WPpg1: Politicians Have Little to Offer to Ease Anguish of Gas Prices

[DeepModem Mom]

Politicians Have Little to Offer To Ease Anguish of Gas Prices
By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 19, 2005; Page A01


President Bush and members of Congress are facing an uncomfortable political reality this summer: They have little to offer Americans to ease their pain at the pump.

With gasoline prices nearing or topping $3 per gallon in some cities, Bush and lawmakers would be thrilled to call for steps big and small to quickly take the pressure off motorists financially -- and themselves politically. The president's advisers cite high gasoline prices as one reason for Bush's sagging approval ratings, while lawmakers home for the August break are feeling the heat from anxious constituents.

But the prices are an economic and political problem for which Washington has few, if any, policy remedies that would be effective or practical in the near term, according to many energy experts and elected officials.

"I wish I could say there is a quick fix, but there is not," said Rep. Bob Beauprez, a Colorado Republican who is expected to face a tough reelection campaign next year. "Everybody is feeling the pinch."

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) is one of several Democrats who support releasing oil from the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve. He warned this week that the soaring prices are "taking money out of the hands of working families." The idea is to pour U.S. oil into the world market to push down prices. But energy analysts warn that this move would draw down reserves whose stated purpose is to protect national security, not to manipulate prices. In any event, they note, the price drop would be uncertain and would perhaps amount to as little as a few cents per gallon....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/18/AR2005081801922.html

[youngdem]

1. $ 2.56 a gallon here in MS.

"Few if any policy remedies" This is not an area that I am familiar with. Are there ideas from any of you all on what could bring prices down? Just curious....

[leftylady]

2. Today - Friday - KC is at 2.569

We are down a little from Monday at 2.659

[krkaufman]

4. Very LITTLE (to nothing) can be done as a short-term fix.

Prices are, what prices are. Other than setting price limits, there's nothing the govt can do on a short-term basis.

[Triana]

3. They don't WANT to offer anything, they're all oil and robber barons!

GEORGE BU$H and his friends are getting FILTHY RICH! Of course they're not going to do anything. Not they can't - they simply don't WANT to! The foxes are guarding the henhouse folks and we're getting screwed royally by them. WHO is going to stop them?

The DEMOCRATS?

Bwahahaaaaaaaaaaa! If they won't oppose Roberts to the Supreme Court - they're essentially USELESS and they are certainly not going to do anything about gas prices. They'll timidly stand there in a dark corner and let us get screwed by the robber barons.

[fasttense]

5. Why not a price freeze???

They froze wages and pay during the great recession, why can't they freeze the cost of gas??? Even with the temporary drop in price per barrel on Thursday the prices around here stayed the same. So if they can stay artificially high why can't they stay artificially low?

Or how about a temporary removal of taxes on gasoline??

Or how about a temporary reduction in Congressional and Presidential pay and a tax rebate.

Or how about brush turns on those spigots he claimed he had as an oil president during his election campaign.

[Streetdoc270]

16. cut the taxes...

drop the .40c a gallon tax to .20c or less, after all the administration says that cutting taxes=better economy!

[BiggJawn]

6. Nationalize the Oil Industry.

I mean it.
It never fails to amaze me how, in this country, we continue to leave essential-to-survival commodities in the hands of greedy for-profit corporations.

Do you hear tales about Japaneses grandmothers freezing to death in Osaka because they got their heat shut-off for non-payment?

Do you hear about 6 kids in Milan getting burned to death when one of them knocked over a candle in their apartment?

No.

Only in Murka.....

And here, where if you have no insurance, it costs you over $1,000 just to SIT DOWN in the Emergency Room, the hospitals spend a LOT of money on slick, well-produced ad campaigns about how "We're in the CARING business..."

We had price controls on Fuel back in the 60's. Maybe it's past time to bring them back.

[Gunit_Sangh]

7. Why don't they pass another energy bill

giving tax breaks of billions of our tax dollars to energy companies?

They can then go in front of the TV and preen before their "anxious constituents" and tell them what a great thing this new tax give-a-way is for our country and our Glorious Leader.

</sarcasm>

[jayfish]

8. Bu, Bu, But We Got The Energy Bill Passed.

Why isn't gas $1.50/Gallon?

Jay

[Tempest]

9. There is something Bush can do

Sell oil from the strategic reserve.

One of the reasons for the high prices is that Bush was buying oil for the last 2 years for the reserve, bidding up the price of oil.

[moondust]

10. How about investigating Exxon?

And other oil companies for price gouging and deliberately curbing production (Enronizing) to drive up prices? The cost of their raw materials is rising so their profits should be falling, not setting new world records!

[Toots]

11. Notice they NEVER quote Republicans from Clinton's term talking of high

fuel prices. Why is that? I guess America does not want to hear what Republicans had to say then and now.

[kestrel91316]

12. Everybody stops WASTING fuel, starts conserving, prices drop. Simple.

[goforit]

13. The politicians are totally powerless in a tyrranny of their making.

[gasperc]

14. smash mouth foreign policy, smash mouth domestic policy

fuck you, pay me that's their governing philosophy

[gasperc]

15. god forbid they even inch the mpg rating up 1mpg/year

eom

[joeunderdog]

17. Q: Where's "Our Leader" on this issue?

A--Sucking some Saudi Prince dick
B--Collecting Exxon dividends and campaign contributions
C--pushing Social Security or some other non-urgent agenda
D--pumping up another illegal war

[saigon68]

18. Servicing the prince

On his knees

LOL

[hatrack]

19. "Anguish"? "ANGUISH"? Give me a frickin' break!

Anguish is being orphaned. Anguish is losing a child. Anguish is being in a car crash and waking up to find out that you'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. Anguish is diagnosis with a terminal disease.

High gas prices are a pain, an inconvenience and for many people a financial strain. But "anguish"? Puh-leeze! :eyes: