Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,043
From: Shelbyville, IN
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Big Business is a problem everywhere. After they have purchased all the small companies, they have complete control of the market...
Microsoft, Walmart, ATT (SBC Merger..?), and the list goes on (GM to an extent...)
I predict 20 years from now we will go to a Walmart (or Microsoft) Haircut place, Walmart Gas Stations (Oh wait those are already there... LOL)...
We'll get our Natural Gas from Walmart, Phone Service, hell Walmart will even have Amusement parks... Boy oh boy do I look forward to going on the Sam Walton Roller Coaster...
Microsoft, Walmart, ATT (SBC Merger..?), and the list goes on (GM to an extent...)
I predict 20 years from now we will go to a Walmart (or Microsoft) Haircut place, Walmart Gas Stations (Oh wait those are already there... LOL)...
We'll get our Natural Gas from Walmart, Phone Service, hell Walmart will even have Amusement parks... Boy oh boy do I look forward to going on the Sam Walton Roller Coaster...
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by guionM
What was it PT Barnum once said? 
"There's a sucker born every minute!"
'cept now, I think we need to revise it to read...
"There's a sucker born every 12.7 seconds, and his accountant, tax advisor, and personal economist are trying to negotiate a tax deferral plan for him and alternate investment portfolio since he doesn't require the entire 60 seconds allotted by the government for the entry protion of this project."
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by Chrome383Z
Big Business is a problem everywhere. After they have purchased all the small companies, they have complete control of the market...
Microsoft, Walmart, ATT (SBC Merger..?), and the list goes on (GM to an extent...)
I predict 20 years from now we will go to a Walmart (or Microsoft) Haircut place, Walmart Gas Stations (Oh wait those are already there... LOL)...
We'll get our Natural Gas from Walmart, Phone Service, hell Walmart will even have Amusement parks... Boy oh boy do I look forward to going on the Sam Walton Roller Coaster...
Microsoft, Walmart, ATT (SBC Merger..?), and the list goes on (GM to an extent...)
I predict 20 years from now we will go to a Walmart (or Microsoft) Haircut place, Walmart Gas Stations (Oh wait those are already there... LOL)...
We'll get our Natural Gas from Walmart, Phone Service, hell Walmart will even have Amusement parks... Boy oh boy do I look forward to going on the Sam Walton Roller Coaster...
There's news today about WalMarts intent to expand their banking segment.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsAr...NG-WALMART.xml
Get this...
"Wal-Mart (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has no plans to open bank branches, and its proposal to start limited financial operations poses no threat to community banks, the U.S. retailer will say on Monday, directly confronting one of the most regularly voiced concerns over its bank application."
YEAH, RIGHT... just like their retail stores don't intend to drive local merchants out of business either.
The financial industry is a boom right now... banks are raking in money like there's no tomorrow. If there's money to be made there, you'll see Walmart there soon... mark my words.
First come the company credit cards, then on-line lending, then banking services, then comes a BRACH OFFICE in EVERY WALMART STORE.
You heard it here first folks.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,911
From: Southern California (SoCal)
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
proudpony- This aint' a Walmart thread- lets stick to one gigantic Corporate monolith at time - OK 
Maybe Exxon could give GM 0% loan as a way of saying "Thanks" for making all those fuel thirsty SUV's and trucks
Maybe Exxon could give GM 0% loan as a way of saying "Thanks" for making all those fuel thirsty SUV's and trucks
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Last one for now...
MORE PROPAGANDA.
Gas Costs Expected to Be High This Summer
Well DUH.
I wonder which oil company awarded a huge advertising contract to the AP to have them run this pile of dookey in print?
You know, some more of that good ol' brain-washing BS that helps the metally-weak people feel good about "only paying $3.00/gal for it when it really could be $4.00/gal any day now".
One other comment on the comparison of a commodity to a consumer good...
Comparing gas (or oil or LP or any other fuel) to a computer or a doorstop or an SUV is not an equal comparisson. Gas is a COMMODITY. You must have a license from the government of the country in which you intend to drill, extract, refine, and/or sell it, meaning not just anybody can do it, of their own free will, and as they wish. Your process is regulated by the government, including atmospheric emissions, chemical waste and disposal, even storing, hauling, and transporting the product is regulated. Yet the sale price isn't.
Now when it comes to a doorstop, it's a simple consumer good... heck, you and I can cobble one up in our own basement. We don't even need to buy anything to make a doorstop - we can cobble one from a peice of firewood or a tree in the yard, and sell it to the next guy on the street for whatever he will pay for it. BUT HE WON'T PAY MUCH, because HE TOO can go home and make his own doorstop, from his own tree, etc. We are violating no laws or policies by doing it either. But certainly, you or I will not go into our back yard and start digging for oil, pumping it, refining it, or selling it, because we CAN'T - we are not licensed to do so (nevermind the associated costs) and we will go to jail if we try because we are not licensed or permitted for these activities. You see, it's a different animal.
Now, throw into the fray the cartels (OPEC and others) that like to regulate their production to control prices, nations like Venezuela that have no scruples about policy or diplomacy, the political issues like Iraq and Iran, and you have anything BUT a free (or capitalistic) market for crude. The laws of supply and demand no longer apply when the market is monopolistic (only a few HUGE key players are dictating the policy), and in fact those laws work AGAINST the consumer, because gas (and oil) is a commodity that we HAVE TO HAVE, it's not an option, making the demand a fixed side of the equation. Now all that is left is for the monopolistic controllers of the supply to rape the consumer because of their dependence on fuel to stay warm, cook food, go to work, school, etc. And that control is what we are seeing right now... simple as that. (Really, it is just that simple. There is much more detail and tangential items involved to be sure, but they flush away when compared to the bigger issues stated above IMO.)
Do you like your current phone rates? Go back and look at what happened to Ma-Bell back in the 80's and wonder why you can call across the nation for pennies a minute today. I don't advocate government sticking their nose into anybody's business that is playing fair, but when the playing field is substantially skewed, somebody needs to stand-up for the poor working stiff (and it WON'T be the crook who is robbing the poor bastard to be sure).
MORE PROPAGANDA.
Gas Costs Expected to Be High This Summer
Well DUH.
I wonder which oil company awarded a huge advertising contract to the AP to have them run this pile of dookey in print?
You know, some more of that good ol' brain-washing BS that helps the metally-weak people feel good about "only paying $3.00/gal for it when it really could be $4.00/gal any day now".
One other comment on the comparison of a commodity to a consumer good...
Comparing gas (or oil or LP or any other fuel) to a computer or a doorstop or an SUV is not an equal comparisson. Gas is a COMMODITY. You must have a license from the government of the country in which you intend to drill, extract, refine, and/or sell it, meaning not just anybody can do it, of their own free will, and as they wish. Your process is regulated by the government, including atmospheric emissions, chemical waste and disposal, even storing, hauling, and transporting the product is regulated. Yet the sale price isn't.
Now when it comes to a doorstop, it's a simple consumer good... heck, you and I can cobble one up in our own basement. We don't even need to buy anything to make a doorstop - we can cobble one from a peice of firewood or a tree in the yard, and sell it to the next guy on the street for whatever he will pay for it. BUT HE WON'T PAY MUCH, because HE TOO can go home and make his own doorstop, from his own tree, etc. We are violating no laws or policies by doing it either. But certainly, you or I will not go into our back yard and start digging for oil, pumping it, refining it, or selling it, because we CAN'T - we are not licensed to do so (nevermind the associated costs) and we will go to jail if we try because we are not licensed or permitted for these activities. You see, it's a different animal.
Now, throw into the fray the cartels (OPEC and others) that like to regulate their production to control prices, nations like Venezuela that have no scruples about policy or diplomacy, the political issues like Iraq and Iran, and you have anything BUT a free (or capitalistic) market for crude. The laws of supply and demand no longer apply when the market is monopolistic (only a few HUGE key players are dictating the policy), and in fact those laws work AGAINST the consumer, because gas (and oil) is a commodity that we HAVE TO HAVE, it's not an option, making the demand a fixed side of the equation. Now all that is left is for the monopolistic controllers of the supply to rape the consumer because of their dependence on fuel to stay warm, cook food, go to work, school, etc. And that control is what we are seeing right now... simple as that. (Really, it is just that simple. There is much more detail and tangential items involved to be sure, but they flush away when compared to the bigger issues stated above IMO.)
Do you like your current phone rates? Go back and look at what happened to Ma-Bell back in the 80's and wonder why you can call across the nation for pennies a minute today. I don't advocate government sticking their nose into anybody's business that is playing fair, but when the playing field is substantially skewed, somebody needs to stand-up for the poor working stiff (and it WON'T be the crook who is robbing the poor bastard to be sure).
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,911
From: Southern California (SoCal)
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by Chrome383Z
Big Business is a problem everywhere. After they have purchased all the small companies, they have complete control of the market.....
You're getting WAAAAAAAAAAAAY ahead of yourself considering that small businesses represent 99.7 of all employers and employ 50.1 percent of the private work force.
It's that same type of "Big Corps are everywhere and we must stop them!!!" thinking that adds increasing cost related new restrictions, regulations, and additional red tape that makes it even harder for new small businesses to start-up or stay in business. Its not new regulations (or big powerful governments) that will bring down big corrupt "Goliath-like" Corporations, but the small "David-like" innovative businesses that can act quickly to rapid economic changes.
If fact BIG Corps might act like they hate new rules and regulations because the short-term costs related to them. BIG corps will pass on costs related to those regulations by raising prices, outsourcing to cheaper foreign countries, or merging with another large company to cut cost and share resources and fire a bunch of people in the process.
So in other words BIG CORPS might feel some short term financial pain of new regulations, but in reality they benefit since those new regulations will make it that much harder for new small businesses to enter their industry and disrupt their 'archaic business model' with a new 'innovative business model'.
Case in point- How many new built-from-scratch American Car companies have been created recently????
From http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbastats.html
About Small businesses:
provide approximately 75 percent of the net new jobs added to the economy.
represent 99.7 percent of all employers.
employ 50.1 percent of the private work force.
provide 40.9 percent of private sales in the country.
account for 39.1 percent of jobs in high technology sectors in 2001.
account for 52 percent of private sector output in 1999.
represent 97 percent of all U.S. exporters.
provide approximately 75 percent of the net new jobs added to the economy.
represent 99.7 percent of all employers.
employ 50.1 percent of the private work force.
provide 40.9 percent of private sales in the country.
account for 39.1 percent of jobs in high technology sectors in 2001.
account for 52 percent of private sector output in 1999.
represent 97 percent of all U.S. exporters.
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.
.
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Last edited by johnsocal; Apr 11, 2006 at 10:17 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by johnsocal
proudpony- This aint' a Walmart thread- lets stick to one gigantic Corporate monolith at time - OK
Maybe Exxon could give GM 0% loan as a way of saying "Thanks" for making all those fuel thirsty SUV's and trucks
Maybe Exxon could give GM 0% loan as a way of saying "Thanks" for making all those fuel thirsty SUV's and trucks
On the other hand, wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall when a Walmart guy and a gas-company guy sit down in a room to talk about "a deal" to sell gas at Walmart stores?!?!
A Freudian scenario at it's best...
"What happens when an unstoppable force collides with an imoveable mass".
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,911
From: Southern California (SoCal)
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by ProudPony
Last one for now...
\ I don't advocate government sticking their nose into anybody's business that is playing fair, but when the playing field is substantially skewed, somebody needs to stand-up for the poor working stiff (and it WON'T be the crook who is robbing the poor bastard to be sure).
\ I don't advocate government sticking their nose into anybody's business that is playing fair, but when the playing field is substantially skewed, somebody needs to stand-up for the poor working stiff (and it WON'T be the crook who is robbing the poor bastard to be sure).
"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,000
From: TX Med Ctr
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by ProudPony
A Freudian scenario at it's best...
"What happens when an unstoppable force collides with an imoveable mass".
"What happens when an unstoppable force collides with an imoveable mass".
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,911
From: Southern California (SoCal)
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by HAZ-Matt
I'm going to guess nuclear fusion.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,911
From: Southern California (SoCal)
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Interesting:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12265103/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12265103/
When you have 75 cents of wholesale increases and only about 50 cents of retail you’ve got about 25 cents of catching up to do,” said Kloza.
One reason pump prices haven’t kept up is that the rapid rise in wholesale prices has made it harder than usual for retailers to pass along the increase to their customers.
“The retailers are under water,” said Kloza. “If you’re a chain — whether you’re Costco or the local chain — right now there’s a very good chance that you’re losing money on the gasoline that’s going out of your station because you’re replacing it at a price that costs more.”
One reason pump prices haven’t kept up is that the rapid rise in wholesale prices has made it harder than usual for retailers to pass along the increase to their customers.
“The retailers are under water,” said Kloza. “If you’re a chain — whether you’re Costco or the local chain — right now there’s a very good chance that you’re losing money on the gasoline that’s going out of your station because you’re replacing it at a price that costs more.”
OPEC producers are believed to be pumping about as fast as they can. Political instability in Nigeria and Iraq continue to hamper production and could bring even lower levels if attacks on oil facilities widen. And U.S. producers are still struggling to restore oil production damaged by last falls hurricanes. As of this week nearly a quarter of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico production is still shut in, according the U.S. Minerals Management Service. Since last August, some 144 million barrels of crude have been lost of hurricane damage, or about a quarter of the Gulf’s annual output.
Last edited by johnsocal; Apr 11, 2006 at 06:03 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 1,547
From: Panhandle of West Virginia
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by Chrome383Z
Big Business is a problem everywhere. After they have purchased all the small companies, they have complete control of the market...
Microsoft, Walmart, ATT (SBC Merger..?), and the list goes on (GM to an extent...)
I predict 20 years from now we will go to a Walmart (or Microsoft) Haircut place, Walmart Gas Stations (Oh wait those are already there... LOL)...
We'll get our Natural Gas from Walmart, Phone Service, hell Walmart will even have Amusement parks... Boy oh boy do I look forward to going on the Sam Walton Roller Coaster...
Microsoft, Walmart, ATT (SBC Merger..?), and the list goes on (GM to an extent...)
I predict 20 years from now we will go to a Walmart (or Microsoft) Haircut place, Walmart Gas Stations (Oh wait those are already there... LOL)...
We'll get our Natural Gas from Walmart, Phone Service, hell Walmart will even have Amusement parks... Boy oh boy do I look forward to going on the Sam Walton Roller Coaster...
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by scott9050
I can see it now, Exxon proctologists...
THEY should be best qualified for accurate "drilling", no?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,043
From: Shelbyville, IN
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
Originally Posted by johnsocal
You're getting WAAAAAAAAAAAAY ahead of yourself considering that small businesses represent 99.7 of all employers and employ 50.1 percent of the private work force.
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Registered User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 610
From: Akron, OH.
Re: Will gas hit $4.00 on the switch from MTBE to Ethanol?
“The retailers are under water,” said Kloza. “If you’re a chain — whether you’re Costco or the local chain — right now there’s a very good chance that you’re losing money on the gasoline that’s going out of your station because you’re replacing it at a price that costs more.”
Haha funny, and when the wholesale price drops 20 cents and you lower you price 10 cents you are still losing money right??? BS!@ I notice it takes much longer for retail prices to drop than to rise. I dont blame the retailers, but when is the last time you saw one close shop? Business is that bad huh? I know its mostly the big corporations so lets vote some democrats in and get these guys regulated.
BTW, so gas is higher because of the MTBE change over? Then why is diesel up? Up 10% in the past 30 days, same price jump as regular here.
Haha funny, and when the wholesale price drops 20 cents and you lower you price 10 cents you are still losing money right??? BS!@ I notice it takes much longer for retail prices to drop than to rise. I dont blame the retailers, but when is the last time you saw one close shop? Business is that bad huh? I know its mostly the big corporations so lets vote some democrats in and get these guys regulated.
BTW, so gas is higher because of the MTBE change over? Then why is diesel up? Up 10% in the past 30 days, same price jump as regular here.