I thought so too. I've always seen another 'north/south' break if one were to happen, but he lays out a sort of regional separation which I found interesting.
Excellent points except one...we don't want the government controlling gas prices. Below are a couple of lecture videos I've produced for my students, if you're interested, you need to watch them in sequence to get the whole picture, but the second one pertains directly to gas. Make sure to turn the sound on.
That said, the only way to 'control' gas prices is to increase our own production of oil and/or negotiate with those that have oil, but we should never try to 'control' gas prices directly or we'll end up like the 70's where my parents could only get gas on odd numbered days and only when gas was available.
@vtgrad2003; Sorry to confuse. I don't want the idiots in DC controlling prices. I want them to the get out of the way and let the oil flow again. Market/demand will control prices. We can and should return to the Trump era policy and let the world come to us.
@vtgrad2003 Yep, it’s mostly split center of the US vs. both coasts, or “rural” and “citified” 🙂 Personally I don’t want to see it, and I think we can hold it together….I hope.
If you look closely at the price of gasoline at the pump, the price is controlled by the government and the taxes that is included in the price. That being said, there are a number of states that have laws limiting the price at the pump (as there are also price controls on milk). Some of the laws are specifically set to stop price gouging during a natural disaster. For example, following Hurricane Katrina several gas stations in SE Louisiana tried to take advantage of the disaster by raising the price at the pump by over 50 cents per gallon. When it was reported, the state came in and made them lower the prices and levied some big time fines.
I understand what you are saying, it's what a lot of people think as well...fact is, there is no such thing as price gouging. If prices aren't set high enough, even during times of crises, shortages result. You may feel that no gas is better than gas at higher prices, but someone like myself would strongly disagree...I would much rather have access to gasoline at a higher price that not have any at all...it's what is known as "price rationing".
Whether you want to believe so or not, the entire concept of "price gouging" is a purely political construct used by politicians to pretend they are doing something to "stand up against bad people (e.g., corporations)", when in fact, the suppression of using the market price to ration products, especially during times of emergencies, only ends up hurting the poor. Do you think Elon Musk would have any issues finding gas during a shortage? Of course not, only the poor, i.e., those that don't have the capacity to wait in line for hours for the little bit of gas that's left (for whatever reason like they have jobs they can't leave, can't leave home because of kids to take care of, etc.).
I know this is a controversial topic to some that believe the big bad corporations are always out to screw us, but remember, most accusations of price gouging are local...these are just businesses that are trying to ration what little product they have left.
@vtgrad2003, you are correct. You also can't forget, the United States Government believes you are as dumb as a box of rocks and play on that all day long. Also, they hate you. Nothing they do is solely for our benefit or best interest. That's complete bullshit.
@Londy3 I agree 1000%, rarely does the government do anything without considering how it impacts votes--Biden is great at that. Take the student loan bailout for instance...everyone pretty much thinks it won't pass constitutional muster and so does he, but it bought him votes during the midterms.
I'm straight up with my students...things like caps on gas prices and other threats are only ways to buy votes. Like you said, politicians play on the general public's lack of economic understanding. Most politicians are "highly educated"...don't you think they took basic microeconomics in college and know capping the prices of goods causes shortages and hurts the poor the most? Hell yes they do, but they do it anyway because it sounds good--like they're fighting the big bad boogie man that's out to get 'em or some shit.
So, I try to do my part to at least educate my students about this crap...what good it does in the end, I don't know, but I try.
Yep...and I'm sure this is the way it'll go. At some point, it would be nice if hired politicians just did their damn jobs like legislate (or block legislation thereof).
Comments
Nah!
Nah, means none of that nonsense will happen. However, if the Democrats and the Rinos remain in power, it could. Or much worse.
At my age and at this time in my life, I got enough to worry about without ever giving that any thought.
The most powerful governments on earth can’t stop a virus from spreading…but they say they can change the earth’s temperature if you pay more taxes.
How is it that the government can’t control gasoline prices…but the weather is something they can fix?
Sorry to confuse. I don't want the idiots in DC controlling prices. I want them to the get out of the way and let the oil flow again. Market/demand will control prices. We can and should return to the Trump era policy and let the world come to us.
Yep, it’s mostly split center of the US vs. both coasts, or “rural” and “citified” 🙂
Personally I don’t want to see it, and I think we can hold it together….I hope.
Whether you want to believe so or not, the entire concept of "price gouging" is a purely political construct used by politicians to pretend they are doing something to "stand up against bad people (e.g., corporations)", when in fact, the suppression of using the market price to ration products, especially during times of emergencies, only ends up hurting the poor. Do you think Elon Musk would have any issues finding gas during a shortage? Of course not, only the poor, i.e., those that don't have the capacity to wait in line for hours for the little bit of gas that's left (for whatever reason like they have jobs they can't leave, can't leave home because of kids to take care of, etc.).
I know this is a controversial topic to some that believe the big bad corporations are always out to screw us, but remember, most accusations of price gouging are local...these are just businesses that are trying to ration what little product they have left.
I agree 1000%, rarely does the government do anything without considering how it impacts votes--Biden is great at that. Take the student loan bailout for instance...everyone pretty much thinks it won't pass constitutional muster and so does he, but it bought him votes during the midterms.
I'm straight up with my students...things like caps on gas prices and other threats are only ways to buy votes. Like you said, politicians play on the general public's lack of economic understanding. Most politicians are "highly educated"...don't you think they took basic microeconomics in college and know capping the prices of goods causes shortages and hurts the poor the most? Hell yes they do, but they do it anyway because it sounds good--like they're fighting the big bad boogie man that's out to get 'em or some shit.
So, I try to do my part to at least educate my students about this crap...what good it does in the end, I don't know, but I try.
I did exactly the same as professor at Colorado.
Largest American Indian Tribe East of the Mississippi Now Votes GOP
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2022/12/19/largest_american_indian_tribe_east_of_the_mississippi_now_votes_gop_148624.html
Very interesting indeed. I just wish I had more confidence in the corrupt voting system and those that oversee the process.
https://babylonbee.com/news/republicans-appoint-lucy-to-lead-investigation-of-joe-biden
https://babylonbee.com/news/house-republicans-frantically-binge-old-schoolhouse-rock-episodes-to-figure-out-what-theyre-supposed-to-be-doing
https://pjmedia.com/columns/megan-fox/2023/01/13/trump-is-back-hilarious-court-transcripts-of-trump-testifying-in-case-involving-nut-job-e-jean-carroll-n1661655