Monday, April 16, 2012

This gives me gas

Every four years we go to the polls to elect the President of gas prices. George Washington, our first President, is famous for setting the bar low at zero cents per gallon, back in the late 1700's. Other presidents wisely followed his lead, with many tying his record at 0 cents until the 20th century rolled around and oil companies figured out they should be charging folks for their product. It was about this time too that Henry Ford figured out his cars ran better on gasoline than they had on oats and hay. Things really changed then!

Now, I know what you're saying. You're saying: "Ferrerman, stop being silly! There wasn't any gasoline in Washington's day and, never minding that, the President does not set the price of gasoline!"

Well, you're right about that. I am being silly and no POTUS sets the price of gas despite what Michele Bachman and Newt Gingrich say. In fact, both of them ran for president saying they would set the price (at $2 and $2.50, respectively) and neither one of them could convince enough of the dumbshits in their party that they could do that and one dropped out months ago and the other just won't give up.

Yet, just like in '08 when McCain/Palin screamed "DRILL, BABY, DRILL" gas prices are being touted by the republicans as THE issue in this election. Well, it worked so well for them last time... Perhaps one of these days it will work.

Actually there IS a president who DOES have a say about the price of gasoline. Even more actually, there are several. They are the presidents of the various oil companies! And, you know what? They love, love, LOVE high gas prices! High prices = HIGHER PROFITS!  But, you can't vote these guys out of office no matter how they might feel about gay marriage or abortion. You're stuck with them just like you're stuck with high gas prices unless Gingrich hangs in there, defeats Romney, then defeats Obama and then nationalizes the oil companies. That's the only way a POTUS could set the price though. You could draft Hugo Chavez. He's got experience with that.

5 comments:

Maggie said...

LOL. Terrific post.

Sue J said...

Not only do they love high prices but they also have the money for the lobbyists who, after watching a documentary on the US government, appear to be the people who actually decide policy. Those with the most money can pay the most people to vote the way they want them to on issues concerning vested interests (which is pretty much everything). And this is democracy in action??
In other places it's called bribery and corruption.
We are currently paying $1.50+ for one litre of petrol - which works out roughly to about $6 per gallon, so don't bitch too much!

ex-ferrer said...

And with the tax breaks and subsidies they get, WE THE PEOPLE are paying them to charge us more! How 'bout that? The whole "Drill, Baby, DRILL!" is so they can use the oil here to send to the rest of the world, where they can charge more. Lobbyists write most of our policy these days, Certainly the last several wars we've had, from VietNam on have been in the interests of the Military Industrial Complex and now, Construction outfits like Haliburton KBR, as there are trillions to be made in rebuilding nations that we bomb. And they wanna argue about gay marriage and abortion instead....

Anonymous said...

check out the frightening characters on this thread:
http://www.topix.net/forum/us/TPCM3LN8ARUHNUCL9/p2#c33
.
If I see one more curse word, I may need to bring a bar of soap to the party.
.
(lol, and they're not subsidies, they're tax breaks, because CLEARLY there's a difference)
O.o
hearting you, look for me.

Annie

ex-ferrer said...

"Just stay alive! No matter what occurs, I WILL find you!"
Name that movie.

I think that fella wakes up angry. That 49% figure gets bandied about a lot as if it were gospel. I like to point out that, even if accurate, it includes corporations like GE, Exxon and others. These tards really think that a millionaire having to pay (say) $50k in taxes is unfair while a welfare mom skates by paying nothing. Well, ol' Mittens Romney thinks ALL Americans should be in the 1% so, these fuckers know what they're talking about...

Hand me the soap, Annie, I said a bad word.