Time for some serious regulation....

[smokin68]

of the US economy monopolies that have been formed since deregulation has become popular. I don't like interference from "big brother", but sometimes it's necessary so people don't get gouged.

Here they've de-regulated cable tv; my bill shot up. They've de-regulated the phone company...guess what? Now it's time to regulate....phone,electricity,and GASOLINE. These are monopolies that are making huge profits because their services are a necessity. Noone in business has a problem with anyone turning a profit, but the gouging(gasoline) shouldn't be allowed. JMO.

[uncle buck]

The speculation on Wall street has to stop.

The oil heating contracters of the New York Metro area are pleading that all the citizens of this nation go on the following website get informed and
everyone must do their part to flood their congressmans and state senators offices with messages to close the enron loophole !!!!

The website is "WWW.CLOSE THE ENRON LOOP HOLE.COM"

[mark beiser]

The speculation on Wall street has to stop.

The oil heating contracters of the New York Metro area are pleading that all the citizens of this nation go on the following website get informed and
everyone must do their part to flood their congressmans and state senators offices with messages to close the enron loophole !!!!

The website is "WWW.CLOSE THE ENRON LOOP HOLE.COM"

IMO, speculators need to be bared from the commodities markets completely. They are even starting to drive up food prices now.

Commodity futures purchases should be limited to entities that actually use the commodities. Speculators drive the prices up far out of proportion to the normal laws of supply and demand.

[hvacker]

Everybody on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is a speculator. No body there uses anything.
I briefly knew one of these guys. Gets out of college, Daddy gets him a chair on the Exchange. He pays it off in 2 years and then it's all go.

What we are seeing is the rebirth of the Railroad Barron's only on warp speed.

The reason gouging is allowed is it's really hard to have a capitalist economy and tell capitalists they can't make money, or as much. It just doesn't wash.
But capitalists know the real money is in the hands of the middle class and if they were wiped it would flow to them.
Guess what... It works. The American middle class is broke. They might have a new car but the bank owns it. They might have a house but the equity is gone etc. I doubt little Jimmy will go to college.
Not long ago billionares were almost unheard of and noe they are almost commonplace. Guess where the money came from.

[tunnel_rat]

of the US economy monopolies that have been formed since deregulation has become popular. I don't like interference from "big brother", but sometimes it's necessary so people don't get gouged.

Here they've de-regulated cable tv; my bill shot up. They've de-regulated the phone company...guess what? Now it's time to regulate....phone,electricity,and GASOLINE. These are monopolies that are making huge profits because their services are a necessity. Noone in business has a problem with anyone turning a profit, but the gouging(gasoline) shouldn't be allowed. JMO.

Do you think oil co's aren't regulated? Do you know how much of the gas price is tax? Oil co's can't drill or refine anything. You wonder why the price goes up? Because we have to buy it from somebody else.....

[mark beiser]

Do you think oil co's aren't regulated? Do you know how much of the gas price is tax? Oil co's can't drill or refine anything. You wonder why the price goes up? Because we have to buy it from somebody else.....

The commodities market, which is where the price of oil is set, is barely regulated.

[glennac]

The commodities market, which is where the price of oil is set, is barely regulated.

yeah but if we keep our oil in our ground and have to buy it on the world market who gets it in the rear. The US, ty greens and Democrats.

[The Doctor]

Same old tired argument--

Time for some serious regulation of the US economy monopolies

as if "The government" knows better than the people.


Except for the part about a government by the people, for the people, and OF the people.

Are you looking to create more career bureaucrats, or just save a few bucks?

[The Doctor]

IMO, speculators need to be bared from the commodities markets completely. They are even starting to drive up food prices now.

Commodity futures purchases should be limited to entities that actually use the commodities. Speculators drive the prices up far out of proportion to the normal laws of supply and demand.

I won't entirely disagree with your final sentence, and yet can we improve on it a bit? I mean how it is that speculators arrive at that final overpriced value...

It is IMO that their lobbyists use their influence to obtain what amounts to a gross imbalance in tax breaks and special considerations which are chiefly responsible for the " out of proportion" of which you speak. This is part of the problem that leads to overpriced commodity values. But it is my contention that regulations do not solve the problem either, because regulations are basically cost-raising rackets lobbied for by some producers to hurt other producers.
Granted, my position still shows a faith in a free market, but between regulation and special interest lobbyists, we're not speaking of a free market. It may be the "free-est" market around, but it's not a free market as conceived in places like websites such as mises(dot)org. Just take a peek at that place and you'll soon get a taste for "free market" concepts.
Now, where were we?
The actions of a few (read: the Fed, et al.) cause many more peaks and troughs in market action than we need. Combining this with the imbalance of special interest lobbyists, and we are nearing the perfect storm as it relates to us: the little guys.
My first bit of advice is : grow your own food as much as possible.
But I digress

[Snapperhead]

The commodities market, which is where the price of oil is set, is barely regulated.

its not regulated .... thats why we are going broke ... and the ones having stock in the right places are getting richer than Jimminy Cricket .

You honestly think anyone with stock in Oil really gives a ratts behind about a gallon of gas ? ?

Hell no , they are smiling all the way to the bank .

I just wish I HAD OIL STOCK when a barrel was 50.00

The only thing you might be able to do now ... is get Hedge funds and make money when oil goes back down . But lord knows if and when that happens .

[fixacr]

Oh yes that is exactly what this country needs- MORE government involvement in private business.

[smokin68]

Oh yes that is exactly what this country needs- MORE government involvement in private business.

It's not a private business....it's about commodities and monopolies. When you have something that everyone needs and will not be without, and you gouge them because you are the only source of said product, you need to be regulated to protect the people. How would you feel if you were charged for water at some rediculous rate, whether city or private source, and all water used must be paid for? Right now we have to purchase gas/oil no matter what the cost, at least most people do.

[The Doctor]

It's not a private business....it's about commodities and monopolies. When you have something that everyone needs

Define "need". We have redefined fairness in the name of what you or I have gotten accustomed to having . You don't need oil anymore than the man on the moon.

and will not be without, and you gouge them because you are the only source of said product, you need to be regulated to protect the people. How would you feel if you were charged for water at some rediculous rate, whether city or private source, and all water used must be paid for?

Water costs twice as much as gasoline, and we actually need water to survive. Gasoline is a lifestyle choice. Just ask the Amish.

Right now we have to purchase gas/oil no matter what the cost, at least most people do.

It's a choice, just like that lousy beer you drink, and the cheap coffee I drink. It only costs me $1.86 per cup. How 'bout you?