Is the Gas Hike a Secret Trade-off for Fake Saudi Elections?

[ignatzmouse]

It's crossing my mind. Obviously, some kind of high-level meetings are moving the superficial agenda along among our friendly mid-east dictators. (See democracy is taking root just like we said!) It also packs the added benefit of pressuring our illustrious legislature into opening the Arctic National Refuge for drilling (and in justifying their vote to their constituency).

[Randi_Listener]

1. The Saudis are the fucking problem.

Until they have some Democracy, it's all for goddamn naught.

[Melynn]

2. Something is going on

There are no gas shortages and the price of a barrel of gas is up over $20 dollars per barrel from last year.

I think the ANWR thing is one piece of the puzzle. Maybe the oil people just said screw it, Bush is one of our own and he won't do anything to us so let's just raise the price of oil and make some big money. And so far the oil people have been right.

[MeDeMax]

3. indeed, market forces don't seem to be at work anymore

(hello fellow buckeye)

prices at the pump are up again but the media isn't even reporting it anymore, no pressure to take corrective measures.

An economic report I watched recently suggests that home equity, combined with lowering of rates, which has sustained many families and the economic engine since 9/11 is drying up and will have very adverse social effects.

Combine that with stricter bankruptcy laws (under consideration) and national debt that is being bankrolled by foreign govts...