So big oil *really* makes a point

[Bill in Houston]

Every addict has to "bottom out".

[MnFocus]

or switch addictions

[atomicradish]

Originally Posted by repete86

Good. Let the situation get worse, and maybe people will stop driving their SUVs and pickup trucks.

I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Mentalic]

Ethanol from corn has it downs sides. I received an email from a local environmental group, the "Gulf restoration Network" http://www.healthygulf.org/
that linked several story's about corn derived Ethanol.

Link to a few negative impact story's on Ethanol: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,281712,00.html
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/19/Op...res_much.shtml
http://content.hamptonroads.com/stor...6388&ran=12735
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/..._really_ethan/

No doubt there are far fewer small refinery's in operation these days. Really the main reason that the small refinery's closed was they could not make finished gasoline that met the new EPA requirements in the late 90's.. So the high cost of building new facility's that can meet the new EPA specifications killed them off. Only players left are the big boys. Since the suppliers have been reduced so now any hiccup in the major suppliers result in higher prices for everyone..

Found an interesting site that has lots of gasoline info from the government. http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp

Building new 4 billion dollar refinery's is not the solution and its near impossible to anyway in todays regulated world. We need more efficient cars and trucks.

[GasSavers_bobski]

For ethanol to be even faintly competitive requires continuing high gas prices. And if the volatile world oil market has a big downturn, as it has in the past, the government will be under pressure to keep the price of imported oil high to protect the domestic ethanol industry.

So that's it, is it? The oil industry has managed to drive their profits though the roof and now they're taking measures to keep them there.

[thisisntjared]

Originally Posted by bobski

So that's it, is it? The oil industry has managed to drive their profits though the roof and now they're taking measures to keep them there.

dont even tell me you are surprized. this is the biggest problem with capitolism. it can be driven by greed. and the love of money is the root of all evil

[Bill in Houston]

Actually, what bobski was talking about has absolutely nothing to do with capitalism. If we were truly capitalist, there would be no ethanol in gas anywhere in the US. The only way ethanol in the motor fuel pool can exist is by the government manipulating things. That said, I can't imagine that the govt would try to keep crude prices high...

[Snax]

I disagree Bill. I think lobbyists for the ethanol industry are responsible for the current mandates. The people making the stuff aren't doing it for free.

For anybody wanting to get really pissed off about the stranglehold of the international oil consortium, there are two books to really open your eyes as to the realities of it all, Confessions of an Economic Hitman and Armed Madhouse.

You can't win. You can only hope to come out ahead.

[Bill in Houston]

Originally Posted by Snax

I disagree Bill. I think lobbyists for the ethanol industry are responsible for the current mandates. The people making the stuff aren't doing it for free.

Also true. Also unrelated to capitalism. Well, except that the ethanol guys are behaving in a capitalist way.

[thisisntjared]

man only 3 posts in a day, i thought i wouldve stirred a larger fire than that....

for the record i am for capitalism, but not so much corporatism...