I suppose I should preface this by letting you know that I am not a member of either major political party. And just to avoid any confusion, I'm not what you would call a 'moderate' either. Nor am I a politically apathic individual - quite the contrary!
My views have just never lined up 100% with either party's platforms (or even 80% for that matter). If I simply must be labeled, I suppose 'Libertarian' comes closest. I just don't think that the federal government has any constitutional business being involved in the vast majority of things in our lives that they get into.
But politics being what they are and politicians being who they are, I am aware that little is likely to change in my lifetime. Politicians are prone to making promises they have no intention of keeping and/or have no ability to keep. One such 'promise' was made prior to the last election cycle when the Democrats managed to wrestle the majority away from the Republicans.
That 'promise' was to do something about the escalating prices we all pay at the pump - yep, in order to get votes the Democrats blamed rising gas prices on the Republicans and promised to 'do something about it'.
"In a press release dated April 24, 2006, Pelosi said, "Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels." The letter cited policies put in place during the GOP control of Congress that the Speaker claimed had raised prices on American consumers to benefit oil companies." (see link below for full article)
(Now anyone with an inkling of understanding about the free market system knew full well that there is little that congress can do about gas prices other than to allow drilling to take place on our own soil and off our own shores - something that neither party was/is willing to allow for some unknown reason, other than the fact that it has something to do with where they get their almighty dollars from to continue seeking power... but I digress.)
So now, after a couple of years in office we have witnessed NOT a reduction in gas prices but an even higher rate of escalation than before! Is it any surprise that the GOP House leaders are now challenging the Democrats to put up? Since taking 'control' of congress, the Democrats have done nothing to curb the price increases (not they can but that is another issue) and in fact we have seen gas prices increase more than 30%. At $3.51 per gallon, the average price is $1.18 more than when Pelosi and company took over and the Republicans are asking when the Dems are going to do something about it.
It seems like a valid question to me!
See full article: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-gop-challenges-pelosi-for-gas-price-plan-2008-04-22.html
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Yep... having the justice department get involved in our industry (real estate) has just been marvelous, hasn't it? (Tim says with tongue firmly in cheek)
you said Politicians are prone to making promises they have no intention of keeping and/or have no ability to keep.
This is I think a case of no ability to keep a promise, not a lack of intention. The democrats may have won a narrow majority in Congress, but they havent won control. The republicans still have the ability to block any legislation. One party or the other will have to win over 60% of the seats to effectively control congress.
Energy prices will continue to escalate as long as we use a finite resource to satisfy our untempered demand
(I wanted to say that we got exactly what we asked for when we put the wolf in charge of the hen house by electing an oil industry front man to the presidency but I couldnt figure out a way to work it into my comment)
I can go on and on about this energy issue and this requires multiple blog posts.
The Liberals are pathetic and they'll never get it. Pelosi has guarrantied that there won't be another female Speaker of the House for decades.
Maybe the congress should spend a little more time investigating steroids and Roger Clemens. Oh wait they'll be working on a much anticpated cap-n-trade plan for that hoax of Global Warming.
If the Republican would rally around an energy plan to promote now prior to the election; the GOP can win a few seats back in the House but the GOP is just as pathetic the last few years and are chasing their own tails.
Great post! It is a mess!
I touched on the gas prices in my last post and on this one too!
You mean Nasty Pelosi didn't deliver?
Tim and Susan:
Congratulations!
This post has earned featured post status on the Silent Majority group in ActiveRain.
I appreciate everyone's comments... even those that disagree with me!
Featured? Cool... thanks, Bill.
Well, the liberals never want to help with gas prices now, they are too busy blaming Bush for the reason for high prices at the pump.
They think they will win more seats and even the Presidency.
Hypocrites.
The republicans lost control when George Bush kept silent when he should of rallied the republican base. Instead he allowed Nancy Pelosi and others to create a mindset that Bush and the republicans don't care about rising gas prices and other liberal talking points.
Bush should of used his "bully pulpit" more often and maybe we would not have lost the House and Senate to the liberals who promised everything and produced nothing.
Great topic Tim and Susan- When someone says to me that the government should fine or tax higher the oil companies I say to them "I think they should tax YOUR industry at a higher rate" and watch them look down. Its great try it.
But the answer to the problem is right in front of everyone. Lets drill in Anwar and the Gulf of Mexico like other countries are.
Tim and Susan:
I think it's obscene what our government is charging us for gasoline. Do you know that the tax per gallon on gasoline far exceeds the profits the oil companies are making. I don't hear any congressmen up in arms about the tax but they sure are up in arms about oil companie's profits.
Bill -
Absolutely! That should be the topic for another post altogether since it gets to the heart of so many of our nation's problems - excessive taxation without accountability!
That, in turn, could segway into a rant on our need for passage of The Fair Tax of which I am a strong supporter.
Gene: I am not asking the government to intervene...just not RAISE the tax on it when we are in a major crisis and the ones who they represent are crying for something to be done.
When they raise the gas tax, that is not the solution, its part of the problem.
Guys,
This morning, we took all 3 kids to dentist appts. and when we passed the gas station it was $3.59. This afternoon after coming from giving blood, the same place was at $3.69, talk about giving 'till it hurts!!!!
Just thought you might like to know how things are here in good old York, PA. I know, it is probably higher somewhere else!
John - If I could still buy gas for $3.69 I'd be able to drive buyers around. $3.90 + in SoCal, probably $4.00 by the weekend.
Nicholas - There are so many things the government could do to alleviate this and many other problems that don't include additional intervention. Reducing these hidden taxes is one of them.