| re: Paying too much for petrol? | |
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Posted by: |
Keljeck 08:40 am UTC 06/14/08 |
| In reply to: | Paying too much for petrol? - Pudding 10:05 pm UTC 06/13/08 |
| Companies make profits, that's how the system works. There is increased demand, what with China and India waking up, and a limited supply, what with nearly all reserves having been tapped. It's not a matter of BushCo being in the pockets of big industry, it's a matter of economics. With increased demand and limited supply, the price goes up. That's how products are distributed in the capitalist system. How one would ascertain what "unreasonable" profits are, I have no damn clue. What's the rubric? Let's assume we all agree $87.5 Billion a year is far too much. Well, then how much money should we allow the gas companies to make? $50 Billion? $50 Million? $50? The age of inexpensive oil is over. $4 "petrol" is actually a bargain compared to Europe, Australia, and Asia. The only places with cheap oil are the ones swimming in it, like Venezuela. The editorial talks about the joys of nationalization, but I don't see how that would help. The United States imports most of its oil, as opposed to Venezuela, which has it. The Nationalized Oil Industry would still have to deal with the price of oil around the globe to import it, then the upkeep of refineries. Besides that it would also have to deal with the same laws of supply and demand private oil companies deal with. Gas probably wouldn't be much cheaper, unless they want to run shortages like the 70's. | |
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| Previous: | Paying too much for petrol? - Pudding 10:05 pm UTC 06/13/08 |
| Next: | re: Paying too much for petrol? - Pudding 10:23 pm UTC 06/14/08 |
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