The democrats wanting high gas prices is no secret. That they pontificate and act like it is some sort of conspiracy is not one either. Combine the 2, and yep! hypocrite.

In all honesty, the only one that appears not to be on this issue is Obama.

I think the issue of oil effects almost everyone currently. So tracking back the issue of why oil prices are so high is something we should all have a vested interest in.

Currently, there is no shortage of oil, we are not running out, there's enough to last a few more decades yet. There is a flawed thinking within the captalist mindset that price is effected soley by supply and demand.

Unfortunatley everything is not as black and white. The price of oil being so high is not a supply and demand issue.

There is a legal loop hole in commodities that allows for oil prices to be manipulated by hedge fund investors and investment bankers to hike up oil prices. Essentially it allows these trades to operate outside your own countries regulations, which were only recently modified to counter such manipulation when they passed the 'Enron Loophole' bill.

The Enron issue was actually caused when Phil Gramm passed a bill (at the behest of Enron lobbyists) that exempted particluar energy companies from goverement trade regulation. The idea behind this was to allow them to better manage risk and bring lower prices to consumers, however in the hands of people whose only interest is profit any such noble intentions go out of the window.

So your goverment did something about it, but guess what, it's not enough. These traders and investors are still able to maniupulate the oil market through the United Kingdom and Dubai markets (refered to as Dark Markets as they are not open to transparency), including oil that is destined for the US. 

By the way Dr Guy - Obama has got invovled with the oil issue, he proposed just the other week to implement a tax on any barrel of oil over the price of $80, which will be used to improve the efficencey in domestic homes, whether that turns out to be the case or not i don't know.

Anyways it's most speculators that cause the issue we are in today, not the actual people drilling and providing energy unfortunatley, that's not to say they don't make huge profits and shouldn't be taxed to high heaven, but then again thats another discussion entirely .

just buzzed  by for a second to see if any Democrats had anything to say about all this, but as usual when confronted with their own hypocrisy they remain silent! Be back when I can get to my own computer.

Completely true, but then why let facts get in the way, right?



Ahh so you aren't allowed to point out criminal price gouging if you are wealthy.

Yeah that makes sense.



They shouldn't be lecturing them, they should be ordering their arrest and criminal prosecution for gouging taxpaying Americans.

Your lobotomy is no secret. Please go play with yourself somewhere else.

Incorrect statement. Check with the Department of Energy website. Gas prices began a steady increase since the war in Iraq started. New Democrats that make up the slim majority in the House and the practically nonexistent one in the Senate (given Leiberman's effective conversion)didn't take office until Jan. of 2007.

One of the fundamental underlying causes of the current price crisis is the devaluation of the dollar (look it up, it's true.) There is no reasonable way you can lay this at the Democrat's feet. Show me cause and effect. What did they do to cause gas prices (which were already steadily rising)to spike in 19 months? What should they have done to prevent it (and since they don't have the votes to get legislation through without Republican support, and without facing Bush's veto pen, how could they have rallied Republican support behind your proposed solution)?

Now imagine that we had a real leader in the White House for the past 8 years. And that he had decided to pursue alternative energy with the same vigor that Kennedy had us pursue landing on the moon. By now, we'd have a viable way forward...a way out. But, due to the ineptness and lack of leadership we've suffered, instead of being nearly out of the hole, we're further in it. Luckily, that will begin to turn around in 2009.

But they simply don't have the votes, do they? They have the slimmest of majorities in both Houses and a Republican in the White House. Most of their solutions involve things Republicans aren't historically very big on, such as alternative sources of energy and cracking down on oil companies. You can't really expect them to just send up bill after bill, knowing they're doomed to fail. In order to gain traction on a new energy policy, they're basically going to have to wait until Obama takes office. In the meantime, they're in oversight and investigate mode.

I guess I'm not as cynical as you, as far as prospects for the future. If Obama does indeed win, that will be a hell of a difference from an administration that essentially works for the oil companies (and puts oil men in positions to regulate oil companies). I'm not saying it's going to be all wine and roses after, but I think we will finally get on the road to the future, as opposed to idling and waiting for the next crisis to hit.

And, just purely out of curiosity, have you or the company you work for ever looked into that deal where you can buy vouchers for gas when it's cheap, so that you pay the low rate even when prices spike? One of the truck drivers that delivers at work was talking about it -- sounded like a good deal (but granted it wouldn't help you much right now.)

They had enough to say no to every energy policy put forth before they had majorities, but somehow now they are all the republicans fault.

Same logic applies. If they dont have the votes now, the republicans did not before. But at least the republicans tried (half heartedly) to address the issue. The democrats seem satisfied to just whine about it.

Better reread the response. I think you missed the big part of it.




They have investigated that out the wazoo - many times. And guess what? Never found a thing. Why? Because OPEC is outside their jurisdiction. Simply put, the Oil companies are only the face of the pain, they are not the source. And vilifying them may be soul soothing but is useless and self defeating. Just like their other feel good measures. NONE are an energy policy, and NONE are addressing the issue. Just more cheese for the whine.

And I have backed it up. But then if you read and comprehend it, you would understand that as well.

Yeah, a windfall profits tax worked so well the last time.

This is exactly the sort of stupidity that one comes to expect from Congress. When all else fails do something that didn't work in the past just so you can say you did something.

Alternative energy is something we do need to develop, but anything resulting from that is decades away from being helpful. People are hurting now. This isn't the time for party politics and pet projects. It's the time to put those things aside, roll up the shirt sleeves, and come up with real, workable, immediate solutions to the problem at hand that will actually benefit the country and it's people.

Typical party politics thinking and why things are so fucked up. Anyone who blindly adheres to a party is a moron and is part of the reason this country is heading into the crapper.

Yeah, and this forum is so full of neutral people. I provide a counterpoint to all the Republican bullshit on here and your response is "you're a moron". Meanwhile, you're posting in a thread that calls Democrats H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.T.E.S. and haven't seen it necessary to mention that. You seem like one of those "typical" Republicans who tries to come off above the fray by saying that you're independent, but defending all things conservative. Are you Bill O'Reilly using a fake picture? Or are you just emulating him?