What's Really Driving $5 Gasoline Worries

[Crabtownboy]

The Republicans and Obama haters will insist it is all Obama's fault. But that is not true. There are many circumstances outside his control that is driving the price of gas up.

Analysts point to a combination of factors: The shut-down of two major refineries that supplied 20 percent of the gasoline consumed in the Northeast; increased demand for fuel in Northern Europe, which has been experiencing a long spell of frigid temperatures; increased demand from China and other developing economies; and uncertainty about Iran's production, as that country saber-rattles about limiting its output or threatening a disruption of oil shipping in the Straits of Hormuz.

http://autos.aol.com/article/5-dollar-gas-prices/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl10|sec1_lnk2&pLid=137216

Gas prices: Keystone XL will increase gas prices for Americans—Especially Farmers
http://www.tarsandsaction.org/spread-the-word/key-facts-keystone-xl/

Oil refineries across the country have been plagued by a record number of fires, power failures, leaks, spills and breakdowns this year, causing dozens of them to shut down temporarily or trim production. The disruptions are helping to drive gasoline prices to highs not seen since last summer’s records.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/business/22refine.html?pagewanted=all

I do not know why the two major refineries were closed. But if production goes down by 20% the price will go up.

Europe has had a long extremely cold spell which required more oil to provide fuel. Something like 100 people have frozen to death in this cold spell.

China, Brazil, India and other are increasing the use of oil and gas. Not much Obama or anyone can do about that to help us.

If Israel attacks Iran who knows how far that will drive the price of gas up.

Iran

The weakness of the dollar is also driving up prices.

There are many reasons that the price of gas is going up that are not controllable in Washington.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Of course, the thing that the President does control is the opening up of oil fields here in the US.

The Dep't of Energy was originally tasked with the responsibility of lowering our dependence on foreign oil. Maybe the President could start with making them live up to their mandate.

 

[mandym]

Of course, the thing that the President does control is the opening up of oil fields here in the US.

The Dep't of Energy was originally tasked with the responsibility of lowering our dependence on foreign oil. Maybe the President could start with making them live up to their mandate.

Oh well then he would not have a reason to force the US to invest in bankrupt schemes like Solyndra.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Of course, the thing that the President does control is the opening up of oil fields here in the US.

The Dep't of Energy was originally tasked with the responsibility of lowering our dependence on foreign oil. Maybe the President could start with making them live up to their mandate.

It does not matter how much we pump if the refining capability is decreased by refineries closing then there will still be a decreased supply of refined oil and gasoline.

Also, with the companies engaged in fracking do not want prices lowered. They say they will raise prices and export more oil to countries like Brazil. This is Capitalism at work. Sell as much as possible to everyone and keep the prices high. This has been in the news recently. You can find articles on this online.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Of course, the thing that the President does control is the opening up of oil fields here in the US.

The Dep't of Energy was originally tasked with the responsibility of lowering our dependence on foreign oil. Maybe the President could start with making them live up to their mandate.

It does not matter how much we pump if the refining capability is decreased by refineries closing then there will still be a decreased supply of refined oil and gasoline.

Also, with the companies engaged in fracking do not want prices lowered. They say they will raise prices and export more oil to countries like Brazil. This is Capitalism at work. Sell as much as possible to everyone and keep the prices high. This has been in the news recently. You can find articles on this online.

I would think that all can see there are forces at work that are outside the control of whoever is president be he/her Democrat or Republican.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Another item in the news is how team zero is closing and harrassing oil refineries.

http://keystoneconservative.com/2012/02/04/guest-oped-obama-regulations-are-killing-u-s-jobs/

http://pjmedia.com/blog/get-ready-for-higher-gas-prices/

http://ricochet.com/main-feed/President-Obama-Penalizes-Refineries-for-Failing-to-Perform-Magic

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Remember, Obama PROMISED, under his regieme, energy prices would increase. I see no problem with blaming him.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Remember, Obama PROMISED, under his regieme, energy prices would increase. I see no problem with blaming him.

They would have increased regardless of who was elected. They will increase regardless of who is elected in 2012. They will increase regardless of who is elected in 2016. They will increase regardless of who is elected in 2020 .... ad infinitum

Obama was simply telling an unpopular truth. That is one problem with the American electorate they never want to hear a hard truth ... and then they whine and cry when that hard truth comes true ... as truth has a nasty way of becoming fact.

 

[mandym]

The notion that somehow what the President and the EPA does has no effect on gas prices is just hogwash.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

The notion that somehow what the President and the EPA does has no effect on gas prices is just hogwash.

Yup. Twisting and ignoring facts won't turn team zero into a success. He declared war on prosperity, and the evil oil companies were first. He promised this would happen.

 

[Crabtownboy]

The notion that somehow what the President and the EPA does has no effect on gas prices is just hogwash.

I do not know of anyone who says they do not influence prices. But there are many, many, many factors over which they have no control that affect prices and those factors guarantee that no matter what they or any future president does energy prices, oil prices and gasoline prices are going to rise. You, me ... everyone living in the States are just gonna have to live with the rising prices. You can whine, cry, point fingers, but you are going to have to live with it.

 

[mandym]

You know what hogwash is right?

hog·wash (hôgwôsh, -wsh, hg-)
n.
1. Worthless, false, or ridiculous speech or writing; nonsense.
2. Garbage fed to hogs; swill.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hogwash

 

[just-want-peace]

The notion that somehow what the President and the EPA does has no effect on gas prices is just hogwash.

These are the same people that rabidly believe that man is responsible for, and can stop, "GLOBAL WARMING"!:laugh:
Logic eludes them.:BangHead:
HOGWASH is their life-style, world view and belief system.:sleep:

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Who are the whiners ? Those who start the thread about expensive gas, or those who straighten it up with facts ?

Just checkin'.....

 

[mandym]

I do not know of anyone who says they do not influence prices.

Alright then nothing more to be said or defended.

 

[just-want-peace]

I do not know of anyone who says they do not influence prices. But there are many, many, many factors over which they have no control that affect prices and those factors guarantee that no matter what they or any future president does energy prices, oil prices and gasoline prices are going to rise. You, me ... everyone living in the States are just gonna have to live with the rising prices. You can whine, cry, point fingers, but you are going to have to live with it.

IIRC, there was quite an outcry several years back when the "zero's" predecessor was in office and prices rose quite a bit; remember this, or is my memory failing???
At that time one would have tho't that the POTUS had sole control of said prices!!??
Bad reporting, double standard, rumor mill, "back-door control" of oil CO., selective knowledge; -- or what suddenly makes so many factors a part of this equation that apparently did not exist then???

My guess is "DOUBLE STANDARD", pure & simple!!

 

[Crabtownboy]

IIRC, there was quite an outcry several years back when the "zero's" predecessor was in office and prices rose quite a bit; remember this, or is my memory failing???
At that time one would have tho't that the POTUS had sole control of said prices!!??
Bad reporting, double standard, rumor mill, "back-door control" of oil CO., selective knowledge; -- or what suddenly makes so many factors a part of this equation that apparently did not exist then???

My guess is "DOUBLE STANDARD", pure & simple!!

The factors did exist then just as now and as they will in the future. Rising prices is something we are just going to have to live with .... just as food prices are going to rise as time goes by.

Both parties will blame the other if the the president is in other party. Both will be dishonest in their blaming. One thing politicians will never do is to tell the truth when it comes to hard truths. If any of them tells the truth they'd better duck.

 

[mandym]

Both parties will blame the other if the the president is in other party. Both will be dishonest in their blaming. One thing politicians will never do is to tell the truth when it comes to hard truths.

This can't be true, you admitted that the President does influence the prices.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Who are the whiners ? Those who start the thread about expensive gas, or those who straighten it up with facts ?

Just checkin'.....

I'd say you, my friend. Do you believe that prices will fall in the future?

 

[Bro. Curtis]

I'd say you, my friend. Do you believe that prices will fall in the future?

I'd say you are being dishonest, again. Nobody was whining about gas prices. You started the thread. Whining about how everyone blames Obama for how his policies have affected us. Like he said they would.

Second, I can't tell the future, so I don't know what will happen to gas prices. I do know that they COULD be brought down.