So what should the Feds do about surging gas prices?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I know we already have a gas thread, but this one has a different focus.

I just saw a poll showing that Americans are listing rising gas prices as theri #2 priority for the federal governemnt (after Iraq). The question is, what do you think the Feds should do?

[Dis]

post ante deletia

to answer the question: nothing except provide the money to get the refineries up and running and release strategic reserves as needed (but refill the reserves as soon as the oil rigs are up and running)

[Kataphraktoi]

nothing. if its so profitable to sell gas the companies can afford to build their refineries without help

fed price controls would just make the problem worse, causing ever more sever shortages.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

This thread should not be deleted!

It's a thread about the scope of Federal powers, not a thread whining about prices.

[Sikander]

They should largely let the markets do their job except where a viable market doesn't exist. In this case there aren't enough refineries to ensure competition and the Feds ought to intervene here. Bush's proposal to build a refinery complex on the Pacific coast on one of the retired military bases is a good one, though it was predictably shot down by California's delegation. We need more refinery capacity, as well as more geographic seperation between our facilities in order to avoid just this sort of situation.

[Solly]

Let prices rise.

[Last Conformist]

Repair pipelines, unveil the banana combustion engine.

[General Ludd]

Banana engine, or cap the selling point and tax it even more.

[Last Conformist]

I suppose that makes sense from a Luddite PoV ...

[SlowwHand]

After all these years, I'm used to standing alone, which at this posting I do.

"Intervene in demand by regulating prices"


About half the states have price gouging laws on the books.
price gouging (pricing above the market when no alternative retailer is available)

[:) Smiley]

Regulating prices does not increase the supply of gas. That people are able to gouge for gas shows that buyers would rather pay a lot for gas than not have gas.

Fixing pipelines is the only solution, provided that the refineries on the other end are working.

[Sava]

Enforce anti-gouging laws...

Maybe dip into strategic reserves if supply gets really low.

As for prices? Frankly, it might be a good thing if people are forced to pay high gas prices. Maybe they'll think twice about buying gas guzzling SUV's.

[OzzyKP]

Yea, the market will sort it out. I agree with smiley and sava and the other leftists putting their faith in capitalism. Shame on sloww and the conservatives calling for socialist economics.

This is weird.

[Sava]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
sava and the other leftists

shows what you know about me

don't confused hatred for bush and republicans for "leftist"

[Whoha]

So far so good, except tapping the SPR, it isn't for this. Now as for a long term remedy, that is sorely lacking.