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From Speaker Pelosis own website:
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/press/releases/April06/Rubberstamp.html
Pelosi: ‘With Skyrocketing Gas Prices, Americans Can No Longer Afford Rubber Stamp Congress’ Monday, April 24, 2006
Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President Bush’s, Speaker Hastert’s, and the Republican Congress’ empty rhetoric on gas prices. Key facts on the Majority's failure to address gas prices follows Pelosi’s statement.
With skyrocketing gas prices, it is clear that the American people can no longer afford the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress and its failure to stand up to Republican big oil and gas company cronies. Americans this week are paying $2.91 a gallon on average for regular gasoline – 33 cents higher than last month, and double the price than when President Bush first came to office.
“With record gas prices, record CEO pay packages, and record oil company profits, Speaker Hastert and the Majority Congress continue to give the American people empty rhetoric rather than join Democrats who are working to lower gas prices now.
“Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.”
Well it's been two whole years since they took over congress and no plan yet...
Tchocky
07-09-08, 09:25 AM
Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies
Morons.
Well it's been two whole years since they took over congress and no plan yet...
Actually, August, this article is from April 2006. So they hadn't taken over at that stage.
Regarding high gas prices, allow me to quote STEED
Those days are long gone people time to knuckle down to hard cold facts.
Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies
Morons.
Well it's been two whole years since they took over congress and no plan yet...
Actually, August, this article is from April 2006. So they hadn't taken over at that stage.
I stand corrected. ALMOST two years... ;)
Tchocky
07-09-08, 09:28 AM
Well, you know what they say about election promises :)
Although, when you think about it, the rise since OCTober 06 has been so large that they might have been successful, but a 5% drop isn't noticeable against a 20% rise.
I doubt that this is the case.
Nah there's been no plan. No mention of legislation passed or bills making the rounds. They out and out lied, but what the hey it helped get them elected.
Skybird
07-09-08, 09:39 AM
Gas prices in Germany are three times as high as in the US, so why aren't you guys stop whining.
If somebody thinks that starting offshore drilling at the american coasts again will have a real effect on gas prices, he better thinks twice. It is election propaganda only, and will help nothing substantial with the critical price niveau.
Gas prices in Germany are three times as high as in the US, so why aren't you guys stop whining.
If somebody thinks that starting offshore drilling at the american coasts again will have a real effect on gas prices, he better thinks twice. It is election propaganda only, and will help nothing substantial with the critical price niveau.
Gee thanks for your highly valued opinion Skybird. :roll:
Tchocky
07-09-08, 09:46 AM
Well, I know the Energy Independence Act raised fuel economy standards, which is a roundabout way of reducing real prices. As is improving efficiency in energy usage, means there's more to go around.
Then again, the press release is more a piece of politics than a plan, contradictory in the extreme. Also, the idea that a single government can reduce gas prices is ridicuous.
EDIT - As I look at it, a few of the things in the statement were parts of the ACt not enacted - Link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Independence_and_Security_Act_of_2007#Propo sals_not_enacted)
August, Skybird is correct. The idea of lots of oil just sitting off the coast, waiting to be sucked up, is misleading. Example (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4542853/). Remember that's 50 cents per barrel, not per gallon.
EDIT - Expanding the idea of offshore drilling, Dean Baker has run some numbers. 8 cents per gallon (http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/beat_the_press_archive?month=06&year=2008&base_name=oil_vs_the_environment_what_is)
Either party tells you they'll lower gas prices, they're lying.
Well, I know the Energy Independence Act raised fuel economy standards, which is a roundabout way of reducing real prices. As is improving efficiency in energy usage, means there's more to go around.
Then again, the press release is more a piece of politics than a plan, contradictory in the extreme. Also, the idea that a single government can reduce gas prices is ridicuous.
August, Skybird is correct. The idea of lots of oil just sitting off the coast, waiting to be sucked up, is misleading. Example (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4542853/). Remember that's 50 cents per barrel, not per gallon.
Skybird isn't addressing the thread topic. I'm surprised he even replied to this thread seeing as he has me on ignore. but whatever, cost isn't everything. How about reducing or even eliminating our dependence on foreign oil, or is that not important any more?
Either party tells you they'll lower gas prices, they're lying.
Maybe, maybe not. Increasing supply ought to bring down prices if my economics teacher knew what he was talking about. In any case we'd know for sure by now if we'd been able to drill for our own oil back in the late 1990's.
XabbaRus
07-09-08, 10:23 AM
The price isn't really due to supply, more to speculation.
At the supply meets demand, exceeds it in fact. I doubt if the Saudis bump production up again it will have any affect.
My theory is that all these banks that used to lend each other money and stick it in property have now been sticking it in oil and the price is going up.
The price isn't really due to supply, more to speculation.
At the supply meets demand, exceeds it in fact. I doubt if the Saudis bump production up again it will have any affect.
My theory is that all these banks that used to lend each other money and stick it in property have now been sticking it in oil and the price is going up.
You might be right XabbaRus.
Frame57
07-09-08, 10:33 AM
I have heard these debates before. Like when the postage rates go up. Someone always compares the prices with other countries. America should not have to be compared with other countries and their economies. IMO it is not the oil companies that are at fault here. They get 9 cents or so out of every dollar. Who in hell gets the rest of that money? That is where the problem lies. Our own government is the problem and always will be until we the people have the brass to get rid of the corruption that pervades both parties. The pursuit of life, liberty and happiness cannot be acheived when greed and corruption is allowed in an office that is supposed to serve the people. Our Constitution itself allows for remedy of just such a situation, the question is, how do we act on it?:nope:
Tchocky
07-09-08, 10:38 AM
Hmm, speculation doesn't look too likely.
If the price is artificially above the logical point where quantity demanded meets quantity supplied, then we'd see excess supply. In other words, people holding onto oil in order to sell it later - which is, in essence, speculation. Believing that the hold value of oil exceeds it's immediate sale value. Therefore we'd be seeing lots of oil-holding, inventories rising sharply. But that has not been observed.
The unfortunate truth is that oil production has been relatively flat for the last 3-5 years, whereas demand has skyrocketed. This has happened for all raw materials, due to increased economic appetites in places other than the developed, price-sensitive West. Iron ore is not traded on an exchange, so there is no easy place for speculation to occur like ther is in crude oil. However, over the past year the price of iron ore has jumped 75-95% due to increased demand. This is similiar to what has been happening with oil. Excess capacity has declined rather sharply in oil-producing countries, Saudi Arabia in particular had over-estimated their reserves. This increases the risk premium on oil production, given that there is a smaller margin of safety and a lot of oil is produced in politically unstable countries.
Not to forget the unfortunate slide of the US dollar in the last several years. A major part of the oil price rise can be attributed to this, given that US dollars are the agreed upon pricing currency for crude, although this looks to be changing, albeit slowly.
SUBMAN1
07-09-08, 10:42 AM
Hardly. Global demand has increased about 1.9% per year. That doesn't equate to the price of $147 a barrel as it stands now, sliding dollar or not!
This is market manipulation. Some people need to be prosecuted.
-S
I'd think that at least part of the price increases for iron ore has to be due to increased fuel costs for recovery and transportation.
Tchocky
07-09-08, 10:48 AM
True, the awkward thing about oil and energy prices is the knock-on effects they have on just about everything.
SUBMAN1
07-09-08, 10:49 AM
I'd think that at least part of the price increases for iron ore has to be due to increased fuel costs for recovery and transportation.Actually no. Demand in China and other manufaturing countries upped this price. Oil was not consummed in the same massive demand, so it can't be traced here.
-S
I'd think that at least part of the price increases for iron ore has to be due to increased fuel costs for recovery and transportation.Actually no. Demand in China and other manufaturing countries upped this price. Oil was not consummed in the same massive demand, so it can't be traced here.
-S
Huh?
It stands to reason that if your fuel costs rise that will be reflected in the price of your product, in this case iron ore. It doesn't just arrive at the processing plant on it's own you know...
SUBMAN1
07-09-08, 11:04 AM
Huh?
It stands to reason that if your fuel costs rise that will be reflected in the price of your product, in this case iron ore. It doesn't just arrive at the processing plant on it's own you know...Well, I have more data on that than you - proprietary data so I can't share. I'm sure it affects the situation a little bit, but not the massive rises that we have. Let me see if I can find some public graphs on that. The point being, when you are the originating source for the product, transportation has minimal effect, though it will always have some effect.
-S
PS. You might find some here - http://www.metal-pages.com/charts/
PPS. Futures on metals for example are headed back down by the way. Copper for example should lose 33% of its value in the next year.
AVGWarhawk
07-09-08, 11:15 AM
Hardly. Global demand has increased about 1.9% per year. That doesn't equate to the price of $147 a barrel as it stands now, sliding dollar or not!
This is market manipulation. Some people need to be prosecuted.
-S
This thought gets my vote.
Copper for example should lose 33% of its value in the next year.
So I guess i had better get off my butt and get the several hundred pounds of scrap wire we have built up down to the recycling plant asap then huh?
SUBMAN1
07-09-08, 11:36 AM
Copper for example should lose 33% of its value in the next year.
So I guess i had better get off my butt and get the several hundred pounds of scrap wire we have built up down to the recycling plant asap then huh?Guess so! :D Since if you don't your local gang of kids will do it for you! Stealing copper seems to be a common thing now days!
-S
Copper for example should lose 33% of its value in the next year.
So I guess i had better get off my butt and get the several hundred pounds of scrap wire we have built up down to the recycling plant asap then huh?Guess so! :D Since if you don't your local gang of kids will do it for you! Stealing copper seems to be a common thing now days!
-S
Well yeah, at over a buck a pound there's some good coin to be made...
SUBMAN1
07-09-08, 11:45 AM
Well yeah, at over a buck a pound there's some good coin to be made...Even when it loses 33%, there is still some good coin to be made!
-S
Well yeah, at over a buck a pound there's some good coin to be made...Even when it loses 33%, there is still some good coin to be made!
-S
Yeah but that's probably around $500 less i'll have to spend on new stuff for the class.
SUBMAN1
07-09-08, 12:26 PM
You teach science or shop?
-S
You teach science or shop?
-S
Shop. The voice and data cabling unit generates a lot of scrap.
SUBMAN1
07-09-08, 12:44 PM
You teach science or shop?
-S
Shop. The voice and data cabling unit generates a lot of scrap.Huh??? :D You guys chewing up your wiring on occasion?
-S
Huh??? :D You guys chewing up your wiring on occasion?
Every six months! Y'see each class (I have two per year) has to do a 48 location cable installation, 1ea Voice, data and video, after demo'ing what the previous class installed. I have them wind the old sections onto reels and use that for the next classes termination training. Once the pieces are two short for that then they go in the bin for recycling.
Tsk. Tell me about it. With the Dems in the White House for the past 8 years and gas prices being what they are due to policies of all description. They should be thrown out on their arses.
Oh. Wait.....
Stealth Hunter
07-09-08, 03:55 PM
Stealing copper seems to be a common thing now days!
-S
:hmm:
:smug:
SUBMAN1
07-09-08, 04:38 PM
Stealing copper seems to be a common thing now days!
-S
:hmm:
:smug:Don't get any ideas! :D It's illegal!
Do you know construction sites are required to have $15K in insurance to cover thieves of materials? That's crazy.
-S
Platapus
07-09-08, 05:16 PM
Well it's been two whole years since they took over congress and no plan yet...
Strictly speaking the Democrats only have a majority in the house (53%)
In the Senate the Democrats have 49 and the Republicans have 49 with two independents Senators Sanders and Lieberman.
UnderseaLcpl
07-09-08, 05:22 PM
The federal government makes more in taxes on gas (in all stages of production and distribution) than the oil companies make in profits. I say get rid of the taxes and let the market do the rest. At least then high gas prices will be our own fault.
Sailor Steve
07-09-08, 06:04 PM
Stealing copper seems to be a common thing now days!
-S
:hmm:
:smug:Don't get any ideas! :D It's illegal!
Only if you're caught.
On an unrelated note: August, where did you say you lived again?
:rotfl:
les green01
07-09-08, 09:23 PM
where i work at if we catch them the least will happen is turn over to the law if i catch them cutting it below the floor im going use their head as a shovel its a pain fixing that,think on oil prices if you look far enough it started with carter
In the telecom industry most companies didn't give a hoot what you did with cable scrap as long as you didn't leave it cluttering up the customer site. Unless a piece was long enough to use for a drop it was pretty much considered trash to everyone except the technician smart enough to toss it in the back of his van instead of the dumpster. Even then it was worth little more than beer and pizza money for the cabling crew.
That all changed a couple years ago when the cost of copper went through the roof and now a pickup truck load of scrap communications cable will net about a thousand bucks if not more.
les green01
07-09-08, 11:12 PM
anymore we don't set the copper out until the day they tap the water main that dont always stop them but its not as bad,ussualy if someone ask for a scrap we give it to them and i use scrap to patch the hole in the wall a 60 ft roll of copper cost us 500 dollars even if they get half of that they hit several houses they made a nice little profit:down:
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