Record High Gas Prices?

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by cleanspeed1

Your last paragraph pretty much sums up my view. If you use your powers for good and have respect for those not as fortunate that's one thing; use it in an evil, destructive way, that's another.

The political Left sees government as a 'good' thing - and the bigger, the better. Conservatives see government as a necessary evil at best, and a constraint on freedom. But government continues to expand no matter which party is in office. What we have today is the primary concern of both political parties being that of maintaining and increasing the power of government. The Left supposedly favors the interests of the poor and the Right similarly favors the rich. But the way the game is actually played, after being elected to office, it amounts to mere campaign rhetoric. Either way, the interests of the middle class are often represented by neither party. Vote for whichever gang you want to be screwed by. That's what it amounts to.

Last time I checked, when corporations and government merge, it's called fascism.

roflwaffle responded: "You should check again..."

Cleanspeed is correct. 'Fascism' and 'fascist' are among the most misused and overused terms today. Fascism is essentially State syndication of capitalism. When Mussolini's experiment instituted Fascism (as that is where the term originates) he was praised by both the Left and the Right worldwide in newspapers proclaiming his regime of efficiency the most wonderful idea in all of history. Unfortunately, both Italy and Germany quickly evolved into brutal totalitarian states. History and the original concept of what it is does pertain.

However, today the term 'fascist' is used as an all-purpose pejorative label to describe anyone whom you might find disagreeable.

[CigaR007]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

However, today the term 'fascist' is used as an all-purpose pejorative label to describe anyone whom you might find disagreeable.

Have you ever heard of Godwin's law ?

Godwin's law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[user removed]

End of the month approaching and the Altima is on the same tank of gas with at least 200 miles left. The bike has probably seen close to 1000 miles mostly from a 50 mile commute to a house I am restoring for some extra income. Looks like about 61 MPG average between both vehicles.

Even had a chance to ride the 1971 CB 350 today, looks like it will get close to 70 MPG when I get it all sorted out. First mile to click over on the odometer since 1986. I am a little leery of the 40 year old tires .

regards
Mech

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by CigaR007

Have you ever heard of Godwin's law ?

Godwin's law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

No, but I do remember the description of Cole's Law.

I hadn't heard of Godwin's, but it seems there may be a fitting term to describe every situation.

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

roflwaffle responded: "You should check again..."

Cleanspeed is correct. 'Fascism' and 'fascist' are among the most misused and overused terms today. Fascism is essentially State syndication of capitalism. When Mussolini's experiment instituted Fascism (as that is where the term originates) he was praised by both the Left and the Right worldwide in newspapers proclaiming his regime of efficiency the most wonderful idea in all of history. Unfortunately, both Italy and Germany quickly evolved into brutal totalitarian states. History and the original concept of what it is does pertain.

However, today the term 'fascist' is used as an all-purpose pejorative label to describe anyone whom you might find disagreeable.

The phrase "State syndication of capitalism" is contradictory. If the state controls the means of production then those means aren't private any more and by definition aren't capitalist.

Fascism is...

Originally Posted by Dictionary.com

a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

So just having corporations and government merge in and of itself is socialism (state owns the means of production). Socialist governments can also be fascist, but that requires they have the other characteristics (eg asshole dictator and so on).

[NeilBlanchard]

To those of you who think that anybody other than the oil companies have any real control of gas prices -- what do you think should happen now?

If we do not switch to renewable energy as quickly as possible, how can we avoid -- eventually -- looking like a Mad Max scenario?

[pprince]

The capitalist system works best for this problem, imho.

The only way to conserve a valuable commodity is to price it so that people do, indeed, value it.

Currently, oil is so cheap that we squander it immensely. Particularly in North America.

[cleanspeed1]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

To those of you who think that anybody other than the oil companies have any real control of gas prices -- what do you think should happen now?

If we do not switch to renewable energy as quickly as possible, how can we avoid -- eventually -- looking like a Mad Max scenario?

This country has to change its monetary policy, because whereas the dollar used to be indexed to gold, it is now indexed to oil ( I'll have to look up when the changeover took place ).

The price of oil to the valuation of the dollar is on an inverse proportion, so when the dollar is weak, the price of crude goes up.

The US has been operating on a weak dollar policy for a while now.

As far as the Mad Max scenario, considering the interconnectiveness of the world markets, if America goes, the world goes. No one wants that to happen.

Since the powers that be don't want to renegotiate trade agreements ( as a trucker NAFTA/CAFTA and all the rest messed up a lot for us ), go back to the gold standard, bring manufacturing back to the US, and build vehicles that mpg like the Euro and world market units, the best thing we all can do is say and do "NO". Exercise your choice with your money and tell others to do the same.

My personal choice is to make my own ethanol and build an engine that is optimized to run on it, along with a WMO/WVO diesel. Combine that with the things that I've been learning here, I can conserve what I make. It's a start, until I figure out something else that's cheap and easily made to run the vehicles on.

[pprince]

Originally Posted by cleanspeed1

whereas the dollar used to be indexed to gold, it is now indexed to oil ( I'll have to look up when the changeover took place ).

I will be interested to see your proof. I don't believe the US$ is indexed to anything. It is worth what others are willing to pay for it.

[cleanspeed1]

Take a look at a recent article on National News, National Information, National Events - Examiner.com | Examiner.com that can explain it better.