Lynne Kiesling
Three cheers for Tim Haab for saying what I’m often too lazy or too cowardly to say:
So let’s take a look at the STUPID price gouging bill…
So we’ve now proven that Democrats are idiots. We’re halfway there. …
Republicans are idiots.
Since independents don’t matter, I conclude my proof. All politicians are idiots.
Look, in all seriousness. High gas prices are NOT an economic or political problem. They are the result of the natural workings of markets. There is nothing wrong with the market–and no reason, other than self-preservation and the false appearance of being able to do something, for politicians to intervene. Supplies are decreasing–both temporarily through unexpected refinery shut-downs and permanently through stock depletion. Demand is increasing–both in the U.S. and worldwide. Both of these will cause gas prices to rise and that’s good. If gas prices don’t rise, we will consume gas even faster and run out sooner. Higher gas prices encourage conservation and encourage investment in alternatives. High gas prices might be uncomfortable while we search for viable long-term solutions, but they’re more comfortable than the alternative: no gas and no solutions.
Yes. Go read him. Now. Please. Even if you are already convinced that all politicians are idiots.
You didn’t quote the language: Thou shalt not…
“…sell crude oil, gasoline, natural gas, or petroleum distillates at a price that is unconscionably excessive or indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage [of] unusual market conditions (whether real or perceived) or the circumstances of an emergency to increase prices unreasonably.”
“Unconscionably”? What kind of legal language is that? “Unfair”? Still just as unclear. But the one I love is “unusual market conditions (whether real or perceived)”. Who gets to do the perceiving? 😉 This is a joke.
This sounds like one of those things that has no hope of passing, so they just write it so that it sounds good to people who don’t know better. There aren’t enough people who do know better to amount to an electoral majority.
There is an appropriate H.L. Mencken quote: “No one in this world every lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby”. Our politicians know exactly what they are doing. Joe Sixpack and Suzie Soap-Opera need only be convinced that politicians care. Substance is not required – it is actually a threat – to a professional politician’s de facto life time tenure. Joe and Suzie demand cheap gas. But they also believe, with religious intensity, that evil fossil fuels will make the whole world will be one vast tropical rain forest by 2030. What’s a professional feeder at the public trough to do?