Investigate and punish gasoline price gougers

Yep. I've looked into solar and wind, and I'm planning and plotting ways of getting my home to be self-sustaining. I still don't see a viable alternative to the gasoline powered combustion engine for my transport needs.

Hi Trev,

While we are not the lasseiz-faire market that I would like us to be, we are still a relatively free market in this country.

I disagree in principle with the control lawmakers exert over the oil industry, such as where they can drill and whether or not they can build another refinery. However, these restraints as well as taxation ultimately make a gallon of gas more expensive, thus hastening the markets response.

Even if the govenrment were not to excert pressure on the price of a gallon, we are currently seeing the economies of China and India heat up. These huge markets will dramatically increase the demand for energy. Oil as a source of energy (at it's current level of production) will simply become too expensive within 10 years. It is in this timeframe that alternatives such as nano technology enhanced solar, hydrogen fuel cells, biofuels and God knows what will become dominant. (Alot of assumptions built into that last statement of course) :)

Stan,

The premise I don't accept is your last sentence - the market cannot respond with viable long term solutions very well - it is too hampered by regulation to have much incentive to do so. Status quo is the name of the game in Washington, D.C. and it radiates outward from there like a cancer.

I feel like stirring the pot today ;)

So, if you accept the premise that oil funds terrorism, would it be moral to slap a "national defense tax" on every gallon sold if every penny went to our military? Wouldn't this be kind of like a "toll" system for national defense? Those who need the most of their services paying the most for it?

I am not condoning such a scenario by the way...just a hypothetical question.

Personally, I rejoice everytime the price of gas rises. Energy independence is THE most critical long term National Defense issue in my opinion. The more expensive it gets, the sooner the market will respond with viable (hopefully domestic) alternatives.

Stan

And let's not forget China, with its huge growing population, is finally just entering into the oil market as a buyer, buying as much as possible to satisfy it's population and economic demands.

There are so many factors in place that I don't even think we could scratch the surface.

Domestic exploration (lack thereof); lack of more refineries; passing of HR 6 by our Democrat House which, if in full effect, will further discourage domestic exploration; continued rising demand and fuel usage by the American people despite rising gas prices; crappy tax deduction for purchasing a hybrid vehicle; incintives for more alternative energy exploration; hedge funds in the stock market and futures comodity market; failure by the Bush Adminstration to cut oil ties with Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, as long as we keep buying oil from terrorist supporters, we are fundingn BOTH sides of the War on Terror

Nick,

I think most people just plain do not care as long as they are happy with the price of a gallon of gas and their winter heating oil. Very few Americans today take the long term view in thinking about cause and effect - we can artificially lower the price of oil by using force, but that will inevitably raise the price long-term as suppliers go somewhere else.

Amen!!

Oil companies usually make between 9-14 cents per gallon of gasoline sold.

Meanwhile, the fed. government makes 18.4 cpg and here in Louisiana, the state government makes 20cpg.

Oil companies invest billions of dollars just to drill one well, not knowing if it will be good or a dry hole. Meanwhile, the government makes no investment, assumes no risk, and makes larger profits off We the People at the pump.

Is something wrong with that picture, or am I just crazy?