Gas Prices Pass Record

#276
#276
volinbham said:
I've been down many times - its not fun. I didn't see much use in blaming corporations for it though. On the contrary, I saw that most people that were doing well were doing so because the marketplace presented so many opportunities.
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which i can see that point, but was the reason you were down because you were not trying. according to allvol it is. no matter how you want to look at it alot of people can't take 100 bucks a week out of there budget. they just were not expecting to get bent over. also wage increases have not kept up with the cost of living. in the next few years things are going to get tons worse and we are already seeing people without healthcare and record number of forclosures. allvol says it is all good though.:crazy:
 
#277
#277
The Clinton Years..

clinton-gas99.jpg


The Bush Years..

bfee-gas-prices507.jpg
 
#278
#278
champyvol said:
which i can see that point, but was the reason you were down because you were not trying. according to allvol it is. no matter how you want to look at it alot of people can't take 100 bucks a week out of there budget. they just were not expecting to get bent over. also wage increases have not kept up with the cost of living. in the next few years things are going to get tons worse and we are already seeing people without healthcare and record number of forclosures. allvol says it is all good though.:crazy:
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My point all along is that there are tons of factors that account for prices increases in various products including gas. There hasn't been any and still isn't any solid evidence that Big Oil is gouging. I won't go into the details because it's been documented time after time (in countless threads) but record profits doesn't prove anything.

Is the system perfect? No. Would ideas like cost controls, price controls or nationalization of the industry help? No - they would make it worse.
 
#280
#280
hmanvolfan said:
If Bill was dictating the gasoline prices how come he isn't riding in on his white horse to save us?
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If Bill was dictating the gasoline prices, I think the better question to ask would be "Why is W screwing us?"...
 
#281
#281
volinbham said:
My point all along is that there are tons of factors that account for prices increases in various products including gas. There hasn't been any and still isn't any solid evidence that Big Oil is gouging. I won't go into the details because it's been documented time after time (in countless threads) but record profits doesn't prove anything.

Is the system perfect? No. Would ideas like cost controls, price controls or nationalization of the industry help? No - they would make it worse.
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So do you think that current members of the administration having oil backgrounds has nothing to do with any of it?
 
#282
#282
OWB said:
So do you think that current members of the administration having oil backgrounds has nothing to do with any of it?
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So do you think Bill Clinton having no oil background is the reason the gas prices during his administration were lower?
 
#283
#283
OWB said:
So do you think that current members of the administration having oil backgrounds has nothing to do with any of it?
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I'm sure that gas prices reached record levels at the same time oil companies had record profits was purely a coincidence.

It was really the costs that drove the price of gas up, it wasn't simply oil companies charging more for gasoline and then making larger profits. Thats ridiculous. Next year when they write-off all those increased costs they will probably barely break even.
 
#284
#284
ok, since you have no desire to understand the economics behind the price of gas, what do you propose? Since you think the government should impose price caps, what is the most we should pay for a gallon of 87 octane regular unleaded? also, would you have a single blend be used nationwide and not the dozens we have now?

and to go along with these price controls, whose taxes are you going to raise since a government price cap will be subsidized by tax revenues?

since you're also clearly bent on denying the oil companies the profits they need in order to develop new technologies, how do you propose to keep the energy industry innovative and moving forward? research and development require money.
 
#285
#285
OWB said:
So do you think that current members of the administration having oil backgrounds has nothing to do with any of it?
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It's simple economics. Don't you think that seeing the uproar over gas prices, the administration would do everything it could to make the price lower instead of higher?
 
#286
#286
champyvol said:
suppose to go to a wedding reception, but i probably won't go because big buisness and sorry a-- people in washington have to make another billion or so. i hope one day you get down and nobody helps you out, think back on all the crap you spew. maybe you'll say being poor sucks.:crazy:
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A wedding reception? Wow! How can people afford to have a wedding reception with big oil destroying the standard of living in America. Again, some people need to learn the meaning of a "need".

Also, I have been "down" before, but would never wish that upon anyone. The "crap" I spew doesn't even compare to the hate living inside of you.
 
#287
#287
OWB said:
So do you think that current members of the administration having oil backgrounds has nothing to do with any of it?
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That is correct - the only impact that would have would be in their pushing of regulations friendly to Big Oil. Off the top of my head, I don't recall any such programs but there may be some from the first term.

The other indirect impact is that there is a "stability" premium built into the price of oil. Iraq has likely raised the price of a barrel of oil.

And no I don't believe the Iraq war was started to help Big Oil make more $
 
#288
#288
oklavol said:
I'm sure that gas prices reached record levels at the same time oil companies had record profits was purely a coincidence.

It was really the costs that drove the price of gas up, it wasn't simply oil companies charging more for gasoline and then making larger profits. Thats ridiculous. Next year when they write-off all those increased costs they will probably barely break even.
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For the last time. If you make a stable profit margin (say 11%) and the revenue on which that margin is made increases (increases because the unit price goes up and the amount of units sold goes up); you will make more profits.

The cost structure (raw materials (crude oil), procesing costs (refining and distribution) and speculation (based on expected shortages)) have all risen.

When there is a shortage of coffee beans, the price of coffee rises quite a bit (percentage wise).

When there is a late frost and the citrus crop is damaged, the price of OJ rises quite a bit.

Why should it be any different with gas? Don't give me the "everyone needs gas" line. That is irrelevant. If the end price increases matches the cost increase that is not gouging. That is a practice used by every business - including the government.

Guess what, when their costs rise, the Post Office raises their rates!

Finally, I've been accused of defending the oil companies. In reality, I'm defending facts. Find out the mechanics of price setting in an industry before you jump to the conclusion some company is screwing you over. A problem cannot be solved unless it is properly diagnosed.
 
#289
#289
volinbham said:
That is correct - the only impact that would have would be in their pushing of regulations friendly to Big Oil. Off the top of my head, I don't recall any such programs but there may be some from the first term.
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So it's all just one giant coincidence?
 
#291
#291
allvol123 said:
A wedding reception? Wow! How can people afford to have a wedding reception with big oil destroying the standard of living in America. Again, some people need to learn the meaning of a "need".

Also, I have been "down" before, but would never wish that upon anyone. The "crap" I spew doesn't even compare to the hate living inside of you.
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no hate. i would just love for you to see things from both sides. if there is any justice you will. according to you there is nothing wrong with anything. i watched my best friends mom lose her job as it was outsourced, lost her insurance. then 6 months later watch her go to the doctor and them say she is having liver failure because of some stupid drug they give women for there women problems they have. she waited a year and a half to get a liver transplant because she had no insurace and our crappy a-- government would not help her at all. when the time finally came they bypassed her again because she missed filling out one paper, by the time she got another chance 2 years later she was to sick to have the operation. there is nothing wrong though. i hope one day you will get to have such a experience. remember though as the illegals come over we give them all the insurance they need. god bless america.
 
#293
#293
champyvol said:
no hate. i would just love for you to see things from both sides. if there is any justice you will. according to you there is nothing wrong with anything. i watched my best friends mom lose her job as it was outsourced, lost her insurance. then 6 months later watch her go to the doctor and them say she is having liver failure because of some stupid drug they give women for there women problems they have. she waited a year and a half to get a liver transplant because she had no insurace and our crappy a-- government would not help her at all. when the time finally came they bypassed her again because she missed filling out one paper, by the time she got another chance 2 years later she was to sick to have the operation. there is nothing wrong though. i hope one day you will get to have such a experience. remember though as the illegals come over we give them all the insurance they need. god bless america.
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Again, you root for someone to be down and out, a pretty disgusting thought process you have. Also, you have no idea what circumstnaces I have experienced or am experiencing in my life. Your rooting for people to experience hardships is truly a revolting thought process.
 
#294
#294
volinbham said:
For the last time. If you make a stable profit margin (say 11%) and the revenue on which that margin is made increases (increases because the unit price goes up and the amount of units sold goes up); you will make more profits.

The cost structure (raw materials (crude oil), procesing costs (refining and distribution) and speculation (based on expected shortages)) have all risen.

When there is a shortage of coffee beans, the price of coffee rises quite a bit (percentage wise).

When there is a late frost and the citrus crop is damaged, the price of OJ rises quite a bit.

Why should it be any different with gas? Don't give me the "everyone needs gas" line. That is irrelevant. If the end price increases matches the cost increase that is not gouging. That is a practice used by every business - including the government.

Guess what, when their costs rise, the Post Office raises their rates!

Finally, I've been accused of defending the oil companies. In reality, I'm defending facts. Find out the mechanics of price setting in an industry before you jump to the conclusion some company is screwing you over. A problem cannot be solved unless it is properly diagnosed.
Click to expand...


The volume of gas sold rises pretty consistently from year to year at about 3-5%. So their profits should rise by about the same rate as the increase in the volume sold. You don't get record profits and make more then any corporation in history from a 3-5% rise in volume sold.

The volume of gas being sold by oil companies hasn't doubled or tripled in the last few years, but their profits have. Oddly the price of gas has doubled and tripled though. But obviously that didn't have anything to do with it. Its the volume and their great efficiency.

Here's a new concept for you, some companies lower their price when they increase their sales volume. They don't have to raise the price because of the increases in volume sold to make the same profit so they can lower the price. Thats happens in a true competitive environment where there is a competition and the consumer has choices. Odd, isn't that oil companies don't ever feel to lower the prices even though the volume sold increased on average 3-5% for the last 30 years?

Another odd thing is, all these increased costs that oil companies claim to have, why hasn't that affected their bottom line? The margin and their profit is higher then is has ever been in history, for any corporation for that matter. Why doesn't all these increased costs affected their profit margin which is sky high?? They probably haven't got around to writing those costs off yet, thats probably what it is.
 
#295
#295
champyvol said:
no hate. i would just love for you to see things from both sides. if there is any justice you will. according to you there is nothing wrong with anything. i watched my best friends mom lose her job as it was outsourced, lost her insurance. then 6 months later watch her go to the doctor and them say she is having liver failure because of some stupid drug they give women for there women problems they have. she waited a year and a half to get a liver transplant because she had no insurace and our crappy a-- government would not help her at all. when the time finally came they bypassed her again because she missed filling out one paper, by the time she got another chance 2 years later she was to sick to have the operation. there is nothing wrong though. i hope one day you will get to have such a experience. remember though as the illegals come over we give them all the insurance they need. god bless america.
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Question. How much help did you give your friend on this? You obviously have access to the internet and in about 2 minutes on Google I found 3 organizations that help with this type situation...one in Memphis. If the liver failure was due to a drug I can promise you there is a class action lawsuit out there somewhere that could have provided the funding as well.

What I'm saying is that people need to quit whining about the government not taking care of them and start taking care of themselves.

In Texas, any hospital that receives funding from public funds (i.e. from taxpayers) cannot turn people away for lack of funds and I assume the same is true in Tennessee. I do know that UT Hospital wrote off the balance after medicaid of my mother's last stay there.

Why do you think illegals get insurance? They don't, they just follow the procedures outlined above.
 
#297
#297
oklavol said:
The volume of gas sold rises pretty consistently from year to year at about 3-5%. So their profits should rise by about the same rate as the increase in the volume sold. You don't get record profits and make more then any corporation in history from a 3-5% rise in volume sold.

The volume of gas being sold by oil companies hasn't doubled or tripled in the last few years, but their profits have. Oddly the price of gas has doubled and tripled though. But obviously that didn't have anything to do with it. Its the volume and their great efficiency.

Here's a new concept for you, some companies lower their price when they increase their sales volume. They don't have to raise the price because of the increases in volume sold to make the same profit so they can lower the price. Thats happens in a true competitive environment where there is a competition and the consumer has choices. Odd, isn't that oil companies don't ever feel to lower the prices even though the volume sold increased on average 3-5% for the last 30 years?

Another odd thing is, all these increased costs that oil companies claim to have, why hasn't that affected their bottom line? The margin and their profit is higher then is has ever been in history, for any corporation for that matter. Why doesn't all these increased costs affected their profit margin which is sky high?? They probably haven't got around to writing those costs off yet, thats probably what it is.
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You do understand that 11% of $3 will be triple of the same percentage (net profit) of $1 don't you? The volume sold in the US has absolutely nothing to do with the volume sold (read "demand") world-wide.

Exxon's net profit margin for the 1st quarter was 11%. Since you think this is higher than any other company, Pfizer was 27% and Merck was 29% for the same period. BTW, this info can be found in SEC filings - the 10Q. Now tell me again how oil companies profit margins are sky high.

Also, companies do not lower prices after raising sales volume. If they have an elastic demand for their product, they lower prices to raise volume if that will raise total profits.
 
#300
#300
GAVol said:
Agreed . . . Disagreement in a debate is one thing, but that is absolutely classless.
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no. i think he would feel different if he would have been in her position, and that is what i'm stating. since he seems to have no pitty for the little people, i would love to see it. then he can post how he feels. i have a feeling he would change his opinion. classless huh, well that is your opinion. he acts like everybody without insurance is a worthless person that doesn't want to work. i take offense to that.
 
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