Many Americans cannot afford both $5 per gallon gas and food on the table..

[kentuck]

If gasoline goes to $5 per gallon, many of them will have to take food off the table. They are not able to trade their old beaters in for more economical cars. That is not real. They are living from paycheck to paycheck and these oil companies are putting a big crimp in their lifestyles.

Nothing hurts these millions of people more than skyrocketing prices of gasoline. If there are no shortages and these prices are bid up on the futures alone, this is a cruel game to play on these folks.

[Tansy_Gold]

1. the speculators don't care.

They're getting theirs and THEY. DON'T. CARE.

they do not care about 'the economy.'
they do not care about 'America.'
they sure as fucking hell do not give a fat rat's ass about 'people.'

When you finally understand that they really and truly do not give a shit, you will worry a whole lot less about propping up the system that only benefits them.



TG

[Lindsay]

2. And "they" includes a great many members

of the US government.

[bbinacan]

4. Speculators?

You do realize there are 2 sides to a transaction. One will win and one will lose. The way you make it sound, all I have to do is buy contracts or options on contracts and I'll be rich. Good FUCKING GRIEF!

[Motown_Johnny]

7. Unless the oil producers have some hand in the speculating and

write off the loss as the price inevitably drops again as simply the cost of doing business.


All you have to do is drive up the price of your own product high enough to make the loss at the end inconsequential.

[bbinacan]

14. Interesting point

I'm glad you understand they're not cornering the market. But, since there is an intrinsic value plus a time value of money to each contact bought, I'm not sure how they'd benefit.

[Motown_Johnny]

23. my post is purely speculative

[bbinacan]

29. LOL. n/t

[Tansy_Gold]

24. Excuse me????

I hate to say it, but your post makes no sense whatsoever.

I said absolutely nothing about your buying contracts or options on contracts or anything even remotely like that.

There are two sides to a "transaction," yes, but it is not necessarily that one wins and one loses. If I bake a cake and sell it to you for $5 for your child's birthday, that's a transaction and I fail to see where there's a loser.

What I did say, however, was that once you reach a point where you have accepted that the speculators who are blowing the bubbles do not give a shit whether you have to pay $5 or $10 or $150 for a gallon of gas, once you reach that point, you will be more willing to stop defending them and the system they have rigged to be entirely in their favor.


TG

[RandomThoughts]

5. Bingo

yea, they don't care if the beer and travel money that should arrive does or does not. I sorta get that feeling also.

They have broken empathy with many people.

A few ways they do that.

There not one of us.

They are a different 'religion'

Then are a different 'race'

They are not aliens (some actually think that)

They are not part of the better genetic lines

Then are not smart enough




I hear the comment, why should I care about (insert comment on some other group), more then anything else. How do you respond to that. gut reaction, not care what is done to those like that.

And there you have it, the spreading of no empathy.

[Mojeoux]

3. As long as I walk everywhere, maybe I can eat!

:kick:

[alsame]

6. Food prices are skyrocketing too. Double whammy. nt

[doc03]

8. The owner of a small carryout store was telling me this morning

that he buys his milk for the store at Sam's Club for resale and yesterday it cost him $4.25 a gallon. He said the soft drink, bakery and beer distributors have all added a fuel surcharge to their products so many Americans are getting to the point they can't afford either one. Our trash collector now has a $5 per month fuel surcharge. But no SS raise there isn't any inflation.

[upi402]

9. Minimum wage workers can't afford to drive to work

and some can't find public transport, I hear. What now? Unpaid internships instead of paying for labor?

[etherealtruth]

10. "not able to trade their old beaters in for more economical cars"

I drive a 2010 Ford Focus ... (I get terrific gas mileage ... I have no idea what I am going to do if/ when gas hits $5/gallon

[Gregorian]

11. Americans are out of touch with reality.

Regardless of what you say being true, $5/gallon gas is a bargain. I mean it is a bargain compared to walking to the emergency room in the rain at 1 in the morning. Or just about anything one does in this society, since most of it involves burning fuel. A warm house. Having a dentist supplied with everything. Groceries on the shelves.

Sadly, the reality is that until now wars have subsidized the price. And also a billion people are just starting to compete for the resource.

So argue all you want, and hate me for being so cruel to point it out, but it's a bargain at twice the price. What really sucks is always the people who need it the most and can't afford whatever it is get slammed first.

[readmoreoften]

13. As if the rich will ever be slammed.

[readmoreoften]

15. Working class Americans didn't choose to not have mass transportation in most parts of the country.

That would be the automotive and oil lobby buying off our political system.

[Tesha]

17. Actually, they DID (choose to not have mass transportation)!

Every time they voted for a Republican, they voted
against mass transit. And against unions, and living
wages, and health care, and education, and everything
else that Republicans stand against.

But at least they get their guns, their God, and those
damned gays can't get married; maybe that makes it all
worthwhile?

Tesha

[louslobbs]

12. And the Republicons, corporations, millionaires and billionaires don't care since none of these

hardships affect these people. If the price of gas was $25.00 per gallon and a loaf of bread went to $12.00 per loaf, it would not affect these people in the least, so as long as it doesn't affect them, they don't care. We don't exist in their bubble, their world, their government. The only reason we matter at all, is to do the work for their corporations to further enrich themselves while they steal us blind. Now they're after Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. This portion of our society, the haves, who have stolen much of what they have, don't care about children going to bed hungry, don't care about whether others get medical care, don't care if people are homeless, don't care if people suffer and don't care if the "surplus population" dies. They've got what they need and then some and that is all that matters to these greedy pigs.
Lou

[pscot]

16. Everybody's desperate

trying to make ends meet
work all day and still can't pay
the price of gasoline and meat

Mohammed's Radio

[RB TexLa]

18. There are people who can't afford $4, $3, $2 and even $1 a gallon gasoline. Should we give it away?

[Terra Alta]

21. Maybe the government should provide gas cards for the poorest of Americans

Kind of like food stamp cards, but for gas only. It's something we should consider. It could be paid for by raising the taxes on the wealthy.. it isn't like they can't afford it.

[Lorien]

30. If we had the kind of public transportation Europe and Japan have

this wouldn't be as much of an issue.

[Terra Alta]

19. Obama is investigating the gas prices.

And I hope something comes out of it. I noticed gas prices didn't start to skyrocket until the GOP took over the House, kinda makes you wonder, hmm...?

[OwnedByFerrets]

20. But, but, but....how are they to afford their new home on the Riveria without these prices??

[elocs]

22. The reality is that there is nothing Obama can really do about the price of gas.

Oil is a global market and he is right about the Strategic Oil Reserve being tapped because of high gas prices. It was made for is there is an interruption in oil supply, not high prices.

However much Republicans want to posture and pontificate about gas prices there is nothing they can do either. And anything that Obama might want to do to help Americans deal with high gas prices will be blocked by the Republicans.

[eridani]

26. He could back legislation to eliminate speculation

Even if it didn't pass, it would be a great campaign issue.

[eridani]

25. Edit to replace "oil companies" with "speculators"

A simple law requiring people who bid on oil contracts to actually take possession of the oil could knock off a couple of dollars/gallon, according to Randi Rhodes.

[Mimosa]

27. Cost of health insurance premiums is far higher than cost of gas for many.

Health insurance premiums are KILLING people I know. :(

I know single guys, around age 59 to 60, making $25,000 a year who are paying $12,000 a year for BC/BS. Gas for their cars doesn't even approach that!

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren Stupidity]

31. Oddly, Europeans have been able to afford both for decades.

Why is that?

[Thunderstruck]

32. Please explain how oil companies and speculators cause the price

of oil, and gas by extension, go up.

Thank you.