apples and oranges, the 70's wage and price controls were all about controlling inflation through wage and price caps, not an increase. We've been artificially inflating prices through taxes and tariffs for some time without a problem.

The recent gas price surge has shown quite conclusively that even a small increase in gas prices can significantly reduce consumption. It's also proven that we can adapt very quickly to change our transportation habits. Just in the last 6 months the use of public transportation, carpooling and demand for more fuel efficient vehicles has gone up dramatically and truck and SUV sales have plumited.

Alternative energy is an economic boom just waiting to happen and higher gas prices are giving it a big kick.

on Jul 25, 2008

I hate high gas prices as much as the next guy, but it is a very good thing...in a way. I mean...thank god for these prices because america has finally woken up and found out that SUVs are completely useless and unnessecary. (Although, I applaud those who use them to actually off-road)

I really hope gas doesn't go down in price. That would thwart the whole plan for america to be energy independent(and no, not with the off-shore drilling non-issue)

on Jul 25, 2008
Apples and oranges, the 70's wage and price controls were all about controlling inflation through wage and price caps, not an increase. We've been artificially inflating prices through taxes and tariffs for some time without a problem.


No, it is not apples and oranges. It is about government trying to control what only the market can do effectively and efficiently. Whether it is wage price controls, or punitive legislation, the effect is the same - disruption of the market and the opposite of the intended effect.

Alternative energy is an economic boom just waiting to happen and higher gas prices are giving it a big kick.


That is exactly right! And at least Obama is honest enough to admit it.
on Jul 25, 2008
hate high gas prices as much as the next guy, but it is a very good thing...in a way. I mean...thank god for these prices because america has finally woken up and found out that SUVs are completely useless and unnessecary. (Although, I applaud those who use them to actually off-road)
I really hope gas doesn't go down in price. That would thwart the whole plan for america to be energy independent(and no, not with the off-shore drilling non-issue)


YOu probably are also a liberal, and a very principaled one. And I respect you for that. Your view is true, if not real popular now. But you have my respect as an honest and ethical person. And I am not in total disagreement with you (although probably for different reasons). We need to break this dependency upon OPEC, and the only way to do that is to ween ourselves off of oil, and that means high prices at least in the short (10+ years) term.
on Aug 10, 2008

I have to say that supporting high gas prices is a terrible idea. You have to be nuts to think that is the best solution we have available. I completely agree that when need alternative energy but to hurt the people so severely just to push an agend faster is idiotic and imo criminal. These are real people thats are being hurt by this "liberal" idea. What happened to liberals taking care of the poor? Like I said we do need alternative energy but this is not the right way to go about that. In the mean time we need to drill our own oil that we have in the US. There is also nuclear energy which is probably the best alternative energy available to us. SUV's are not the problem liberals are... and no I am not a Republican but I hate how phoney and clueless the Demo's have become.

on Aug 10, 2008
The price of beans needs to go up?
on Aug 11, 2008
I have to say that supporting high gas prices is a terrible idea. You have to be nuts to think that is the best solution we have available. I completely agree that when need alternative energy but to hurt the people so severely just to push an agend faster is idiotic and imo criminal.


No, it is natural law - specifically the law of supply and demand. It is not the intent to hurt anyone. But you do not get innovation without a reason, and that reason is often need. And the need comes from pain. - Natural law.

What happened to liberals taking care of the poor?


That is a myth. They want dependants, not to help. Dependants mean votes.

on Aug 11, 2008
The price of beans needs to go up?


Some one has to pay for $5/gal diesel.
on Aug 12, 2008

The only ones saying that oil prices should be higher is BHO and the Pelosi led do-nothing congress.  O course, he has to follow the orders from the left.  The Pelosi do-nothings represent that part of the know-nothings that have run interference and kept us from drilling OUR AMERICAN oil for more than 35 years.  They miscalculated the availability of alternative energy ina manner that shows how ignorant they are.

on Aug 13, 2008
They miscalculated the availability of alternative energy ina manner that shows how ignorant they are.


That they are anti- carbon fuels is a given (they should at least be honest about it, alas they cant seem to be). But you are right. They had and have no plan. Only hot air (and that is where global warming must be coming from! )
on Aug 15, 2008
I dont like high gas prices. I am hurt like all others. But I also know that if we are to ween this baby from the mid-east spigot, we have to develope alternatives. And that is something America can do (it has done in other areas in the past). No politician in washington is going to do a damn bit of good (but lots of ill). At least a politician who recognizes what is needed, painful as it may be, is hopefully not going to damage the process.


Spoken like my kind of Democrat.  
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