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Gouging? Or market forces
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I ask prior to the Bush administratin when was the price of gasoline in Utah higher than the national average or higher than say Las Vegas?
Is the editorial trying to make escuses for the excess profit taking?
Lower demand = lower prices
"Why not build a private refinery and lower your prices so you can be a help to all who fuel with your lower priced fuel? No one is stopping you."
Yeah, try to get THAT one past the Sierra Club.
Market Forces -
US demand for oil has been flat since 2003, and has actually dropped 3% so far in 2008. Yet prices have skyrocketed in that time.
We cannot conserve our way to energy independence.
First, where was the call for an investigation earlier in the spring when Utah prices were averaging LOWER than the rest of the nation?
Second, as oil prices went up about $100 per barrel over the past two or three years, prices at the pump increased by at least $2.00, a ratio of 2 pennies at the pump for every dollar/barrel. Now that the price per barrel has dropped about $30, shouldn't we see a 60 cent decrease at the pump? That would mean pump prices of about $3.59/gallon.
Price fixing and collusion have historically been tempered by watchdogs, but not here. We ought to at least be getting 87 octane fuel instead trash 85 octane. When you compare 87 octane fuel, our prices are even more outrageous. Maybe our enviro-friendly governor can muster the courage to go hat-in-hand to ask for minimum 87 octane fuel so we can at least get higher quality fuel for our top dollar price.
Oh yeah, and it is REAL realistic to claim vast conspiracies among all the companies that provide oil and gas. Give me a break. Get your head out of your hollywood fiction and see the world for what it is, and maybe think about a smaller car and fewer boats, PWCs, 4-wheelers and single-occupant SUVs to see if you can save yourself some money and everyone some gas.
We have no one to blame but ourselves. We gambled on cheap oil, by living in the burbs, driving SUV's, and building McManions. The only way to cut prices is to show a little gumption, and reduce demand for oil/energy.
So now what's so terrible about making a 3,000% percent profit?
Capitalism is the American way of life.
Them that have - gets more. So?
Just more whining from those commie liberals.
Large variety of suppliers
All buyers and sellers have complete knowledge of all
pertinent information to make good decisions
All participants are capable of making choices in
their best interest
Clearly this is a system that does not conform to the "free market" model. It is a cartel system capable of being rigged by the suppliers. Those that make the profits are the winners. Buyers of the goods are the losers. End of story.