It's been a while since I created a blog. My last one was about the commercials in the Super Bowl. I haven't really had a topic that would require a lot of writing, so I have stuck to what I normally do, create and reply to threads on the message boards, mainly the Auto Racing boards.
The topic of interest to me today? The price of gas. I doubt I will find many people here who don't think the price is too high. As of this morning, the cheapest gas I can find is $3.59/Gallon. That is just rediculous. I read articles on CNNMoney.com saying that due to the weak dollar, investers are putting money into commodities like gas and oil as a hedge against inflation. I am not an economics expert, but this seems to be a really stupid way to think. Let's see, I am worried about inflation, so I am going to contribute to running up the price of gasoline. Now ordinary folks like myself have to spend more on gas, giving me less money to spend on other things. Well this is going to hurt the overall economy because I am not spending as much on stuff I don't really need as I used to so manufacturers and store owners will suffer. Additionally, to get products to the store, you need what? Trucks! Last I checked trucks use fuel to run them. Price goes up, well heck now it costs more to get stuff to the stores. You think retailers are just going to take a lower profit margin? Nope, the price of food and clothing, and other stuff will have to go up to cover this new expense. Prices go up, last time I checked that was called inflation. So much for that hedge against inflation. What really ticks me off? The value of the dollar has declined 10% in the last year, how much has oil gone up? Over 80%. The price of gas since September has gone up 58%, I don't know about the rest of you, but my last raise was nowhere near that.
The country is also in the middle of a housing crisis, with banks in trouble because they were stupid, and gave out loans to people they knew couldn't afford to pay. What does our government do? They bail out the banks. So my tax dollars are going to companies that took too big of a risk, yet this same government is doing nothing to help me. The Fed is considering another reduction to the prime rate. I pray this doesn't happen because that will just cause the dollar to decline further, which in turn will drive oil prices even higher. It's time for the government to intervene and lower the price of oil. I know that both of the democratic candidates say they will tax big oil for their windfall profits, I only believe one of them since the other voted to give the oil companies a tax break to begin with when they voted for Cheney's energy bill. Additional rant within a rant, To all Democrats, vote for Hillary. I am neither Dem nor Rep, I voted for Bush both times, this last time for the simple fact that Kerry was an idiot. I can't vote for Obama, and do not want to vote another Republican into the White House.
It's got to stop somewhere. I would buy one of those scooters that gets 70+ mpg if it weren't for the fact that people don't know how to drive nowadays, and I have something against being a speedbump. Riding a bike wouldn't work either, to get to where I work, I go up and down a bunch of very steep hills. I would be too exhausted to actually work.
OK, I guess that's enough from me, let me know what you think. Is my thinking way off here? Any economics professors out there who want to tear apart my arguement feel free.
I'd start a "write in Warpy for President" campaign, but there's stuff in my past that's better off staying there, so I hereby endorse Billy R Stern for prez.