State or Fed gov meddling with market entities never works.

I don't think this is the end of the free market. It's not saying that Exxon and Citgo have to pay the same amount for gas and sell it at the same price. It's saying that if the Exxon on one side of town pays X amount for their gas, then the Exxon on the other side of town shouldn't have to pay more or less.

Assgasket:

You're forgetting that the oil market is not, by nature, a competitive market. It is an oligopolistic market.

I think however, that the government could effectively engage in creating some Baby Exxon's to great effect.

koshermafia: But is the 2nd station getting 10,000 gallons as well, or is it getting less?

This was exactly my first thought. Did they just outlaw volume pricing? Will they do the same thing to warehouse grocery stores?

"I'm not sure what to call it, but it's certainly not capitalism."

How did he come to that conclusion?

Muninsfire

Easy there Francis

How did the gas price ceiling work in Hawaii? They still doing that?

Did no one else catch that Michael J. Fox is working for the oil lobby?

I guess all that time on Spin City did him some good!

/yes I know it's a different MJF
//humor me damnit

muninsfire: WalkingCarpet: I truly believe high gas prices are good for our country in the long run. In fact, the higher the better.

Explain your position.

I agree with that too to a limit. Despite what the "government solves everything" weenies tell you, economics is what motivates people. Higher fuel prices will create a trend away from commuting. We'll see more and more home and satellite offices popping up. That also helps with transportation infrastructure costs. I always found it pretty silly to leave your computer at home, burn a two gallons of gas, and then sit in front of another computer in an office building.

Loki009: It makes a push towards alternative energy, hopefully energy sources that do not have to be imported reducing our dependency on foreign energy trade

Fair enough. If that's what it takes to make the switch, so much the better.

Might I add that I hate SUVs. Goddamn things block my view when I'm trying to make turns all the time.

smoky2010: Have you driven on a CT highway lately? They suck, I am still waiting for them to fill pot-holes from the winter.

Last I recall, they don't suck any worse than the ones in Maine...but I've not been on the east coast for months now, and have no plans on going back somewhere cold like that.

amindtat: I've heard of girls turning lesbian after farking them, but turning their hair grey after farking them? I wonder if that's how Bea Arthur ended up so grey, so early?

Y'know, I know this one chick whose boyfriend turned gay while they were farking. That has to be traumatic.

Hawley Griffin: This was exactly my first thought. Did they just outlaw volume pricing? Will they do the same thing to warehouse grocery stores?

No, As i stated before the state is broken into zones, arround the city or the highways its 10-20 cents a gallon higher no matter the volume which logically it should be the other way since it would cost more for delivery to the other locations.

tricycleracer: How did the gas price ceiling work in Hawaii? They still doing that?

Reasonably well, and they still are, but the prices are cued from the prices in New York, LA, and some other cities...which are, of course, the ones with the highest prices.

I wonder why very few people complain about the $0.40 - $0.50 tax per gallon that is tacked onto the price of gas?

While people are complaining about the amount of money "big oil" is making, they forget that in all actuality the government is making a lot more per gallon.

But, for some, I guess this is OK.

Link (pops)

The petroleum market is not a free market due to a lot of a) collusion (OPEC being the paramount example but there are other, smaller and quieter ones), and b) government regulation (no new refineries in 25 years and a huge black-mark on any new drilling without any rational cause... there is more oil under the US by many estimates than there is under Iran, we just don't want to drill for it yet because the less oil we have on the market the better the profits... thats government CREATING a decreased supply at the behest of big oil).


The point is, we end government regulation of petroleum (or sincerely curb it) and we the oil magnates won't be able to hide behind them anymore. Furthermore, you end the tariffs to import gasoline (10 cents a barrel) and you see a much more competitive importation market.

Also, if I might say, I'm very pleased with all the Farkers this morning... who knew we had some rational thinkers up in this hizouse? Figures, the left coast is still sleeping ;)

To further clarify on the subject of pricing. It's not volume pricing, its clever price discrimination of a sort. Gas-station next to on ramp charges more for convienence of not going further in town, likewise gas station near high priced housing development does the same.

Robobagpiper:

Zone pricing works in the reverse: stations near freeways and a lot of traffic (and who presumably would sell more gas) are sold their gas at higher prices, not lower.

That is not entirly true, stations near the interstate often cost more to run so the owners of the stations may charge more and buy it for the same price as the guy down the street.

This just in

For a free market to exist, there has to be competition.

No competition for big oil?

Sounds just like...

Anyone?

Anyone?

UberIcarus: I think however, that the government could effectively engage in creating some Baby Exxon's to great effect.

And then after 40 yearsish, they get back together again in a series of mergers?

We have this common perception that "big oil" doesn't have enough competition. So, our response is to eliminate price competition.

This is "logic" only a Democrat could love.

The horror... the horror!

muninsfire Y'know, I know this one chick whose boyfriend turned gay while they were farking. That has to be traumatic.

You know Katie Holmes?

UberIcarus: You're forgetting that the oil market is not, by nature, a competitive market. It is an oligopolistic market.

I don't agree. Anyone can buy and sell contracts.

BEEE240: I remember back in 1996 or so when my friend from Denmark was staying here, and she mentioned how gas pretty much worked out to be around $5/gallon in Copenhagen. She was shocked at how low our prices were in the U.S.

Many European nations fund their social services on gasoline taxes. So it's not really the cost of oil you're seeing there. It's the cost of free health care or whatever.

Over_Zealously_Apathetic: Sounds just like...

Anyone?

Anyone?

Trolling!

Seriously, will people quit the "Anyone? Anyone?" thing? I didn't like it in College and High School, and I still don't like it now.

Putting the welfare of our country and our economy in the hands of multi-national corporations that don't have any patriotic obligation to it will not help us in the long run.

Major Thomb: We'll see more and more home and satellite offices popping up. That also helps with transportation infrastructure costs. I always found it pretty silly to leave your computer at home, burn a two gallons of gas, and then sit in front of another computer in an office building.

Riiiight. Forget it, bosses want to 'crack the whip' on their employees. People might be working in their underwear! What next? Cats and dogs living together?
Forget it, they want you to get up an hour earlier, get the brats to school, shower, put on a shirt and a tie and sit in front of their computers so they can be watched. What you pay for gas is not their problem.

muninsfire: Seriously, will people quit the "Anyone? Anyone?" thing? I didn't like it in College and High School, and I still don't like it now.


Does anyone care?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Sweet Zombie Jesus said,

"If you have one gas station selling gas at 2.50 and one selling at 3.00, now both will sell at 2.75. Screw half the people so you look good. Then when their prices go up, just blame "big oil" again."

Where is this mythical world where you see the spread of gasoline prices that equals a 1/6th discount, I think I want to move there.

"Dancin_In_Anson" asks,

"Government control of private business...elimination of the free market...wow...that sounds just like..."

Antitrust?
No?

Monopoly - you might want to read up on it.

Major Thomb,

You might want to look into that definition too.

comslave posted,

"price controls=shortages.

/always."

Exactly! Just like telephone!

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

Selected Companies

A2D Technologies
Abbot Group plc
Abdon Callais Offshore, LLC
Abington Ventures Inc.
Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
Acergy S.A.
Aera Energy LLC
Airpac Oilfield Services
A.I.S. Resources Limited
Aker ASA
Aker Kværner ASA
AKITA Drilling Ltd.
Alfa Group Consortium
Alkane Energy plc
Allied Resources, Inc.
Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc.
Alon Israel Oil Company Ltd.
AltaCanada Energy Corp.
AltaGas Income Trust
Altex Industries, Inc.
Amerada Hess Limited
American Augers, Inc.
American Natural Energy Corporation
American Oil & Gas, Inc.
American Real Estate Partners, L.P.
Aminex PLC
Anadarko Algeria Company, LLC
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Antrim Energy Inc.
A.P. Moller - Mærsk A/S
Apache Corporation
Apache North Sea Limited
Apco Argentina Inc.
Apex Resources Group, Inc.
Appalachian Gas Royalty Trust
Arcis Corporation
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
Arctos Petroleum Corp.
Arena Resources, Inc.
ASCO plc
Aspen Exploration Corporation
Aspen Group Resources Corporation
ASRC Energy Services
Atlas America, Inc.
Atlas Energy Ltd.
ATP Oil & Gas Corporation
Atwood Oceanics, Inc.
Aurado Energy Inc.
Austral Pacific Energy Ltd.
Australian-Canadian Oil Royalties Ltd.
Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc.
Avenue Group, Inc.
Baden Technologies Inc.
Badger Daylighting Inc.
Baker Atlas
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Bard Ventures Ltd.
Barnwell Industries, Inc.
BASF Aktiengesellschaft
Basic Earth Science Systems, Inc.
Basic Energy Services, Inc.
BayCorp Holdings, Ltd.
Bayou City Exploration, Inc.
Baytex Energy Trust
Bear Ridge Resources Ltd.
Belden & Blake Corporation
Berry Petroleum Company
BG Group plc
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton Limited
BHP Billiton Plc
Big Sky Energy Corporation
Bill Barrett Corporation
Birchcliff Energy Ltd.
BJ Services Company
Black Hills Corporation
Black Rock Oil & Gas Plc
BlackRock Ventures Inc.
Blast Energy Services, Inc.
Blue Dolphin Energy Company
Blue Ridge Group, Inc.
Blue Tee Corp.
Bois d¿Arc Energy, Inc.
Bolt Technology Corporation
Bonavista Energy Trust
Boots & Coots International Well Control, Inc.
Groupe Bourbon
Bow Valley Energy Ltd.
BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
BP NGL
BP p.l.c.
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
BPI Energy Holdings, Inc.
BPK Resources Inc.
BPZ Energy, Inc.
Brek Energy Corporation
Brigham Exploration Company
Bristow Group Inc.

Page 1 of 9

"You could argue that all 3 bedroom, 21/2 bath colonials in Connecticut should be the same price, but they're not."

That's just stupid. You're not buying gas for the view, or for how close to the beach it is.

2006-04-26 09:21:18 AM koshermafia

So, if I buy 50 gallons of gas, shouldn't I be paying less than the guy who's just buying 5 gallons?

It should be the same price for every station in every municipality. The people who should get charged more are the ones in the gas guzzling SUVs. Not only do they consume gas in record numbers, they make for longer drive-thru lines. Tax the shiat of the purchase of those things for the greater good.

/Grrrr! Hates SUVs

WalkingCarpet: I know it's a fairly simple, idealistic way to look at the problem but hey, it makes sense in my head.

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best...though one has to consider all the other factors: this oil situation did not develop in a vacuum, despite how much it sucks.

Personally, I think a regime change is due....but that's just my opinion.

amindtat: You know Katie Holmes?

Nah. The chick in the story later went on to become bi. I didn't hit it, though, despite her being one of my ex-girlfriend's friends. She was a little bit skanky.

Tricycleracer, Muninsfire: The price ceiling on gas in Hawaii was not a consumer price ceiling, in a typical sense. I can't recall all the ins and outs of it, but it was a) very mild, b) (as Muninsfire stated) cued from prices in NW and LA, and c) based on import and factor markets, not final sales.

BlueDog: Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

And that proves...?

BlueDog: Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

Releviance?

Also how many of those companies fall under exploration, which means they buy chunks of land where they kinda hope there may be oil or gas, test it and then flip it to the major companies when they find oil or gas deposits? I would venture to say 90% of them

Why is it that such a large section of the public feels entitled to sub $3 a gallon gas? The market has determined the price (like it or not), and people are up in arms that it is too much. Roll back enviromental standards, cut taxes, whatever as long as my gas costs less. It seems to me to be pretty selfish.

Cool... so now we'll all just pay more.

Here's Popular Mechanics crunching the numbers of
alternative fuel supplies:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/2690341.html

Not surprisingly, fuel from corn isn't a great bargain.

Negating the price and maintenence of the vehicle used to travel from coast to coast, electricity from coal is still pretty damn cheap.

Here's a .pdf of their breakdown.

http://media.popularmechanics.com/documents/Fuel_of_the_Future-e852.pdf

/This is normally the time of the year that gas supplies are slightly cheaper, because refiners are dumping the fuel that has MBTE in prep for the summer gasoline which is pricier to produce.

And I pay over $0.45 per gallon in gasoline tax; a majority of which is due to those wonderful leeches in my state capitol of Augusta, ME. It ain't all 'big oil'.

ManRay: The market has determined the price (like it or not),

That's where you have a fallacy.

When the 'market' that sets the price is composed of a group of people who collude to fix prices, things get a bit out of hand, and the price changes to "what can we make them pay?".

Also, the culture in the US [ what with the SUVs and the suburban sprawl ] has made gasoline a very important commodity.

I'm going to be getting a bicycle this week, 'cuz frankly, I can't afford to drive to work everyday anymore. I'm fortunate that I only [!] live 8 miles from work. Consider those people in less developed areas who have to drive 20 or 30 miles to work...or those who have to drive 50 miles to work, because there's no affordable housing where they work, but that's the only place they can find a job.

Free-market prices don't exist where cartels can manipulate supply. =) Sorry folks.

WalkingCarpet: Well, I certainly don't trust an oil man like Bush to get us there and I don't agree with his methods of trying to remedy it, but the fact that he's talking about it, even if it is to save his party's ass in November, is better than nothing.

Talk is cheap.

I don't trust Bush to wipe his own rear after he takes a dump, and I certainly don't trust him to actually *do* anything about the situation.

And to think. We can't get rid of him 'till January 2009.

I was mocking Dancin in Anson. And trying to prove a point.

Do you disagree? Why?

I'm not saying that price fixing in CT is a good idea...I'm just saying that competition doesn't exist in the US oil market, which screams monopoly.

/lighten up, francis.

Supercheeks: It should be the same price for every station in every municipality.


Why? How can you possibly justify that statement? You know we had that back in the days of the mill/mine town. For some reason the unions did not like that business model too much.

And isn't it possible the price a station pays may have something to do with Credit rating, product loss, and location.

So people are suspicious that oil companies are colluding in order to eliminate price competition (ie: price fixing) and make profits in excess of what are economically incidental?

I've got a great idea!

Let's make regulations that insist that they ALL HAVE TO CHARGE THE SAME PRICE!

/I think we've got a winner on our hands!

I've been reading all these threads biatching about oil for some time now. Few people seem to get that the price of crude oil is set on the trading floors around the world, not in the boardrooms of XOM. Whatever, if you don't get that, you won't get this either. If you would like to insulate yourselves from high oil prices, and quit all this class warfare speak about what XOM is doing to us poor souls. All you need to do is become one of the shareholders of XOM. It's a farking corporation! You too can own as much of it as you'd like. If you are pissed about how much they are making you are dopey not to realize that you could be in on it too. When oil prices go up, I am happy! It's more profit for me. Yeah I suffer a bit at the pump, but my investments are kicking ass. People act as if only rich billionaires can get in on the action, and the peasants are at their mercy. Instead of buying that fancy gas guzzling SUV, go buy yourself a couple hundred shares of whatever oil patch company you want, and you to will enjoy every day at the pump. You do not have to be rich to invest, but if you want to be rich, start doing what rich people do to get rich, and stop acting like consumer sheep.
/gsf rocks

Not going to change anything, they'll just all charge the higher price.

Who cares? At least those elected are doing SOMETHING...if it's good or bad at least they're getting the oil industry's attention that a change must come. I have family in the oil industry 2 of which for for Exxon. There's a huge difference in profit and GREED. We all have some personal responsiblity to adjust even the smallest things in our daily habits to cut back on fuel use.

/my personal change came when I bought my new CBR
//5spd inline 4 in my Rodeo SUV
///wife drives a civic
////slashiatty slash slash