Thursday, August 11, 2005
Tankful?
It seems a bit far-fetched that we, the most powerful nation in the world, have no sway regarding the OPEC price structure. If we actually don't have any sway, then WHY don't we? A fact of life is and always has been that, to some degree, "might makes right". Let's flex our muscles a bit and lean on OPEC's boardroom table.
While we are making changes, let's also flex a bit to curb rampant price-gouging by the major petroleum companies. It is pretty simple math to understand that just because crude prices rise, the cost to the oil companies doesn't incur, until after they BUY that barrel of crude. Therefore the prices at the pumps should not (be allowed to) rise until that higher-priced crude gets all the way through the long supply system and TO said pump. The only reasons that the petroleum industry profits, which are very high, aren't seen as exorbitant is due to the poor management practices of the domestic market, combined with the "fires and weather problems" which have impacted the domestic program.
If only big government is powerful to enact changes, then for heaven's sake, let's have them do it! I think this is a problem that ALL americans can agree on solutions for.
Oh, the title? Hell no, I'm not the least tankful in how this mess has been handled.
While we are making changes, let's also flex a bit to curb rampant price-gouging by the major petroleum companies. It is pretty simple math to understand that just because crude prices rise, the cost to the oil companies doesn't incur, until after they BUY that barrel of crude. Therefore the prices at the pumps should not (be allowed to) rise until that higher-priced crude gets all the way through the long supply system and TO said pump. The only reasons that the petroleum industry profits, which are very high, aren't seen as exorbitant is due to the poor management practices of the domestic market, combined with the "fires and weather problems" which have impacted the domestic program.
If only big government is powerful to enact changes, then for heaven's sake, let's have them do it! I think this is a problem that ALL americans can agree on solutions for.
Oh, the title? Hell no, I'm not the least tankful in how this mess has been handled.
