Guiseppi wrote on Jun 9^th, 2008 at 6:55pm:


Now THAT is some funny stuff!!!

.........almost as funny as futures traders being responsible for long term increases in commodity prices.   

Charlie

Long live the representative republic form of government.

I heard a report that the prices were raising much faster here in the US than in Europe.  If simple supply and demand were the reason for the increases, there would be a fairly even increase across the board, world-wide, but that, apparently, is not the case.   In my opinion, the prices in this country are being artificially inflated by forces outside the simple realm and controls of supply and demand. 

1.  Guilt Merchants - More and more, people are allowing themselves to be made to feel guilty that people in other countries are paying twice or more than we do.  Never mind that the reason in most cases are government imposed taxes and environmental controls.  People are wringing their hands with guilt at the dilemma.  We need to pay closer to what they do, right?  I mean, it's only fair, right? 

2.  Control (hate) - Few to none of the oil producing countries care that much for the US and with the war in the Middle East, even fewer.  High prices are a way to get a little payback without any specific country having to officially speak openly against the US.   The foreign producers know that America runs on oil.  Everything we buy, everything we do has oil in the process in one way or another.  Raise the price, hurt the economy and weaken the country.

3.  Greed - See the guilt - see the hate - see the path to profit.  People "get used to things" fairly quickly, so we'll bump up the prices until people yell and then bring them down some until the new "lower" price is accepted.  Repeat as often as the people will tolerate it.

4.  The Media (more hate in the form of politics) - The media in this country no longer has a slight slant to the left.  It's an outright heavy socialist lean to the point where people question the motives of a lot of what is said in the "news."  The media will blindly and loudly report bad news if it will hurt a conservative political candidate.  If the news isn't bad enough, they will seek out the fringe idiots and alarmists and do interviews with them until people believe the bad news.  "A Lie Told Often Enough Becomes The Truth." - Vladimir Lenin

5.  Speculation - Speculators are causing prices to go through the roof and they know they can get away with it.  They look at the factors beyond supply and demand and see the guilt and the hate and the greed and play it like a violin.  Speculators inform the media that oil prices will likely exceed $XXX.00 by such and such date and low and behold - it happens.   It's a self-fulfilling prophecy and they are laughing all the way to the bank.

What's the answer?  I don't know.  I don't know when or why what goes on in another country is more important than what is happening here at home.  I don't understand the level of greed that would cause a person to sell his soul and sell out his country for a few dollars more.  I don't understand why people would willingly give up their freedom for the illusion of security and the convenience of not having to think for themselves.

In Southern California people are crossing the border into Mexico for gas because it's still $2.?? a gallon.  Half the price of what it is in San Diego.

It's definitely not supply & demand!

monty wrote on Jun 10^th, 2008 at 10:46am:


Houses dont trade futures. 
Speculators in the futures market have a net effect of 0.  The same number of contracts are purchased and sold. 
You might buy a contract allowing you to sell oil in July for $150.  If oil hits $150+, you sell the contract (or excercise it).  If oil does not hit $150, you sell the contract or it expires worthless.  The net effect is 0.

    

Thought I'd share a warning we recieved today:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Your tax dollars at work!

Racer1_NC wrote on Jun 10^th, 2008 at 12:02pm:



Absolutely correct!

Charlie

jonny,
It wouldn't matter where he was born. If he has a U.S. parent he is entitled to U.S. citizenship.
Does it matter to you? Forget about the birth certficate, thats not part of the question.

Charlie

Charlie wrote on Jun 11^th, 2008 at 9:01pm:


On a US military base which is US soil!

karma wrote on Jun 11^th, 2008 at 9:18pm:


For one, please point out his record!

And two, yes, if he was not born on American soil.....He can not be president!....Get it?