A QUINTESSENTIALLY GOP editorial: "Quit whining about high gas prices"

Does the smarmy, unsympathetic and crotchety tone of this piece not smack of everything you hate about Republicans?

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'Quit whining about the high gas prices'

The author

Aaron Michels
The Daily Tribune (Hibbing, Minnesota)
Sunday, May 07th, 2006 10:11:45 PM

....As soothing as it is to have a villain to direct our anger at, the fact remains that gas prices are a product of the market. Demand for gas is constantly increasing. Supply hasn’t kept pace. Prices have risen. It’s as simple as that.

Some people seem to believe that they have a God-given right to fill their tank with gas that costs no more than $1.50 per gallon. Since gas currently costs so much more than that, big oil must somehow be profiting unfairly. Well the oil companies are profiting, but there’s nothing unfair about it. They’ve invested a lot of money to bring a product to the market that is now in great demand. Now they’re reaping the benefits. Good for them. There’s nothing underhanded about that.

In the same vein, there was a big story recently about the generous retirement package that one major oil executive had obtained. Big deal. How is that anybody’s business? Good for him. He’s certainly not under any obligation to live like a pauper and donate his retirement money to gas consumers.

Of course politicians have wasted no time in demagoging the issue to death. The Democrats have predictably blamed high gas prices on the same person they blame all of the world’s problems on — President Bush. Details are a bit sketchy on exactly why a sitting President, whose party could lose its majority in the fall elections, would want gas prices to skyrocket, but that hasn’t stopped the Democrats from making dark accusations and innuendos about Bush’s connections to big oil — he could do something if he wanted to, so he must be profiting somehow. As usual Democrats have been too busy criticizing Bush to offer any constructive solutions of their own....

http://www.hibbingmn.com/dailytribune/index.php?sect_rank=2&story_id=208803

if a Dem was in charge?

VP of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College Republicans. Quelle surprise.

Wisconsin. A shit-ass.

I also think people who fill their SUVs to drive 60 miles through the 'burbs to get to work should stop whining about gas prices. Oil is a finite product, and it wouldn't hurt us to try to conserve. Me, I live next to my workplace and drive a car that gets 35 mph. My next car will be either a hybrid or flex-fuel. But there'll still be people wasting fuel and complaining about the price.

I'm losing my sympathy for them.

and drive a modest sedan. And the price of gas is killing me. Also. I cannot move closer to work because the housing prices there are out of my league. So what to do?

I'm so lucky I purchased my home, which is pretty close to my job, in the late '90s when prices were more reasonable. My home has gone up more than twice in price. No way could I afford it today. Sometimes I'm tempted to sell to reap the equity but then I'd be left trying to get into something else and my only choices would probably entail a verrrrry long commute and the subsequent high gas bills.

there are four unrelated people living in one four bedroom house for economic reasons- two that each drive a car to work around town, including one who(m?) shares his with the fourth?

I'd love to be able to walk to work. Unfortunately, the immediate area's rent for even a two-bedroom apartment exceeds that which my debts (car and card) require. What I don't need is a large footprint (I'm willing to give away or throw out most of the unimportant 'stuff' I own), but that's not available in the area, either. So, I rent, and I drive.

And it sucks, but what am I to do?

(edit: the drivers all own small cars, not trucks or SUVs or such.)

I live 90 miles from Chicago, and suburban sprawl is preading its evil tentacles this far. And every idiot who moves here from the city has a story about how they MUST live here and work there. I've suggested to some that they look for work in small towns where one can work near their home. BUt they simply CAN'T live without live theater or Trader Joe's or seeing the skyline or some other thing they can only get in the city. So, they drive 150 miles a day or more, for the "quality of life".

Really. My sympathy well is drying up.

The screen caught my eye, the little Fox subtitle system saying $3.00 a gallon is a good deal. And there was this idea talking about the economic power that $3 gas brings.

My favorite part of the above:
"he could do something if he wanted to, so he must be profiting somehow"
Crazy democrats! thinking presidents can interfere with the market...don't the know the market is ALWAYS right? :sarcasm:

The pukes are gods at pandering.

God, dont they ever think for themselves?

"Details are a bit sketchy on exactly why a sitting President, whose party could lose its majority in the fall elections, would want gas prices to skyrocket"

Umm, I dunno, maybe because HE can't be re-elected anyway so he can make his oil crony friends rich without caring about his re-election chances? Maybe because Bush doesnt give a shit about the GOP, he is just in it for himself and his friends? Maybe because retards like Aaron Michels can be trusted to always make excuses for him so he thinks it wont really affect the party anyway?

There are lots of perfectly reasonable explanations - unless you are a right wing retard trying to excuse the biggest failure for President the US has ever had.

Even more stupidity - only last week, Republicans were crowing over the fact that petroleum reserves had grown recently. But what does our friendly reporter from the retarded right say:

"the fact remains that gas prices are a product of the market. Demand for gas is constantly increasing. Supply hasn’t kept pace. Prices have risen. It’s as simple as that."

How can demand have risen and supply not kept pace while, AT THE SAME TIME, reserves have risen? Sounds like bullshit to me.

And yet more blinding stupidity:

"Because oil prices are a product of the market and no one company is big enough to manipulate that market, the investigation will find nothing,"

Price fixing involves companies that should be in competition getting together to rig the price. So what is Mr Retarded Right's proof that such price rigging hasnt occured? Well simply that no ONE company could have done it! Well DUH! Its not price rigging when ONE company does it. What a fucking bonehead.

Ps, whats with the image?

It's the fucking bonehead author's picture at a Bush rally. :puke:

He's as arrogant and selfish as his hero. I mean the guy goes to a Bush rally to get HIS photo taken? LOL!

the rest of his life, plus a good dose of Karma. These people are simply brain dead. Looks like lots of heathy young folks there who could be in uniform.I have friends in Albert Lea and they say everyone they know hates Bush with a passion.

It really is all too obvious that they are covering for the CIC (Chimp In Chief) and his minions.

As soon as they stop whining about taxes.

Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, Democrats.

How long have the Democrats been in charge of America, again?

These are the same people who would look me straight in the eye during the 04 election season and tell me they had no problem with us going to war for oil because it would keep the prices low.

Y'all got punked, GOPers. Didja really think they were just going to GIVE you gas after they stole the oil from Iraq? Now you are paying out the ass for it while defending the creeps who are sticking it to you.

I really think this LTTE demonstrates that the hardcore remaining Shrub supporters are suffering from a combination of Stockholm and battered spouse syndrome.

:spank:


I hope to see many more posts like that one.

Welcome to DU! :D

I think I've gone snow-blind.

or "Stop crying when I hit you"

the typical wingnut arrogance - without any mention, of course, of Republican opposition to public transportation systems, their pandering to zoning interests and tax breaks to have shopping centers built way out on the edge of every town, their utter inability to take responsibility for anything or any policy. Drill in Alaska? For ONE million barrels a day. . .which would make our daily shortfall...oh, say only 11 million instead of 12? Bwa hahahahaha. . .sure, that's an answer all right - as stupid as the Senate and their obsession with $100 gift cards.

And why shouldn't the Democrats criticize? This country has had 35 years to implement some kind of conservation program, and it hasn't done it. And yet this moron believes that people shouldn't complain about gas prices DOUBLING and especially about the man who retires with that huge 400M package. . .

I don't think he gained any fans with that column at all.

He is part of the 20-something percentile that actually approves of Bush, the type that continues to think that if one keeps repeating the same Limbaughisms ('well, what's YOUR plan?') they eventually become truth.

The rise in gas prices has followed the rise in oil on world markets. I have read several articles on the Internet suggesting that the rise in oil above $70 a barrel is because the dollar is devaluating and has fallen in dramatic fashion since Bush took office. Oil producing countries, since they are trading oil in dollars, have to charge more dollars per barrel as dollars decrease in value.

And I believe the devaluation of US currency is due in part to the large trade deficits and also the US internal domestic budget deficit. The US has to print more dollars to service its debt, putting more dollars into circulation and decreasing their value. The trade deficit is apparently a vicious circle. The more the dollar decreases in value, the more per barrel the oil producing countries much charge, the more the foreign balance of trade becomes disfavorable, the more the dollar loses value, the more oil producing countries have to charge, the more the balance of trade ... etc. That may not account for all of the problem, but that is what I have been reading and hearing on the radio lately.

If anyone has a different perspective, I would welcome reading it. But I think that the notion that Bush's fiscal and trade policies as well as his tax cuts which have increased the deficit have nothing to do with the rise in gas prices (and oil prices) may not quite be correct.

All of his suggestions for improving the situation ultimately benefit the oil companies.

Not surprising, really.