Are they raising the gas prices to garner support for the war?

[lildreamer316]

To force us to push for staying in Iraq/invading Iran?
Am I off my rocker?
Just another thought......

[tritsofme]

1. There is nothing good for them about high gas prices

except the high profits that follow.

It is horrible for them politically.

If gas was cheap they would say it was because of Iraqi oil coming on line, and people would be more apt to be content with the administration and its actions.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. It's because oil prices are through the roof...

thanks to flattening production and increased demand from Asia. With oil at $66 a barrel, gas prices are going to go up; no need to speculate a sinister reason for it. They've been increasing steadily along with fluctiations in the market price of crude petroleum; and you have to remember that market price is essentially wholesale, and doesn't reflect any added costs after refining and shipping plus taxation and markup when it gets to the gas pump.

[lildreamer316]

4. Aha.

Thought maybe this was my early morning blond moment and I was right. Thank for the info. I figured it had a reasonable explanation; but was wondering if my idea was possible too. Just food for thought.....ouch my brain hurts.

However; my point is also that it could be spun this way; whether true or not.

[gasperc]

8. left coaster has a great graphic, demand has exceeded supply

the additional oil that we hope to get out of Alaska or even saudi arabia is so heavy and salty it can only be used for asphalt. and we have more than enough of that type already. we are in a bad place and blown up pipelines isn't helping any.

[cornermouse]

3. I was wondering about that too.

Facts seem to be something Bush and the neo-cons specializes in ignoring, but the fact is that gas prices have literally rocketed through the roof since he took office. And he has now compounded their profits with massive tax cuts. I guess we're supposed to feel sorry for them?

It wouldn't surprise me if the rise in gas prices is supposed to subconsciously prepare us for an invasion of Iran. I wonder if he has plans for Saudi Arabia as well?

[punpirate]

5. Frankly, I think it's speculation by...

... hedge funds that is driving up the price, along with some smaller, temporary shortages of supply due to weather (hurricanes damaging rigs and pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico, production problems in Mexico, tsunami in Indonesia). This, combined with lack of excess refinery capacity (very possibly a ploy by the big multinationals to create ongoing temporary shortages), is likely to be the real reason.

From the consumers' point of view, I'm not sure what high prices are causing them to think about prices in relation to war. Some certainly, given their preconceived notions, might think that prices would go down by attacking Iran (even though next to no oil from Iran reaches us now, anyway). Others might think that the disruption of Iraq is the reason for the high prices and wouldn't want to see more disruption.

The high prices are not a matter of absolute supply--the last I read (last week), worldwide supply is leading worldwide demand by 4%. Very slim difference, but enough to cause disruptions in supply that can be translated by speculators into higher prices.

Given all that, my guess is that most of the pricing is the result not of governmental intervention, but lack of governmental intervention--they're letting the system rack up windfall profits, which is inevitably very good for Republican politicians' pockets around election time.

Cheers.

[marions ghost]

10. agree...bottom line

== windfall profits to the industry
While we pigs at the end of the pipeline can squeal all we want and take it to mean anything we want. I wonder how long consumers can grumble and bear it. How soon before inflationary prices jump out of the oil sector and affect other parts of the economy? The truckers protest would seem to be the tip of the iceberg.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. Factor these considerations into the equation:

1. With regard to supply-and-demand: it could be having a choice between paying a high price for gas, artificially maintaining a depreciated price but having the gas lines and alternate day purchasing from the 1970s, or both high price and gas lines. You're screwed either way.

2. Labor Day traditionally means higher prices as Americans go on the road for their last blow-out for the summer.

3. More supply-and-demand: if Americans still buy an inordinate amount of oil no matter how expensive the gas becomes (SUV's, etc.), it will make supply limited and keep the price high indefinitely.

[rman]

6. how about the decline of global production capacity?

[spinbaby]

7. I don't think so

Surely Americans are bright enough to figure out that a war in Iran will drive gas prices up, not down.

[newswolf56]

9. These skyrocketing oil prices are historically unique in that...

they are not associated with shortages. The conventional "wisdom" is that the prices are a fear-response by investors to the possibility that supply might be curtailed by international instability: Iraq, the probability of the U.S. starting a covert-action war to overthrow the Marxist government of Venezuela, the likelihood of war with Iran, etc.

However, an objective Marxist analysis based on history and the reality of class warfare would conclude that the prices are the result of oligarchic greed driven to extremes by the fearful need to prepare for impending collapse: the maximizing of profit to facilitate maximum concentration of the world's (finite) wealth. This is precisely the same process that set in when the Roman Empire collapsed and the oligarchy moved to preserve its power (and -- by the consolidation of wealth {at that time mostly land and precious metal} -- establish the foundations of the manorial economy and feudal "nobility" that ruled Europe for the next thousand years).

I would therefore gently suggest you are not having a "blonde moment." Far from it. In fact I believe the Bush Administrating is tolerating (and thereby tacitly encouraging) the price increases in the hope the fury of the ever-more-burdened U.S. worker can be (mis)directed against the nation's enemies -- whether external or internal -- thereby distracting America's attention from the ever-more-vital class-warfare issues associated with Peak Oil, outsourcing, the collapsing dollar, the worsening divide between the oligarchy and the rest of us, etc. All of which issues make the Marxian analysis of class warfare as the ultimate determinant of history ever more again relevant. (If you have not read it, you should read The Communist Manifesto, which is available in full online. It might be a truly pivotal moment in your political development.)

[BeFree]

14. Good points, deserves its own thread, eh?

That we are being manipulated is oh so true. The only question remains is: To what end? Division of the classes, and misdirection of the soon to be enraged emotion of the sheeple, simply has to be a means to their end.

We know they'd like nothing better than world war so if they can misdirect our anger over high gas prices onto the rest of the world they may just get their wish.


*******************
It's refreshing to see not everyone has Peak oil blinders on!

[lildreamer316]

18. Okay.

Yes, good points all and this is definately why I am here:to broaden my mind. Thanks you for the insight and I will take your advice; having read snippits throughout my life but never taken in the whole thing at once.(manifesto)
SIdenote:I have ADD (not ADHD) and sometimes forget previous points I or others may have already made; hence the "blonde moments".

[ThomWV]

11. Channel The Anger Against Arabs Instead of Oil Companies

You know of course that the increases in oil price that took place earlier this year were blamed on 'increased demand from China' but in fact that demand never materialized in sales. The Chinese never bought the oil that they were expected to demand. There was no shortage of oil but the price went up anyway.

Then there is that odd little excuse that I hear ringing on the airways today. In this version crude oil prices are up because of reduced refinery capacity in the US. Has it not occurred to anyone that when a refinery is out of service that it demands LESS oil?

In gougings past the public has always been quick to lay the blame for increased oil prices right directly on the oil companies. Bushco could far prefer that you lay that blame on our turbaned neighbors to the east. Oh, and if you can reserve a little anger for that nasty fat brown man down south, that would be just fine too.

[VTMechEngr]

15. One problem with that logic.

In the US, if we need so much gasoline, and we cannot refine it all, we have to buy it from elsewhere already refined. And that is $$$ compared to crude $. Its not helping.

[shadowknows69]

13. I believe it

There are enough people who equate the instability in Iraq with the free flow of oil and probably believe the BS that we'll get to drink our fill of Iraq's oil when we "finish the mish". What they don't realize is that even if we stole every last drop the gas prices aren't going down. The oil companies have to maintain thoes record profits for the international board of shareholders. I think by 3.50 a gallon the ones in this country who have no empathy beyond their own selfish evil pursuits, will be screaming for us to loot every drop on the planet. Mad Max and hilarity ensues.

[mtnsnake]

16. Maybe, but I think it could be the other way around....

meaning they started and garnered support for the war in order to raise gas prices.

[BiggJawn]

17. Alaska.

The idea is that we'll scream at our congresscritters to start drilling in Alaska TODAY!

These PNAC perverts don't care that there's no oil there, all they care about is that they can manipluate the Murkan Sheeple like puppets.

Oh, that and some excess profits for the Oil Industry...
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