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Originally Posted by Mormegil
Does this mean that you did no bitching whatsoever when oil cost $150 a barrel? I don't think so.
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Actually...I didn't. Sorry...
I knew what was happening in the greater scheme of things, and I viewed it as a necessary evil...and wakeup call, if you will, to a country grown fat and lazy on cheap fuel. I also realize this is a highly unpopular view...but it's the most effective way to do this whole "use less oil" thing that I've looked into. And it's my prefered route as opposed to CAFE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mormegil
The reason we are paying less than $2 a gallon now is because the oil market was driven artificially high by speculative investors hoping to make a quick buck by the ever rising price of oil. The market collapsed (you yourself claim this in your post) and here we are with $45/barrel.
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Yes, and I do get that. But now prices are artifically
low because oil is a commoditiy, and commodity prices are dropping like a rock due to the global economy spiralling out of control (usually down). Don't expect gas to stay this low for any longer than the economy is down.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mormegil
What is to prevent the market from doing the same thing when the government wants to make a quick buck? Nothing. The same thing will happen that did this summer. People will have to spend more of their income on fuel, and money that could be spent elsewhere will go to support an artificial marketplace.
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What's to prevent the gov. from raising income taxes, or property taxes? Or instituting an air tax per breath you take? In reality, they can do whatever the heck they want when it comes to taxes...that's one of the government's influence on economics. They already tax gas...so they can do what your asking on a whim if they so choose...bumping the tax up isn't going to change that.