I'll say it again: It's time for price controls on gasoline

[bluestateguy]

This is an emergency. This nation is at war. It is time for price controls and harsh punishment for gas gougers.

And put any economist who bitches about it in jail for treason.

[BBradley]

1. No, It's time to let oil hit 200 a barrel.

Maybe the shock will finally cure us of our addiction to oil.

[nonconformist]

12. The ultra rich can still afford it.

The people that suffer will be the poor and middle class.

[slackmaster]

2. No, let the economy set the price

Have we not learned anything from California's energy "crisis" of 2000-2001? If prices go too high people start using it more efficiently and using less of it, which kills corporate profits.

Senator Feinstein was right when she told then-Governor Gray Davis to keep his hands off of the electrical power situation. He ignored her and screwed it up worse than it was to begin with, and lost his office as a result.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

3. Enron sure helped the 'crisis' along

lets not forget about Enron & the other utils that gamed the system for profits. Davis may not be the most charismatic guy around, but it was the Bush supporting utils that are the real culprits. By the way when is Kenny Boy going to be prosecuted? or did I mean prostituted. :)

[slackmaster]

7. I advocate a free market, not tolerating criminal activity

Just to be clear.

[Ron Green]

4. I rather like this idea. A monthly ration per licensed driver, with some

exceptions for commercial vehicle use. This would prevent the fatter wallets from ignoring the crisis, which is what is happening now.

[MadHound]

5. Not a good idea

Nixon tried to do this during the initial oil shocks of the seventies, and that led to shortages and rationing.

As hard as it is(and getting clean from any addiction is extremely hard) we should go ahead and let the prices rise and fall as the market dictates, though keep the price gouging down. People will become much more energy efficient, and conserve a great deal. High prices will also spur the rapid development of alternatives like biodiesel, wind, solar etc.

Will it be hard sledding for awhile? Certainly, and people will suffer. But to put in price controls is like giving methadone to a heroin addict. While it feels OK at the time, all you're really doing is prolonging the inevitable, possibly until it is too late.
We should wean ourselves off of this oil addiction now, while we still have time and resources to manuever, rather than later we time is short and resources are scarce.

[rurallib]

6. I agree - history shows price controls never work

I do believe there are windfall profits laws though that should be applied.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. How Can You Control The Price Of Gas When Oil Is Bought And Sold On The

Open Market And The Price Of Gas Is A Function Of The Price Of Oil?

[rurallib]

9. I am agreeing with you. (n/t)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I Know (nt)

Price controls don't work

[seabeyond]

10. up .15 cents since yesterday afternoon. why. why... storm

hasnt hit. nothing has happened. husband was going to buy a couple five gallon gas things. stores are out. he isnt the only one thinking of this. screw the topping off. top off, take these pig gas stations down.

[RamboLiberal]

11. I agree with you - we're getting raped by the oil companies

One thing I'd like to know - isn't there collusion among the few oil companies left in the business? Ask yourself why every single gas station in town has basically the same price - within a few cents. Give me a frickin' break. Don't tell me everyone pays the exact same costs for drilling, refining, delivering, employment and benefit costs etc. on their oil.

I wouldn't mind market prices if it was fair. But in no way is it fair to the consumer. They need to be taken to court for this price collusion. And note all the stations jack the price on oil that is still in their tanks. How the hell was that gas affected by the hurricanes?

We need some price controls on gas or this economy is going to be destroyed. And for those of you who say we need higher prices, don't come crying when you lose your job or your clients cause the price of energy forced them to make deep cuts or go out of business.

Yeah, I want to give the finger to those who bought the big-assed SUV's, cars, trucks, etc., who didn't need them. I wish a pox on all of them. And a pox on the car companies who didn't develop fuel efficient vehicles and the Repukes (and a few Dems) who didn't raise the CAFE standards(and didn't include trucks and SUVs).