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Obviously, this cartoon of an elephant (source unknown to me) with a gasoline station hose for a trunk, means to say that the Republican Party is a purveyor of oil company interests. This prompts me to raise again the issue of gasoline prices. I, and many other people, are less interested in what the price of gas is at any given moment, than what caused it to be that price. I believe that the price of gasoline will rise over the long run, until petroleum -- as a source of fuel for hundreds of millions of cars -- has disappeared.
No matter how chagrined we may be, or how improverished by the prices, I think they'll go up and up. Environmentalists can make a good case for thinking that higher gas prices will lead to conservation, reduced used of fuel, and thus will benefit the environment.
But, suddenly the prices fell drastically.
When we raised this topic earlier on this blog ( 'Can you give me advice?' - September 20) we heard from several people. One of the responses was from Arboretum angel, Trase (September 22). We were wondering whether the recent fall in gas prices had anything to do with the November elections. Bush's popularity has been rising as the gas prices fall. That is a remarkable coincidence.
We invited, and still do invite, other people to participate in this conversation. Simply 'click' on 'comments' just below this article and follow directions.
Most people, emphatically including Trase, were of the opinion that there is a connection between the price of gasoline and the upcoming election.
Now I ask: Do you think it's fair, to equate Republicans with pro-oil company interests? Is it an exaggeration? Would it be a Republican-Petroleum power base that we have to thank for the present lower prices? If in power, would the Democrats be doing the same thing?
4 comments:
I seem to recall that during the 2004 campaign, in the weeks and months leading up to the election, that the wholesale and retail prices of ketchup increased at an alarming rate. Clearly, Mrs Heinz-Kerry was pulling her ketchup industry strings to make Bush look like he'd lost control of the condiment economy. Angry voters responded, but Bush won anyway.
My cynicism has reached the point that I don't necessarily believe that gas prices are being manipulated. The simple cynical answer is that gas prices are being tweaked by someone to benefit Republicans. But that implies that the democratic process is intact, that they still need to win votes the old fashioned way. If they can stuff the ballot box, or disqualify/intimidate the opposition's voters, why would they resort to trying to win votes by lowering gas prices? Of course, I suppose it is possible to cheat while simultaneously manipulating the oil/gas markets for political gain. That way they don't have to cheat as much.
Sometimes you scare me, Jim.
I don't know what the level of manipulation is. I don't know what the level of ballot corruption is.
It seems to me that Congress ought to investigate it. I do know that one of the greatest powers of Congress is the power to investigate. It does damn little of that any more.
Yes, it's fair to equate repub party with oil. Would the dems do the same thing? Probably. I assume they have been bought as well. There is nothing more important to this country than oil. I think every person here would sell out just to keep their friggin' snowmobiles running. You heard of crack whores -- we're gas whores.
I think the Democrats would if they could, but the fact of the matter is that Big Oil loves the Republicans and would do what they could to get them back in govt.
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