Do you want to lower the price of gasoline?

[unkachuck]

....my brother a I were kicking around an idea this afternoon to control the price of gasoline and to make it more affordable:

1) Nationalize the oil industry to one production and distribution entity.

2) Remove all federal and state taxes from gasoline.

3) The price of gasoline will be the same everywhere. A network of high speed computers will manage all gasoline sales nationwide at the pump. You will still be able to pay inside or be billed.

4) Every driver with a valid drivers license and current vehicle tags will be issued an uncopiable ration card to be used at the pump. The actual pricing scale for a gallon of gas will be determined weekly based upon the world-wide supply of crude. The government will make no profit and will only receive the cost of production and distribution.

5) From 0 to 10 gallons in week period your price per gallon will be $1.50

6) From 10 to 20 gallons in a week period your price per gallon will be $2.50

7) From 20 to 30 gallons in a week period your price per gallon will be $3.50

8) From 40 to 50 gallons in a week period your price per gallon will be $5.50

9) Anything above 50 gallons in a week period your price per gallon will be $10.50

....right now we have a system in which a Honda motor-scooter driver is subsidizing the glutenous Hummer driver with oil corporations and wall street profiting handsomely from each.

....with our system a person who uses less, pays less. The graduated pricing should control wastage and benefit the environment by reducing demand and encouraging alternative vehicle travel.

....what do you think?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. what about the trucking industry?

how would it work for trucking companies that use thousands of gallons of fuel a week? :shrug:

[alfredo]

82. diesel and commercial fleets could by on a different system.

[Donnachaidh]

84. you're STILL leaving out the small delivery people!

Next time you order those flowers, or a pizza -- factor in the cost of gas and toss them another 15 bucks with your payment. Delivery people DO exist! :grr:

[alfredo]

87. Not really, they'd fall under commercial.

[Donnachaidh]

2. you've done nothing to factor in trucking or small delivery businesses

In fact, what you propose would be DOA because you've left those folks out. If you cannot get goods and services out at a reasonable cost -- no business.

I'd love to see the oil companies nationalized. We should have done that years ago. Those corporate thieves have made enough -- toss them out and take it over.

[B Calm]

54. I guess he doesn't care about all of us truck drivers losing our jobs.

[Donnachaidh]

83. no kidding!

My DH does deliveries, and we're really getting hit with the cost of gas. It's all local, but JEEZ louise! Enough already! Why are the little guys getting hammered - both by the actual cost, and by these pseudo *ideas* to get people to stop buying gas?

Personally, I'd like to see it done on the people who drive around in their luxury cars - the Humvee owner that owns the McMansion in an urban area should be paying three times as much as everybody else. He bought the damned thing for prestige -- let him pay the price for the gas as well.

But folks who need the gas for their business -- cheapest amount.

[AteAlien]

3. I have 5 vehicles

The one that is getting overused these days is the scooter.

I recommend that everyone give scooters a try. They're addictive! A good addiction!

[parasim]

5. I have 2. The one I use most is my bicycle.

Scooters are fun, but bikes are the best.

[AteAlien]

7. two bikes here

:thumbsup:

Ya got me!

[parasim]

10. cool! yeah, bikes rule.

it's funny, my son is a diehard biker. he rides his bike to work every day (20 miles), even in blizzards, and he tells me these stories of people driving by in SUVs, yelling out their windows, "Freak!" on his way to work. Cracks me up.

[AteAlien]

13. They all assume that I

got a DUI and don't have a license! I love it. Costs me nothing to get to work or the store except a little exercise.

[elocs]

32. I frequently ride my bike here in Wisconsin in decent weather.

Since I do not have a death wish I do not ride my bike in the winter on the ice and in the snow. Whenever I see one of those noble bike riders who wants to prove they can ride in the middle of winter on a street or highway (oh, they need to actually ride in the lane of traffic) that is already narrowed by plowed snow and watch how they try and maintain their balance on the ice and in the blowing snow I can only hope they have signed their donor card and that the motorist that kills them can live with the result of somebody making a stupid choice.

[Obamanaut]

80. I rode my recumbent a 6 mile ride one way to get gas so I could

mow my sister's yard this past Wednesday (older than I am, bad legs and feet, arthritis, etc.) Went inside the convenience store, told the lady I wanted a fill up on the bicycle (two gallon container in the basket on the back. Lady looked at me real strange. Rode the 2.5 miles back to sister's house, did the yard.

Made a similar round trip today to replenish the container of gas. Same lady looked at me REAL strange this time.

[Deja Q]

71. Best place to get one, with a bin to store groceries and stuff?

I'd do it.

I do have a balance problem, so bicycles are out of the equation. Nobody's perfect...

[Mojambo]

4. Going to have to figure out something for transport industries

Other than that, I love it.

[last1standing]

6. A few problems.

As others have pointed out, this would cripple trucking and shipping which in turn would cripple business and create massive shortages of food in urban centers.

Another problem would be the hit on buses that would now be faced with $10.50/gallon gas. This would destroy mass transit.

Then there's the problem of those people who must commute to work driving over 25 miles each way. In Metro Detroit, that is the norm, not the exception. This plan would wreak even greater havoc on our economy.

Lastly, the tax on gasoline is a major fund raiser for infrastructure. If we remove that tax our roads will crumble.

I agree we need to do something about gas, regulating it would be a start. However, we have to find ways of changing the system without destroying it.

[unkachuck]

15. alright....

....lower the maximum price to $8.50 per gallon....

....infrastructure would come out of general federal revenue, income tax, where it belongs as a basic necessity for our country....

....the cost of mass transit may go up but everyone using vehicles that use high volumes of oil will have to pay for that usage....or use alternative vehicles and energy sources....

[AteAlien]

16. What about people in rural areas?

Who have to use their machines due to no mass transit?

[unkachuck]

18. go to more....

....fuel efficient machines and save money....

[reformedrethug]

63. Are you

going to buy them for the farmers? Will you provide the loans they may need in order to do this?

[Yavapai]

75. How do people who live in rural areas survive?

It is 80 miles one way to the grocery store for us. We try to go only once every three weeks and try to go even less often. There isn't any mail delivery here, so the post office box is 30 miles away (we pick up our mail once a week.) The roads are dirt for the first 15 miles and either dusty or muddy or frozen and four wheel drive is a necessity. Also a small car just wouldn't make it. I am trying to get others locally to car pool for these trips.

In other ways, we are very easy on our carbon use. Solar power for all of our electrical needs, such as pumping water from the well and a water cooler to cool in the summer, large freezer and fridge, etc. When we read Mother Earth news about becoming self sufficient by growing your own veggies, solar power and such, they didn't mention that we would still have to drive so far. And, about twice a year we get jury summons to the court house that is 100 miles away. Do we have to pay $10.00 a gallon for that?

Please send any ideas for improvement, we are very receptive to suggestions. :)

[Poll_Blind]

8. I like this. K&R

PB

[Speck Tater]

9. Regardless of whether oil was nationalized within the USA

that company would still have to buy crude from other countries at rates set by the international market.

And without profits, a nationalized oil company would have nothing to spend on exploration, drilling, maintenance, and new facilities. That would be a recipe for long term disaster, like what is happening with the nationalized oil company in Mexico.

And finally, it doesn't really matter any way, since the supply vs demand dynamic will continue to push prices higher and higher for as long as any oil remains in the ground.

The price of gasoline never will go lower (by any significant amount for any significant period of time), no matter who does what. And that's probably a good thing as far as global climate chaos is concerned.

[Canuckistanian]

86. Make the oil companies DEFINE their exploration costs

It's about time we ended their unlimited subsidies for new oil discovery with precious few results.

And as for maintenance, why is that susbsidized at all?

No other industry gets to write off their maintenance costs. That's what budgeting for capital replacement is for.

It's time we faced the the pain now in order to foster more sustainable (and realistic) energy sources.

[Hugin]

11. They all seem pretty regressive to me...

I'd encourage (and partially fund lower income people) to move to alternative energy and lower consumption vehicles.

These plans only serve to trap lower income and people who depend on mobility for their livelihood in gas guzzlers.

What about the expense? You may ask, to which I reply... Damn sight cheaper than invading the Middle East.

[unkachuck]

22. no matter what....

....you're driving in an urban setting your mileage should be low....and you have greater options in an urban area to use alternative vehicles....

[Hugin]

27. But, not everybody can live in an urban setting. n/t

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

12. What about all of the long comutes to work?

you know, 90 miles a day times 5 days week?


EDIT to add -->>

2) Remove all federal and state taxes from gasoline.
->> Just how would pay for road work, new and old construction does cost $$$?

[unkachuck]

17. move closer to work and save the gas....

[Hugin]

19. I'm all for it...

Are you gonna chip in to feed the kids while I look for work?

[unkachuck]

23. I'm willing....

....to do my part to keep the social-safety-net well-funded....

[Hugin]

26. Great! I'll be right back with a grocery list...

Then! I'll go pluck a job off of the luscious bountiful job tree... Uh, where'd you say that was again? I forget.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

24. ?

Neat trick...
if there were any decent jobs around here.

[WillowTree]

47. Sure. Because right now would be an ideal time to sell a home.

And what happens next January when my office moves? Do I have to sell and move again then? Not to mention the fact that housing any closer than I am right now to the new office location is competely out of my price range.

This is utter nonsense. It's tantamount to requiring people to move every time they change jobs since we have no control over where "the job" will turn up.

And what about people who have to drive in the course of their jobs like home inspectors, cleaning persons, handymen, home health care workers and the like? How are they supposed to afford the punitive pricing you recommend?

[TommyO]

57. Are you going to subsidize my move?

The reason I live where I do is because I can't afford to live where I work. For many people, moving isn't an option.

[Deja Q]

73. I said the same thing to Apple when they asked people to try Macs...

Hmmm, no response and it's only been a few years... Oh well! :D

[reformedrethug]

64. Sure,

if you tell me how I can reduce my wife's commute AND reduce mine as well I am all for it.
Her commute is 40 miles south, mine is 40 miles west.

[unkachuck]

89. let's factor in....

....a transition period....in which the old system will be phased out and the new one brought on line....how about 2 years?....

....is that enough time for you to adjust your lifestyle?....

....after a few more oil wars when the price of a barrel of crude is artificially driven to $400, what are you going to do?

[reformedrethug]

94. the only

way our lifestyle can change is if I find a job in a different city AND we can sell our home and move, otherwise nothing will change. If oil gets that high (which I HIGHLY doubt) I will just have to deal with it. Unless you live in a major city there is not much you can do about your commute.

My wife has 23 years at her job, there is NO WAY she is going to leave there unless they offer her an early retirement, then we could change some things around, but until that point not much is going to change.

[unkachuck]

97. if you want to maintain....

....your current lifestyle, then you'll have to pay for it....

....I don't think it's fair that we should be forced to subsidize your high-volume fuel usage and lifestyle through inflated prices....

[reformedrethug]

100. And

I don't think its fair OR right for you to want to force your views on me or others. Many people live in smaller towns for several reasons:

Lower crime rates, less traffic, quieter environment, cleaner air. Can you sit on your back deck and hear the crickets at night? Can you look in the night sky and see stars not washed out by the city lights? How many air quality alerts do you have a year in the city? I can get anywhere I need to in town in under 10 minutes, and that is taking the long way. I grew up in the city and I hated it, hated the noise, the smell, the congestion, the hassles in general.

[Deja Q]

72. Will the house sell, in this market?

Otherwise not a bad point, but reality is a many splintered thing...

[ChazII]

85. I have a golden coffin not a

golden parachute. Leaving the school district in which I work, to work in the one in which I leave would mean a huge pay cut of several thousand dollars. My school district is one of the few that has insurance for dependents. The district in which I live does not provide dependent coverage. Sorry, I can support your plan. Not only for my selfish reasons, but for the same reasons others pointed out.

[parasim]

14. I got a better idea. Ride a bicycle to work.

If you live too far from work, then move closer. Or work from home.

We really don't need cars. If we're really serious about not being strangled by the cost of gas, not to mention the environmental concerns, we can change how we do things to not be. It's not hard.

[reformedrethug]

66. maybe in your world

but not in MY world. The best I can do right now is ride my motorcycle, other than that I am pretty much stuck which is why I dont complain. No matter how much I want to bitch about it there really is not much I can do about it so I just deal with it. I learned a LONGGGG time ago that it is a waste of energy to worry about things that I have no control over. I cannot control the cost of gas so I just grin and bear it.

[PVnRT]

108. I get tired of the "just move closer" argument

It sounds an awful lot like the right-wingers complaining that unemployed people should just "move to where the jobs are," as if they have the means to do so.

Look up housing prices in Vernon Hills, IL; most of the people I worked with at an R&D lab there could not afford to live within 20 miles of the suburb. Trust me, these people were not living high on the hog, either, and I'm talking about the chemists and technicians there, to say nothing of secretaries and janitors.

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. lol!

:silly:

[Warpy]

21. How are you going to finance keeping the interstates repaired?

How are commercial drivers going to survive?

[unkachuck]

29. income tax....

....for infrastructure....take it out of the Pentagons budget, good infrastructure is good national security....

....commercial drivers will have to pay the maximum rate, ship things by other means, improve their vehicles and mileage, take less profit, or railroads and short distribution trucking will take their business....

....railroads and aircraft are excluded....for now....

[Fumesucker]

25. You're going to screw everyone that does any sort of construction work..

I was in construction for many years, driving a long distance to different job sites with a truck and trailer full of heavy tools and supplies was a daily grind.

I can think of a lot of other people your plan will screw also.

Not everyone works in the same location, with the same hours every day.. My wife's job takes her over quite a wide area over the course of a week, some of the stores she manages are fifty or more miles away and some are within ten miles. She also has to present a professional appearance, not something that's possible to do when you've just ridden a scooter twenty miles in one hundred degree heat and ninety percent humidity.

Just wearing a helmet, gloves and protective gear is enough to melt you for a good five months out of the year down here in the deep South.

[unkachuck]

33. well then....

....let's keep those oil wars coming....that ain't no bargin either....

[Fumesucker]

40. So basically you don't care who you screw..?

And the Iraq war was designed to drive the price of oil *up* not down.

[Arctic Dave]

28. The only way to use less oil is to redesign society.

There are no other options. That means no more suburbs, no more suvs then more mass transit, more political will, more simple living.

[1]

30. small problems...

"1) Nationalize the oil industry to one production and distribution entity."

one production and one distribution entity might be a problem if there ever were an accident or a natural disaster. 1 - 1 = 0. doesn't sound good.

"2) Remove all federal and state taxes from gasoline."

those taxes are there for a reason. in the best case they pay for infrastructure improvements along the way (in reality they might not) but this idea makes me queezy.

"3) The price of gasoline will be the same everywhere. A network of high speed computers will manage all gasoline sales nationwide at the pump. You will still be able to pay inside or be billed."

california has all sorts of gas requirements that make their gas more expensive. transportation and distribution accounts for price differential too. how do you calculate "same price"?


and the "honda motor-scooter" transporting one person around opposed as to the truck full of food that will benefit many raises questions about the "sliding scale" of per-week usage.


i'm not criticizing. i like all ideas. these are just my thoughts.

[unkachuck]

35. one....

....production and distribution entity should bring the savings of scale....

....make everyone pay for the roads through general revenue....everyone benefits from roads, one way or another....

....as gas usage decreases polution should improve....if summer blends are needed in certain areas they'll receive those blends but the cost of those blends will be shared by all of us and reflected in the weekly adjustments....

....clean air benefits all and improves the health of everyone....which has a cost benefit to society....

[1]

38. ok...

"....production and distribution entity should bring the savings of scale...."


yes, as a purely economic exercise that would be the thought, but think about my question:

what if an explosion occurred at your "one" production facility? what if a hurricane disrupted your "one" distribution channel? what then?


"....make everyone pay for the roads through general revenue....everyone benefits from roads, one way or another...."


the problem with general revenue is that its just cash thrown into the pile that will probably be used to pay for a "bridge to nowhere" or a war in iraq as for much needed infrastructure improvements. the reason taxes are targeted for specific reasons is that they are targeted for specific reasons.


"....as gas usage decreases polution should improve....if summer blends are needed in certain areas they'll receive those blends but the cost of those blends will be shared by all of us and reflected in the weekly adjustments...."


how does gas usage decrease? a truck full of food still needs to get from point a to point b. don't kid yourself into thinking that all of a sudden food will magically start to appear locally and be humped in by donkeys. what you eat is produced very far away from where you live. mcmansions now occupy that farm land everyone seemed to ignore and the farmers that produced those crops. the "screw them farmers" mentality of wanting cheap food might suddenly start coming back to bite us in the ass...



"....clean air benefits all and improves the health of everyone....which has a cost benefit to society...."

i love clean air too. yes i do.

[unkachuck]

98. "what if....

....an explosion occurred at your "one" production facility?"

....there would be more than 'one' massive refinery....production and distribution would reside in 'one' governmental agency....an agency, like the Department of Defense, with people appointed by our elected representatives....

[lildreamer316]

31. My husband works two hours away. Drives there four days a week.

ATM, he uses our Honda Del Sol that gets about 37 to the gallon.
It's 88 miles one way...
704 miles a week.
So he'd pay probably $2.50/gal. under your plan; maybe into the next bracket if he did any extra driving around town; etc.

I think that's survivable. But I really think we probably need to keep some of the taxes in effect. They do pay for a lot...

[razors edge]

34. Where can I get a chip implanted like yours.

Just asking.

Seriously, I love your Idea. I have a company gas card and technically don't ever buy gas personally, so I could make a killing on that plan.

[unkachuck]

36. if you're....

....company let's you buy gas at $8.50 a gallon with a card tied to them, fine....

....but we do have technology that can read your tags before you pull up to the pump that will verify you, your vehicle and the ration card you use....

....they're using that technology on stop lights in Chicago....

[razors edge]

37. You really should read George Orwell's 1984.

If you advocate such a thing as tracking who buys what where and when, then I advocate ending your relevance.

I would not give someone with that mentality the keys to the dog pound.

BTW, I move a quarter million gallons of petrol on a slow day on just my hand written orders, transfered by Teamster employees, I could scam your plan in several ways.

[unkachuck]

90. ok....

....but don't run a red light in Chicago....check your calendar, 1984 is here....

[CRF450]

39. Some of us have recreational activities that uses fuel too

I only go through about 5 gallons of fuel per week with my dirtbike, it actually gets better fuel milage than my car which averages around 22mpg. My 16mpg truck is used for work, and I do go through a whole 20 tank of fuel per week. My summer job is starting this Saturday, so the truck is going to be driven 75% of the time.

[PinkTiger]

41. Your plan sucks.

I have to drive 50 miles to work every day and this would kill me.
I'll keep it the way it is. We have no public transportation and I can't afford to live closer. So I guess I'm stuck.

[CRF450]

42. Yup, I'm in the same boat.

Housing in cities is fuckin expensive. Its much cheaper currently for me to own a house out in the country, have plenty of money for fuel, and still have a good disposable income.

[lonestarnot]

43. What about people who drive for a living?

[bush_equals_mladic]

44. Makes little sense

The price will still be dependent on international price mainly controlled by ME; and all suppliers are pro Palestine and lined up against Israel - an illegitimately produced entity mainly by Anglo Saxon lot who wanted Jews out of their countries. The price of gas will double if Iran is tampered with.

The price can best be brought under control by bargaining there in the ME. Israel must be on the discussion table. This is the reality. You keep Israel but pay higher and higher price for crude. You let Israel go and Jews disperse in Europe and America, the price of gas will be down and Islamic (sic)terrorism will be out.

This is my strong belief in all sincerity.

Therefore, I think Bush is a nut case. His attempted solution has made this world more unsafe. He has very capably destroyed American economy, brought ridicule to America, successfully upped petroleum prices shifting financial strength to the ME countries and brought hardships to Americans and the whole world.

[unkachuck]

101. the long term goal....

....would be to have an international energy forum in which energy consuming nations and energy producing nations would agree to a pricing and distribution system based on need, not greed or war....

....as our population increases, managing the planets finite resources will become ever-increasingly important....we can manage the planets limited resources through corporate war or through negotiations....

....that's up to you young people to decide....

[Initech]

45. There's an even easier way than that:

Tell OPEC to go fuck themselves and bring back Standard Oil.

[bush_equals_mladic]

49. Bush it, you mean?

This is what America has been saying for the last 10 years. And see where it has landed you? Dollar is getting ****** but Americans seem still to be be enjoying the ****. Bush & Cheney are simply loving it. Now they are talking about bombing Iran at the behest of Israel. Happy *******.

[Initech]

74. Yeah and that's because Bush and Cheney are a bunch of apocalypse-worshipping fuck nuts

who will do anything to make it happen. That's why McCain has been trying to get the support of apocalypse committee head John Hagee.

Oh and by the way, you do not need to edit your swears here.

[Duppers]

46. I like it!!

Just included an exemption for folks who have to drive for a living.

Something HAS to be done.

thanks for the thought that went into this.

On edit:
One major problem is the $'s value.
Get out of Iraq + balance the budget = raising the value of the dollar and
that'll help lower the price of imported crude.

[Doctor Cynic]

48. Black market, here we come!

[reformedrethug]

67. you got that right

especially those of us that live out in the country, or in small towns and commute to bigger cities for our jobs.

[reggie the dog]

50. No

No, I think the price of gasoline is too low in the USA. I pay 1.35 euro per liter, or 5.40 euro the gallon. That means I pay 8.48 dollars per gallon. My gas guzzler station wagon car gets between 50 and 55 miles per gallon and the good fuel economy one gets 65 miles per gallon. When I visit my parents in the USA they loan us a pickup or a van to use. They get between 13 and 18 miles per gallon. These vehicules USE FOUR TIMES THE GASOLINE I USE ON MY CARS IN FRANCE!!!!! I pay 8.48 to go 60 miles in France and, at 3.75 per gallon, 15 dollars to go 60 miles in the USA.

Buy smaller cars which use less gasoline.

[Marrah_G]

61. You also have a small country with a great deal of public transportation

It is very different here.

In the last 5 years my Gas and heat have almost tripled, food has almost doubled. My wages have not. There is no public transportation to my work. Moving closer would cost me almost double in rent.

The working class in America is in a real jam. If gas prices keep rising with no other changes then the working class is seriously fucked.

[reggie the dog]

69. gasoline and diesel

have gone up fifty percent in the last four years, food is more expensive. Wages are stagnating here. Our advantage is the public trasportation. You also cannot find cars which get 60mpg for around 10000 or 15000 dollars like we can in France.

[Marrah_G]

70. Yup

I would love to move away from using so much gas. But it has to be a plan that won't destroy the working class in the name of advancement.

[Wabbajack_]

51. "Nationalize the oil industry "

Congrats Mr. President you've just been shot. :o :o

[B Calm]

52. So that 1,400 mile family vacation this summer would cost me ??

just for the gas and that's not including my boat. . . NO THANKS!

[unkachuck]

99. you know I love you, B Calm....

....but you're going to have to pay for you own vacation....I can't afford to keep subsidizing you through war taxes and inflated corporate pricing....

[taterguy]

53. How are you gonna handle people who only rent cars?

Lots of people that live in major cities only drive when they go out of town.

They don't have "current vehicle tags."

There are several other problems with your little scheme but that's one of the most obvious ones.

[unkachuck]

91. when you pay....

....with your credit card the rentals tags will add to your vehicle list for the rental period....

[B Calm]

55. So what about all the millionaires with their private jets and motor yachts?

[unkachuck]

93. aircraft are excluded for now....

....if you purchase marina fuel from a pump with your yachts identification then the graduated pricing would apply....

....you will be able to purchase 2 gallons of gas per week from any pump with only your current gas/ration card identification, at maximum price of course....

[B Calm]

95. So it's okay for the CEO teenage daughter to take the Lear to England to see the Spice Girls concert

That's what my CEO's daughter did the weekend before last.

[unkachuck]

102. ok, you got me....

....make it all 'commercial' aircraft are excluded....

[theboss]

110. But not "commercial trucking"

Why?

I don't think you have any concept of the number of miles people put on their cars in the ordinary course of doing business.

[Fractured]

56. Point (1) would ensure that gas price would go even higher.

Moreover, it would surely create supply problems.

[elizfeelinggreat]

58. what an incredible sig line

"Sure, there a winners and losers under capitalism. The winners are the industrious, the intelligent and the innovative. The losers are the stupid, the lazy and the unimaginative."

[Fumesucker]

59. Incredibly misleading sig line..

The real winners under capitalism are the schemers, manipulators and sociopaths.

Luck has a fair bit to do with it too..

Just look at Bill Gates, Microsoft has stolen every concept it has ever made money on. The whole idea for Windoze came from Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center.

Gates was just a superior schemer and manipulator who acted in a sociopathic manner toward his business competitors.

GW Bush has done pretty well under capitalism too, and yet he is anything but intelligent, innovative and hard working.

[elizfeelinggreat]

60. Sure gives you an idea

of what point of view the poster is coming from.

[Fractured]

78. "The real winners under (solialism) are the schemers, manipulators and sociopaths."

You obviously haven't been paying attention to what's been going on in the world for last 200 years or so.

[Marrah_G]

62. A couple issues

I commend your taking the time to try and come up with solutions.

The issues I have with your plan is the hardship you would put on the working class especially.

Gas prices impact food prices. My food costs have doubled in the last 5 years.

Gas prices also impact heating oil. My cost for heating has almost tripled.

Most people do not have available public trans. Most places with public trans are more expensive.

Our country is so large that is is not usually possible to live close enough to work to walk or bike.

I could get by on 20 gal of gas so my gas cost would lower. But I also live in New England and my heating costs would bankrupt me.

I am a single working class mother. Changes like yours, without changes in other areas would break me.

[unkachuck]

103. there would be savings....

....for one, refining capacity would be built to meet demand, not pricing manipulation....shortage of seasonal fuel oil stocks should disappear which would reflect itself in fuel oil pricing....

....but true, if you're a high volume user, you will be paying more....but right now we're all paying 'more' even if we're energy efficient....

[Rosemary2205]

65. THE PRICE OF GAS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEMAND.

The supply is being manipulated and the dollar isn't worth shit, making it necessary to pay more in dollars to get the same amount of anything. the double whammy.

the triple whammy is that your wages are not going up in proportion to the fall of the dollar.

[jmowreader]

68. I hope by "one production and distribution entity"...

you mean one company, and not one refinery.

In addition to the Single Point of Failure problem inherent in having only one refinery, do you realize how freaking BIG it would have to be to make all the gas for the whole country?

I think we've already covered the reason why a guy who burns 100 gallons of fuel a day wouldn't be able to make any money at $10.50/gallon. Four bucks is bad enough.

[unkachuck]

105. "...you mean one company, and not one refinery..."

....yes

"...guy who burns 100 gallons of fuel a day..." needs to stop and do something different with his business operation which he should be doing anyway....

....because the price of a gallon of gas is not going to stop at $4.00....

[aikoaiko]

76. Your thread title and post contents do not match.

Anyone who uses over 20 gallons (especially over 30) would see higher prices.

?

How are you lowering prices by raising them?

[roamer65]

77. I don't want the price lowered.

If $4 a gallon drives even more gas hog SUV's off the road, bring it on!

[whistler162]

79. Great idea.....

head on down to the nearest truckstop and pass it around.:sarcasm:

[Redstone]

81. Uh, people who use less already DO pay less. Because they, DUH, don't buy as much.

Sorry, but what a colossally stupid set of "ideas."

Redstone

[ileus]

88. woo hoo I'm finally back to 1.50 gallon, not down to the 1.00 I'd like but that's okay...

[defendandprotect]

92. Like the nationalizing but I think you have to go for ELECTRIC CARS . . .

See: "Who Stole the Electric Cars?"

[MadHound]

96. I think that your plan is foolish, that's what I think

First of all what are you on, wanting to nationalize the oil industry under an oil president? Talk about fulfilling somebody's wet dream.

Second, I'm sorry, but we need those taxes that are collected, to repair and expand infrastructure, and pay for a myriad of programs. How are you going to make up that revenue shortfall, especially when your roads start to crumble due to neglect and your state workers are going unpaid.

A network of highspeed computers is going to be hacked to hell and gone. Good luck with that.

Likewise any ration card will be copied and successfully used, again and again.

Your pricing scheme is unfair to farmers, small farmers and the rural population. What, are you just willing to let us rot? We will be passing that oil price on to you the consumer. You think your food bill is high now, you see what happens when gas is 5.50 a gallon.

Sorry, but your plan here is not the answer.

[theboss]

104. You've just destroyed the trucking industry in America...and thus destroyed the American economy

Well done there.

[unkachuck]

106. there will....

....be a lot of good >> Union Jobs << soon available on the rejuvenated railroads....

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

107. S T U U U U U U U U U P I D D D D D D D.

And that pricing scheme is one of the most asinine and illogical things I've ever seen.

[Ganja Ninja]

109. I'd rather we tax windfall profits and discourage excessive use

by raising gas taxes as well. The rationing idea sounds like something we should implement but I wouldn't hold my breath.