Idea for how to get CHEAP GAS to the poor from Venesuela!!!

[jsamuel]

This would be GREAT for me, let alone people who have kids and are working for as little as I am. I know the oil companies would HATE it. That is why I expect Bush/Cheney and the rest of the corporations’ buddies to attack him. While I have no doubts that he could halve the price by cutting out the oil companies, there is also the big question of how it could only be sold to the poor.

I think what could work is that they only sell cheep gas to gas stations. Gas stations are the only places where poor and middle class buy gas. Rich people would have to buy it for their industrial purposes at the normal price from a bulk seller (like is done currently).

Sound simple enough?


(See thread in LBN about Chavez wanting to sell cheap gas to American poor: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1722617 )

[justinsb]

1. Chavez is truly a kind man

I have little sympathy for the poor in the US who are still paying less than much of the world does (In Canada we are paying 3.75-4 per US gallon and we are an oil exporter. It is time to end dependence on fossil fuels, not subsidize it.

[jsamuel]

2. that sounds great, but the US doesn't help the poor like Canada does

when they are in trouble...

People will loose their jobs and will loose food over high gas prices here and the government will not help. You have to remember that the US IS NOT CANADA! Sure you pay 3-4 dollars a gallon, but YOU GET UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You get something for your tax dollars in Canada, we don't.

On edit: The poor have no power to help end the dependence on oil. Are you kidding me? If you want to end our dependence on oil, go after our corporations and congress, not the poor!

[justinsb]

3. It's not the corporations or congress

they don't help, but the problem is local..too many commuters, no public transit, zoning laws that keep buiness' out of walking distance from places where people live. These are all local issues, congress and corporations have very little to do with them. It's true that the US government does not help the poor, but that is largely because the US middle class and wealthy are not supportive of the poor and the poor are largely not politically active (study after study has shown that the more money you have the more likely you are to vote) the poorest Americans don't vote, and aren't politically active - if they were, if they turned out regularly they would get a better deal. Again, I don't have alot of sympathy.

[jsamuel]

5. well I do have a lot of sympathy

[Conservativesux]

4. Rich people dont fill at gas stations. They have some underpaid peon

do it for them. Thats why you almost never see your doctor or laywer at the gas station.

It isnt feasible for most people to have underground storage tanks any more. Too many rules and regulations these days.

Only businesses that use lots of fuel do that anymore. Private cardlock stations also pick up the slack.

[hughee99]

8. From what I've seen

the people who drive high end vehicles into gas stations usually pump it themselves. Maybe it's because they don't want anyone else touching their car, but I'm not sure about that.

[Cats Against Frist]

6. How about a group of co-operative gas stations???

A small membership fee, that could maybe be subsidized for the very poor? I bet you anything that the gestapo would find a way to try any organization that tried to do that, for treason. And, of course, any multinational that wants to fleece everyone should be able to do whatever the fuck they want.

[jsamuel]

7. hmmm... maybe he could regulate prices of CITGO's in only certain

parts of the country.

Like in poor parts of the country or city, he could sell CITGO gas for less?

...

[satya]

9. Distribute prepaid Citgo gas cards to low-income people. n/t

[NYC]

10. Perhaps showing one's

food stamp card? Not everyone who is poor enough to need cheaper gas would qualify for food stamps.

Perhaps there could be a list of possible IDs. Showing a tax return is no good because you could simply prepare a tax return with a lower income (not the one you sent to the IRS).

Perhaps paycheck stub? I don't think any system will be foolproof, but some of the people who qualify would benefit.

[jsamuel]

11. that would take some amount of US gov't regulation

although it is a good idea, i just wonder if the US govt is going to help AT ALL

Even the dems will probably not do much for this

[NYC]

12. Why government regulation?

The driver shows the card to the gas station attendant who then says it is fine to buy gas at a lower price.

There will likely be counterfeited cards, but that is true of anything.

P.S. In NYC, I have seen people shop with food stamps at the supermarket. It looks like a credit card. It seems to work like a debit card. $X on the card at beginning of month, and purchase price is deducted from balance.