Gas prices

CCPA is not a hard left organization that wants to dismantle capitalism. That's ridiculous. They do favour greater government intervention and advocate on that basis but I doubt you can find a position paper that says they want to do away with capitalism.

Gas price gouging is not exactly a left-right issue. A lot of conservatives aren't exactly pleased to see gas prices go up because it means government has more tax revenue. While oil and gas companies have a right to charge what the market can bear, if there's any industry collusion going on, gov't has a duty to protect consumers from that as well.

Hi Auntie! I drop in here and there still.

I don't see what boycotting stations tomorrow will do, everyone will just fill up another day, it makes no difference to those selling it. If everyone decided to cut their own gas usage by 20%, now THAT would hit them, and prices would come down as a result.

As I said above, prices are in fact not 'too high' in Canada. If they were, you'd see a real drop in fuel usage across the board. That isn't happening yet, prices arent high enough for the masses to make significant changes. Maybe at $1.50, though, who knows?

Those who live an urban lifestyle in inner cities may not be so keen to see everybody live the same way. What happens when many more ants populate the anthill?
Be careful, you may get what you wish for!

'CCPA is not a hard left organization that wants to dismantle capitalism. That's ridiculous. They do favour greater government intervention and advocate on that basis but I doubt you can find a position paper that says they want to do away with capitalism.'

Of course, they would never say it that bluntly, but you look at the players behind it, it's pretty easy to connect the dots.

'Gas price gouging is not exactly a left-right issue. A lot of conservatives aren't exactly pleased to see gas prices go up because it means government has more tax revenue. '

So Conservatives don't want to see more tax revenues? What planet are you living on? If they had any ideological isses with it, they could simply cut general tax rates and bring revenues back down the previous level.

'While oil and gas companies have a right to charge what the market can bear, if there's any industry collusion going on, gov't has a duty to protect consumers from that as well. '

True, but study after study, done independantly, has failed to prove any collusion.

I certainly have cut back on my gas usage and now seldom use more than a tank a month, oten less than that. I know a lot of people who are walking, biking, a lot more simply because of prices. However, in the winter that is a bit tough to do and for those of us who live in cities where public transit is very poor, that often is not an option either. And for seniors and country dwellers, these prices are hard to cope with.

I think if you look at the cost of fuel in relation to the price per barrel over the last couple of years, and at the huge profits being made, it would indicate that gouging is going on. But you are right, people are well prepared to pay it. And as long as they are, prices will not drop. I look at my daughter and son in law and between the two of them, they make so much money that gas prices don't even make them think.

I am not certain that any government study into collusion is not flawed though, the tax revenues are huge on every increase in gasoline are they not? It wouldn't be the first time our government has fudged something.

As far as the boycott tomorrow is concerned, it probably won't do any good at all but a protest is in order.

BTW Shifty, have you seen Jen at all? I might make it out next winter for a visit and we'll have to get together again.

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<hr>but you look at the players behind it, it's pretty easy to connect the dots.<hr></blockquote>

Easy, is it? Sorry, it's not apparent to me. The players I see are mostly moderately left wing academics who generally favour more government intervention.....unless you also believe that the Green Party are against Capitalism as well.

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<hr>So Conservatives don't want to see more tax revenues? What planet are you living on? If they had any ideological isses with it, they could simply cut general tax rates and bring revenues back down the previous level.<hr></blockquote>

I deliberately used small c- conservatives not the big C kind.

They may not have colluded previously but this study does provide some evidence that it may be happening since hurricane Katrina. Of course, the gas companies have been very good at covering their colluding tracks.

I do enjoy when the Greenies and Big Oil and Gas are in the same bed.....how comfortable is it?

Why one-day gasoline 'boycott' won't work