Do you think it possible that the rising price at the pump is a gradual "desensitization"

[BeHereNow]

For the impending blowback from the impending US attack on Iran?

I ask because I know China and Russia will not sit complacently by if an attack
of the magnitude we have studied occurs.
China and Russia both have significant interests in the country-
factor in the move by China last week switching payment to Iran from
dollars to euros and tell me, what do you think?

BHN

[BeHereNow]

1. Come on guys, tell me what you think? Gas is rising daily here in L.A.

I'm mighty glad I work within two miles of my house.
The gas prices are insane here.
BHN

[Journeyman]

2. I think the price of gas will be a minimal concern . . .

if the scenario you envision were to occur.

[BeHereNow]

3. Please elaborate- what do you envision?

I don't picture a sudden meltdown or military strike in retaliation-
rather a slow economic one, affecting the price of EVERYTHING, not just gasoline.

BHN

[INdemo]

12. Oil companies only need a minor excuse to justify the increase so

the oil companies continue to earn billions (quarterly profits) and we are left with no choice but to pay the price or walk......

[Telly Savalas]

20. Even leaving Russia and China out of the picture

there would be serious shit hitting the fan politically if Bush attacked Iran. Americans are fed up with Iraq and don't want another idiotic war. Gas prices are beside the point.

[Gabi Hayes]

4. lookit this graph for Chicago gas prices

http://www.chicagogasprices.com/retail_price_chart.aspx

[BeHereNow]

5. It's over 3.00 here in L.A for regular.

someone else posted 4.00 in San Francisco tonight.
sorry, I can't help but wonder "what gives."
BHN

[librechik]

6. what does it matter? They can do whatever they want to us

and there is nothing we can do about it. And of course you are right, BHN. it's the frog pot theory. Pretty soon we'll all be nicely boiled and hardly anyone will even notice.

[izzie]

8. Are you telling us that Bush can not do anything on this?

Heck even Bush's political appointments are leaving him. And their number is only about 2000. The big money people will only stay for cash . At this rate he will have to go for the 'sorry for you vote' and they will be few if gas goes up to high. Funny part is Bush seems to think he is still right about every thing just as his Vice does. My guess is that Bush can not make the gas go down and business will not care as long as they get their profits. Bush can sink if it is him or profits.

[librechik]

13. Bush won't do anything about this

where do you think his post-pretzeldent income will come from? He won't do anything to hurt his big oil friends. They are running the show.And they don't have anything in mind but the bottom line.Stockholders are kings, consumers can stand in line like the peasants they are and pay til they bleed.

[izzie]

14. Their are few ex-Pres. like Truman or Carter.

Most seem to have worked at making money and I am sure Bush will also. Come to think of it I think Johnson just retired.

[FiftysLost]

7. Attack on the dollar

Whats your opinion on this?
http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20050916054129788

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Welcome to DU.

I concur. Plus the price of gas has to go up if the oil is sold for euros, not dollars and the dollar continues to go down against the euro.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi FiftysLost!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Greyhound]

10. The breaking of the hegemony of the dollar is what got Saddam in trouble

in the first place. Yep it's coming and what the fuck are we going to do about it? Hold some hearings? To what purpose? Do you think that any of the politiwhores in DC would ever seriously consider forcing the energy companies to change? They won't even talk about it.

There is no question that they have been gouging us since the day arbusto_® sneaked into the White house after the coup of 2000, as attested to by the record profits posted each and every year since then. Who in DC is even talking about it?

As for the attack on Iran, that is the $64,000 question. Are they really stupid enough to think that there is any way it doesn't end up taking the whole thing down? Have they so deluded themselves into thinking that the Russians and Chinese are so terrified of the head moran and what he might do that they won't escalate?

As someone in another post said, "If they attack Iran, the price of gas is going to be way down on the list of things to worry about".

[TreasonousBastard]

11. Nah. I think this is just the beginning of...

some really, really bad times and we'd all better be looking for ways to use less gas.

[gravity]

15. No

The gradual rise in gas prices are due to market forces, supply and demand. When the gas prices are higher, it forces people to conserve gas and be more fuel efficient so that less gas can be consumed so supply meets demand.

The gas prices aren't controlled by a few men in a smokey room.

[Strelnikov_]

16. Russia and Chindia will take a pass

Russia stands to make a fortune. And if all the gulf oil goes off line, they become the worlds sole energy superpower.

It appears to me that Russia is playing both sides as Putin whispers sweet nothings into the Chimps ear as they gaze into each others eyes, while supplying the alleged 'enemy', Iran, with arms. If the status quo maintains, they sell their petroleum and natural gas and get rich. If part of the Middle East resource is lost to open war, they get really really rich.

Chindia will dig in, weather the storm, and emerge in a position to snap up all those production contracts that will no longer go to US multinationals.

Chindia is playing the long con. They know that petroleum and natural gas energy infrastructure is too fragile to hold militarily, short of depopulation. Eventually the refrain of 'Fuck you, we sell to Chindia' will be heard throughout the Middle East.

Also, all those dollars they are sitting on will go a long way to outbidding us on what remains of the world petroleum export market. So, it appears that Chindia is also playing both sides.

No, Russia and Chindia will play the "If the enemy is destroying themselves, don't get in the way" card.

[Roland99]

18. There is collusion between the US gov't and oil companies to drive gas prices up

$3 will soon be the norm. (we've shot up nearly $1/gal in the last 8-9 weeks)


I feel it's more related to peak oil having passed.

[Jonathan50]

19. There is a technique in training animals..

Called "variable reward". This also is part of becoming addicted, tobacco companies vary the amount of nicotine in cigarettes up and down on a regular basis to enhance the addictive properties.


http://www.wagntrain.com/OC/GetStarted.htm

Become a Variable Reward Giver

Now try to get your dog to do 2 or 3 repetitions of the trick before you click and treat it

Hint: it’s still a good idea to say "Good dog!" each time, just to let the dog know she's getting it right.

This is called "putting the behavior on a variable reinforcement schedule". The dog doesn’t know when she’ll get the big reward, so she keeps trying — just like people playing at slot machines or the lottery.

Important: Since you’re rewarding less often, you can also get picky — only reward the straightest sits or the highest paw-lifts. This is where behaviors get perfected. Note: Some people prefer to perfect the behavior before they add the cue.

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/news/releases/2004/5/7/it's_a_gamble_dopamine_levels_tied_to_uncertainty_of_rewards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Researchers, using a new combination of techniques, have discovered that dopamine levels in our brains vary the most in situations where we are unsure if we are going to be rewarded, such as when we are gambling or playing the lottery.

The research results, "Dopamine Transmission in the Human Striatum during Monetary Reward Tasks," were published online April 28 in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Dopamine has long been known to play an important role in how we experience rewards from a variety of natural sources, including food and sex, as well as from drugs such as cocaine and heroin, but pinning down the precise conditions that cause its release has been difficult.

More:

[MiniMe]

21. Its not the rising prices, people notice that

Its about raising the "acceptable" set point. When * took office, gas was a dollar something per gallon. The oil companies have fluctuated the prices up and down so much, but only gone down to a certain point. Think back to when * took office, would you have thought that $2 a gallon was a good price or an acceptable price? No. Would you love to see $2 a gallon gas now? Yes. Everytime they lower and raise the prices, the "acceptable" set point goes up.