On 2011-06-12 08:30, Dannydoyle wrote:

If it is the free market why is everyones price exactly the same?

On 2011-06-11 13:25, Woland wrote:
It's an issue because (1)historically the President's approval rating is correlated to the price of a gallon of gasoline and because (2) the public perceives that the policies of the federal government can influence gasoline prices.

You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.

They — you — you can already see what the arguments will be during the general election. People will say, “Ah, Obama and Al Gore, these folks, they’re going to destroy the economy, this is going to cost us eight trillion dollars,” or whatever their number is. Um, if you can’t persuade the American people that yes, there is going to be some increase in electricity rates on the front end, but that over the long term, because of combinations of more efficient energy usage, changing lightbulbs and more efficient appliance, but also technology improving how we can produce clean energy, the economy would benefit.

Consumers could see their electricity bills jump an estimated 40 to 60 percent in the next few years.

The reason: Pending environmental regulations will make coal-fired generating plants, which produce about half the nation's electricity, more expensive to operate. Many are expected to be shuttered.

On 2011-06-12 14:49, Dreadnought wrote:
Actually, the price started rising with the Bush administration. I'm not placing blame on him or any U.S. president, but it started with Katrina. After Katrina gas rose to above $2 a gallon and in some places as high as $5. Post Katrina gas dipped below the $2 once only.

On 2011-06-13 11:02, Dannydoyle wrote:
I think arguement number 14 appllies.

On 2011-06-13 10:05, RobertSmith wrote:

Fair enough. But in your example Bush had little control over an environmental disaster that forced the closing of much of the oil drilling in the Gulf.

Certainly Bush's spending and disruption caused by wars in the middle east contributed to the price of oil. But to stick the Bush administration with gas prices post-Katrina is disingenuous.

However, one can directly trace the out of control spending by Barack Obama and Ben Bernanke as a predominant contributing factor to the outrageous oil prices we're currently experiencing.

On 2011-06-13 14:41, Dreadnought wrote:

Quote:

On 2011-06-13 10:05, RobertSmith wrote:

Fair enough. But in your example Bush had little control over an environmental disaster that forced the closing of much of the oil drilling in the Gulf.

Certainly Bush's spending and disruption caused by wars in the middle east contributed to the price of oil. But to stick the Bush administration with gas prices post-Katrina is disingenuous.

However, one can directly trace the out of control spending by Barack Obama and Ben Bernanke as a predominant contributing factor to the outrageous oil prices we're currently experiencing.

I can agree with that. I will say that I think the big problem is the greed of the oil companies.

On 2011-06-13 18:19, EsnRedshirt wrote:
By the way, the only time gas prices have been higher in recent history is 7/21/2008.
http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx
Who was president then? Oh yeah...