Purple Mountain Majesties

Supply and Demand Works - Plus Random Thoughts

$2.35 - that is what the price of gas was this morning (9/20) when I filled up. But, in addition to that, I received 3c off for a purchase price of $2.32 by filling up at Wal-Mart! Last week, the previous time I filled up my car gas was 2.59 at Wal-Mart. Previous to that, $2.76. At it's height after Katrina, Wal-Mart was $2.99. This is middle America Gas - Oklahoma. In a little over 2 weeks, gas dropped over 60c!

Katrina forced refineries to go offline and decommissioned some for several days. This coupled with the "wonderful" power of the media - the price of gas sky-rocketed! Supply was down - not immediately, for their was a produced amount of gas prior to Katrina. However, justifiable increase in the price of gas could be found in decreased production. Since the media was calling the hand, supply further decreased. Folks, this is the law of supply and demand at its basic roots!

As refineries went back online, and Americans "chilled-out" a bit, the demand for gas decreased. Thus, production and less demand created a "surplus" of gas. Prices fell.

Granted, there is some absurd and frustrating reasons for the price of gas these days, but the rest is plain ole' capitalism. I for one am glad the gas companies are flourishing.

However, I am disappointed that new refineries have not opened and we have not begun to access our own oil. We must call for this as Americans - we can still keep our national forests clean and relatively unharmed. We can co-exist with nature. We are one of the most civilized nations of the world, with some of the most environmentally clean and skilled industries. Let's put them to work on our own oil and our own refineries. Call your representatives and senators and let them know you want real government to happen.

** While you are on the phone, encourage them to vote for the judicial nominations of President Bush. This is not a time for partisan bullying. Questions, fine. But as long as there is not a moral or ethical reason to vote against a nomination, "let's get it done" and move on!

** Is it not amazing how gridlock has formed on the highways of Texas due to Rita? Why did this not happen in New Orleans and other Katrina effected areas? What about Florida? The governor of FL mobilized Guard units and was prepared as he has been in the past. Live and learn....

** Tax breaks in Katrina affected areas will be future taxes on our children. We need a relief cap, we need to cap the Presidential Check Book and we need to guard against fraud and misuse. In the face of huge national debt, we need to keep government at a minimum. Will this make people happy? No. Will this appease naysayers? No. (but neither will free spending). Folks, I do not know about your finances, but my check book can only handle so much "red." Moreover, my debt ratio has a ceiling and my cards do not get used. Why can government just spend as they want? Have we considered where that money is coming from? It will be paid by our children and grandchildren. God forbid, but if we have a democrat as President and loose control of the government in the next elections...We could find ourselves in a tax-crazy world! Just think, Americans have "**DONATED**" over 1 BILLION dollars to quatrain victims.... Hmm, think there is private and "religious/non-profit" money out there?

** National ID Card - oh boy, this does not sound good for "privacy." "They" will be able to track us to the moment we go patty...Or at least know what kind of TV we use!

** Check this link for great ideas on quatrain and taxes: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170048,00.html

posted by Captain America @ 18:51