Spider Jerusalem
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Fri Nov-18-11 11:19 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
| 19. "Utilities" are "natural monopolies". |
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The infrastructure investment and maintenance in electric generation and supply, in telecoms, in natural gas delivery, makes those things natural monopolies (because the provision and maintenance of a fixed supply network works best as a monopolistic entity under unified local/regional control). Motor fuel is not. And making it a utility would not make it any cheaper. The US imports over half the oil it uses and price is thus subject to the pressures of supply and demand on world markets (the US is conversely still self-sufficient in natural gas and coal for electric power generation).
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| -High gas prices trap more Americans |
Javaman |
Nov-18-11 12:09 PM |
#0 |
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Please, someone, explain to me why gasoline is not a utility. Electricity is, water is, etc. |
Sarah Ibarruri |
Nov-18-11 12:10 PM |
#1 |
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"Basic service" is not the criterion for something being a utility |
badtoworse |
Nov-18-11 12:47 PM |
#3 |
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So a utility becomes one when there's no competition then? Hmm.. I thought it was... |
Sarah Ibarruri |
Nov-18-11 02:37 PM |
#7 |
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It's when competition is not feasible or possible |
badtoworse |
Nov-18-11 02:47 PM |
#9 |
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Got it. Thanks for the explanation. nt |
Sarah Ibarruri |
Nov-18-11 03:49 PM |
#13 |
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"Utilities" are "natural monopolies". |
Spider Jerusalem |
Nov-18-11 11:19 PM |
#19 |
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And yet isn't oil a cartel? Doesn't it function as a monopoly? nt |
Sarah Ibarruri |
Nov-19-11 03:40 PM |
#30 |
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No it's not and no it doesn't |
Spider Jerusalem |
Nov-19-11 04:26 PM |
#31 |
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Here's an interesting article on the OPEC cartel... |
Sarah Ibarruri |
Nov-19-11 05:03 PM |
#32 |
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Why not? OPEC controls the bulk of the world's oil producing regions and exports. |
Spider Jerusalem |
Nov-19-11 05:30 PM |
#35 |
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Supply and demand isn't the only factor |
eridani |
Nov-19-11 05:28 PM |
#34 |
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Stopped how? |
Spider Jerusalem |
Nov-19-11 05:57 PM |
#36 |
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Make it illegal to buy oil unless you take posession of it |
eridani |
Nov-19-11 11:14 PM |
#37 |
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Fuel prices remain high because of demand for oil from China and India |
Spider Jerusalem |
Nov-20-11 12:53 PM |
#38 |
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Several investigators disagree |
eridani |
Nov-20-11 01:36 PM |
#40 |
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... |
Spider Jerusalem |
Nov-20-11 02:09 PM |
#41 |
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I've said this before that our economy will not improve significantly |
demosincebirth |
Nov-18-11 12:40 PM |
#2 |
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Those days of 2.50 a gallon are long gone... |
Javaman |
Nov-18-11 12:50 PM |
#5 |
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$2.50 is a debatable amount.. In my area 3.50 would be a real improvement. |
demosincebirth |
Nov-18-11 11:38 PM |
#21 |
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true. 2.50 in my mind is a complete pipe dream at this point. tn |
Javaman |
Nov-19-11 09:42 AM |
#24 |
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A lot of Americans made foolish decisions based on their belief in an unsustainable model. |
Tesha |
Nov-18-11 02:14 PM |
#6 |
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I don't quite understand what you are getting at. Please elaborate |
demosincebirth |
Nov-18-11 02:41 PM |
#8 |
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I'm not the op but I will give you some insight... |
Javaman |
Nov-18-11 03:57 PM |
#14 |
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Thanks for the insight., not like some narcissistic jughead. |
demosincebirth |
Nov-18-11 11:04 PM |
#17 |
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Cheers! nt |
Javaman |
Nov-19-11 09:18 AM |
#23 |
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Great response. Even though I was not the one who asked, I appreciate |
Obamanaut |
Nov-19-11 09:55 AM |
#25 |
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Sure you do! (NT) |
Tesha |
Nov-18-11 04:17 PM |
#15 |
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shorter version |
MH1 |
Nov-19-11 01:21 PM |
#28 |
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Nail on head. |
Javaman |
Nov-18-11 03:21 PM |
#12 |
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The common factor here |
Andy823 |
Nov-18-11 12:50 PM |
#4 |
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I recently purchased a hybrid in anticipation of higher gas prices. |
Abin Sur |
Nov-18-11 02:54 PM |
#10 |
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The price of gas will be going up -- Global production of crude oil is flat, non-OECD consumption up |
FarCenter |
Nov-18-11 03:13 PM |
#11 |
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Speaking on OWS and gas |
Tsiyu |
Nov-18-11 04:30 PM |
#16 |
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I want santa to bring me an all electric car that motherfucker! |
lonestarnot |
Nov-18-11 11:19 PM |
#18 |
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Gas goes up and so does public transportation. The best you can do is limit trips. |
JVS |
Nov-18-11 11:23 PM |
#20 |
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Or walk, or bicycle, or move closer to work, or work closer to home |
bhikkhu |
Nov-18-11 11:54 PM |
#22 |
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However not everyone lives in a city ... |
spin |
Nov-19-11 10:04 AM |
#26 |
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That's one point - but given sufficient time any problem can be solved |
bhikkhu |
Nov-19-11 12:24 PM |
#27 |
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Well, to argue with myself - plenty of problems can't be solved given adequate time |
bhikkhu |
Nov-19-11 01:50 PM |
#29 |
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Well, a few problems with that |
The Straight Story |
Nov-20-11 12:59 PM |
#39 |
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I was thinking about that too - |
bhikkhu |
Nov-20-11 02:26 PM |
#42 |
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Right now, I am fortunate. |
RebelOne |
Nov-19-11 05:18 PM |
#33 |
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the high cost of gas and food is because of Goldman Sachs/Koch speculating driving the cost up |
darth marth |
Nov-20-11 02:51 PM |
#43 |
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