Fuel Prices

[Unit 5302]

Originally Posted by Mr 5 0

Which is investigated and prosecuted by the Justice Department. You seem to believe that the oil companies simply do as they please and that they are practically unregulated, which is about 180 degrees from the truth. This is 2005, not 1905.



Because they sell a lot more gas now and costs have gone down over time due to the merger. Cost control and higher profits were the reason for the merger.



Which I mentioned. Their profits are also very large, which seems to be what upsets you the most.



At least you recognize Microsoft's reason for success. Giving people what they want and doing it better than anyone else is the age-old route to business growth and high profits. Henry Ford did it 100 years ago and so have many others, since. When that happens, profit will soar. That some find this natural economic occurrence some symptom of evil intents is rather pathetic.



That 'significent risk' is one view and is not shared by all observers.



I am not at all surprised that you want to dismiss the very real fact that - adjusted for inflation - gas now costs only a bit more than it did 20 or 30 years ago, even though we use a lot more of it, now. That is a significent fact, whether you wish to deal with it, or not.



Not at all. Gas taxes add to the cost of every gallon of gas we put into our vehicles and that is another signigicent factor when discusssing gas prices.



There are many reasons for the profit increase, as you already know. That rate of profit will not be sustained as expenses will go up and other factors will also impact on the oil companies profits. You must know that, too.



They raise prices when supply is insufficient to demand. So does every other business. C'mon! I have already stated that the fact that high gas prices normally drive down consumption is an ancillary effect of those higher prices and would occur whether the oil companies wanted it to, or not.



The Bush Energy Bill was far too pliant toward the oil companies interests, as I have already stated. Do you even read anything I post or do you just skim and look for points to oppose?

Every time gas prices go up sharply members of congress and the public demand an investigation. They usually get it and no 'gouging' is ever found, no matter who does the investigating.



Stating realities is not 'condescending', Kell. We all make our choices and those who choose to commute a long distance 5 days a week and then cry when gas prices go up sharply are somewhat naive.



Gas prices certainly do have some impact on the economy as a whole, beginning with each citizens household budget. I never said that they didn't. In our generally affluent country, we still pay less for gas than many, less-affluent country's drivers do, which is great, in my opinion. How much the current rise in U.S. pump gas prices will actually impact our overall economy remains to be seen.



Perhaps, but whomever owns that Exxon-Mobil stock has a reasonable expectation that it will perform well, as any stockholder does, regardless of their income level or sophistication. To imply that if a stockholder is not solidly middle-class they don't count is ridiculous. I thought you respected and understood capitalism?



I simply disagreed with some of the things you posted and wanted to give another point of view. That your screen name is on the posts is irrelevant. I would have made the same replies to anyone who held the same opinions on the same issues.



I think they are clearly relevant and your opinion of their accuracy is open to debate, which is what the forum is for, isn't it? However, I am getting tired of going over the same basic ground and am quite willing to give you the last word here in order to conclude our exchange, as the price of gas has dropped and the issue is becoming stale at this point...at least, for me.

Stale. Simply because you have no way to actually debate me, this is becoming stale is it? After making it more than abundantly clear what my main issue was with the cost of gasoline, you simply ignored it and continued babbling on about irrelevent material. Perhaps you were hoping that innundating myself and other members with naive opinions and unrelated debate topics would present a more powerful position than what you actually had. For most people, you probably did. Changing the subject is what many politicans do when they're beat. You're not a very gracious loser, are you? Well then, since you have nothing relevent to my points that you'd like to address, I'm going to leave this political game.

[82 GT]

Well, I may not know as much about politics as you and Mr. 50 do but I did understand the point you were trying to make.
Having said that, anything that I tried to point out early in the thread was considered mute.
I quit because Mr. 5 0 has a servere superiorority complex and ego.

[Mr 5 0]

Originally Posted by Unit 5302

Stale. Simply because you have no way to actually debate me, this is becoming stale is it? After making it more than abundantly clear what my main issue was with the cost of gasoline, you simply ignored it and continued babbling on about irrelevent material. Perhaps you were hoping that innundating myself and other members with naive opinions and unrelated debate topics would present a more powerful position than what you actually had. For most people, you probably did. Changing the subject is what many politicans do when they're beat. You're not a very gracious loser, are you? Well then, since you have nothing relevent to my points that you'd like to address, I'm going to leave this political game.

Awww, Kell. You disappoint me. I had hoped you would have adequately matured by now to be, at least, gracious enough to take the 'last word' I offered and not use it to launch pathetically lame attempts to belittle me when you cannot dominate the thread or legitimately dismiss my cogent responses to you. I guess I should have known better. You always go into a pout when you cannot dominate. Nothing has changed. How sad.

The price of gas is dropping daily and that does render the original discussion points - that oil companies are 'gouging' and make obscene profits...in your opinion...moot, whether you can admit or not. Give it up.

[82 GT]

It's amazing how someone can claim a "victory" in a totally objective discussion. How does that work Mr. 5 0?
A debate is like an argument with your girlfriend or wife....neither side ever capitulates. Both sides continue believing that their views are the correct ones.
Remeber that superiority complex I was telling you that you had?
It has shown it's ugly head multiple times during this thread.
I have also observed you "belittling" unit and others throughout this thread.

Also, how is it that you dislike people judging you who "don't know you from Adam", but it seems perfectly ok for YOU to judge others that "you don't know from Adam"?
Most of us have never met you but you're painting an ugly picture of yourself.

[Mr 5 0]

Originally Posted by 82 GT

It's amazing how someone can claim a "victory" in a totally objective discussion. How does that work Mr. 5 0?

Please quote the line in any post of mine where I claimed 'victory'. You are mistaking me with Unit 5302. He never loses an internet debate, you see (in his own mind).

A debate is like an argument with your girlfriend or wife....neither side ever capitulates. Both sides continue believing that their views are the correct ones.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us

Remeber that superiority complex I was telling you that you had?
It has shown it's ugly head multiple times during this thread.
I have also observed you "belittling" unit and others throughout this thread.

Then, we're even. If I am belittled by others, I reserve the right to do likewise, when insulted. Fair is fair.

If you cannot handle a serious discussion don't blame others who can and then go on and whine about my alleged 'superiority complex' because you cannot deal with my responses.

Also, how is it that you dislike people judging you who "don't know you from Adam", but it seems perfectly ok for YOU to judge others that "you don't know from Adam"?

I was responding to assumptions made by others about my occupation. They were incorrect and I was pointing that out. I do not make the same assumptions about others occupations or status in life.

Most of us have never met you but you're painting an ugly picture of yourself.

Please, spare me the finger-wagging self-righteousness. I have been a member of this website for over 8 years, was an administrator and moderator (I voluntarily 'retired') and have helped more people than you can ever know. That you may not have a 'pretty picture' of 'Mr. 5.0' is totally irrelevant to me. It's just an internet messageboard; nothing more or less and what some anonymous people far away from me may 'think' about a few posts I have made is simply not very important. Let's keep things in perspective, shall we? Thanks.