More Commentary on Current Events

[Mr VJP]

[tt]This may rile up a few people even more.

Try and stick to the article when you respond.

I would really like to know what makes the Leftist mind tick.

I have no interest in the Leftist opinion of my person, just the article.

http://www.amerika.org/politics/our-corporate-overlords/  [/tt]

[nyantler]

So true.. a good example would be why automobiles cost as much as they do... it is not the greedy auto makers.. the cause is because of the peoples willingness to pay whatever increase to own the latest and greatest status building auotmobile without regard for where it will take us as far as auto prices are concerned.. gas prices are no different... when gas prices rocketed to $2 a gallon.. big oil realized that Americans were willing to pay that much for gas because the demand remained the same... the same for when it reached $3... shortly there after demand dropped as did the the price of a barrel of oil.. but the price of gas didn't drop in proportion... because the price that people were willing to pay was already establish.. the same will happen now as we approach $4 a gal... demand may drop and even the price of oil may drop.. but that will not be true for the price of gas... and most of America will continue to fill up their tanks and go on with their lives as usual.. while blaming only big oil for the problem.

[First-light]

Joe,

As for gas prices it's a poor example. People are held hostage, to say we are willing to pay for expensive gas is wrong. We have to pay these prices because there is no alternative.

People have to drive, get to work, doctors appointment and so on. If you had a choice it would be a different story. There are a lot more flex fuel and hybrid cars out there. It hasn't done a thing to decreasing gas prices. My point is  people are trying to drive more economical cars and it has done nothing for gas prices. Don't blame to consumer so fast.

[nyantler]

True but the same people drive to the mall, to the football game, to the bar and even take an unnecessary drive just to get out of the house... we have become dependant on our vehicles... and the need to have an SUV  bigger and better than the neighbors that gets 12 miles to the gal means more fill ups ... we're all guilty of giving power to big companies just as the article says

[G-Man]

This country is just to big for mass transportation,trains,ect. The oil company's act as a monopoly even though they are seperate. the gov should step in to break up price setting. there is no mobil gas in the northeast but there are mobil stations. they make an agrement with another company like bp to provide gas to their stations here and provide gas for bp in another part of the country....so stopping buying gas from one compant does nothing...the price is set by speculators and ceo's.

[nyantler]

Yeah I think the true lack of real competition is the problem with gas, cable TV, the power company... you notice that the cost of TV's, Stereos, cellphone plans, computers have all become affordable because of the increased competition... unfortunately though the services that make them useful are being monopolized. If we had a choice of insurances accross state lines the cost of that would go down as well

I have always wanted to get the NRA term life insurance.. you can get a $500,000 dirt cheap.. except.. NY won't allow me to have it.. that is ridiculous