Where is the Dog and Pony Show over gas prices?

[doc03]

Every year when the gas prices come close to $4.00 somebody in Congress calls for hearings on the situation. They gather up all the oil CEOs, the Democrats insult them and call them names and the Republicans apologise to them. Come on lets the show started!

[physioex]

1. Hmmm...Not sure.

Maybe our tolerance level increased. Perhaps when it goes to $6/gal.

[Newest Reality]

2. It is the new normal!

If you don't hear on the media or a politician does not touch it, it is clear that it doesn't exist. That's our reality now, collectively, at least.

No, there are far too many inconvenient factors that go along with calling any unnecessary attention to oil and gas prices right now. Windfall profits, speculation, commodity investors, supply and demand questions, Peak Oil and diminishing resources, the deep impact on the entire economy, favoritism to petroleum companies, subsidies, drilling rights, control, the deliberate bottle-neck in the refining process due to aging plants and lack of investment in new ones to keep up with demand, current reserves, issues in the Middle-East, etc.

We just can't go there because our most important issues are enough. We have to continue to find new ways to bring the wealthy and multinational corporations to their just and required outcome: zero taxation in this decade! We are also very preoccupied right now with another national priority and that is to cut anything that interferes with the above agenda. The useless eaters, old people, children, poor and homeless, etc., are dragging us down and costing far too much except where they are still profitable for the time being.

We have to get with the program and asking questions about oil prices is a form of subtle treason these days. We must be quiet and learn to accept and love the price we pay for continuing to have the sweet privilege of happy motoring while it is here. We won't even touch on the fact that petroleum, (and its prices) are the coursing, lifeblood of everything from food to manufactured goods. Don't go there if you love the American way.

[bullwinkle428]

3. The dog & pony show usually at least accomplishes some

draw-down of the prices, but there doesn't seem to even be an effort to start the show this time around. Our corporate masters continue to grow increasingly blatant in their effort to show who's in charge.

[JohnnyRingo]

4. It's ticking bomb waiting to go off at exactly $4.00

Americans are short sighted, we don't get upset until it actually gets painful.
Assuredly, once it goes off the finger pointing will be deafening. (hahahaha)

[Javaman]

8. I predict it will happen at 5 bucks...

last run up, people started griping, fighting and fueling and running at 4 bucks.

at 5 bucks, that's when the real fun starts.

and just to note, it has to be 5 bucks nationally.

It was well over 4 last time and currently is now in area's of California, however, I'm still paying under 4 bucks here in Texas. There are no fights, or fueling and running widely reported...yet.

[JohnnyRingo]

11. Yeah, but at $4 the political attack machine will kick into gear

With it the usual public outrage and overreaction that spawns on AM radio will make it's way to all media outlets.

[Javaman]

12. They did that last time as well.

the real uniting anger will be at the mile stone price of 5 bucks.

Because, while food prices are going up, the real effects are some what like a cascade. When the price hits 4 bucks we feel the pain of high food prices from gas at 3.50. When the price hits 4.50 we feel the pain of food prices being trucked at 4.

Last time, there were all sorts of stories about truckers unable to make ends meet when the price was 4 bucks.

Imagine what it will be like when it's 5. And that is just for regular gas. Diesel moves the majority of freight and trucks in this nation. When gas is 5, diesel will be closer to 6.

That's when the poop really hits the oscillator.

But I will also admit, all things could change and people could finally wake up and realize how screwed up things are and not wait for 5 bucks.

:shrug:

my guess is as good as anyones at this point. LOL

[Thav]

5. It's already starting, heard it on faux nooz

It was on in the locker room, and some blowhards were trying to talk about how the price of oil doesn't affect the price of gas, and how speculators have nothing to do with driving up the price of gas. They even equated: "A bunch of people who bet on the superbowl don't have any affect on who wins the superbowl." While that's true, speculators who base their purchases on bets affect the price of commodities.

[badtoworse]

6. Y'aint seen nothin yet

Wait until international concern over our unbridled borrowing starts to really impact the value of the dollar. It hasn't happened to a great extent yet, but it will. The biggest risk would be if the world stopped using the dollar as the de facto reserve currency - you could see gas prices (and prices for everything else) double or triple in a very short period of time. Failure to raise the debt ceiling or raising it without drastic changes in our fiscal policy are both potential triggers for this.

[Javaman]

9. +1! nt

[Javaman]

7. It's sort of like a community theaters yearly revival of "Picnic", only with out the good acting. nt

[noamnety]

10. Election timing isn't right yet.