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    DaMuttzNuttzHamilton Nolan
    12/01/14 11:21am

    Now is the time for a higher gas tax. Higher tax revenues directed towards a infrastructure fund will helps grow the economy in the middle to long run. Let the tax fluctuate to market prices so we are still getting a break at the pump, but collecting better revenue for infrastructure growth

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      Medieval KnievelDaMuttzNuttz
      12/01/14 11:50am

      The only thing possibly standing in the way of your plan is the word "tax" and the legislative branch of the government of the United States of America.

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    MichiganderorMichiginianHamilton Nolan
    12/01/14 11:25am

    The major oil producers in the Middle East are hoping that by keeping up their production and driving prices down, they can put a lot of their overseas competition out of business, freeing them to go ahead and raise oil prices once again.

    The problem with this idea (for OPEC) is that the wells in the US wouldn't be destroyed: they would just close. After the current owners go bust and have to shut them down, a new owner can pick it up at firesale prices and run with it. It'd be a small loss for the US, but not a long term one.

    A long stretch of low oil prices could have the nice effect of driving a lot of mental and industrial and economic effort out of the oil exploration and exploitation business and into, you know, just about any other business, almost all of which are better for the world's long term health than the oil exploration and exploitation business.

    The industry who will suffer most is the alternative energy industry. I feel like now is a GREAT time to, say, raise the gas tax by $.50 a gallon (I depend on a car to get to work, btw) and use the money to pay for fixing our blighted infrastructure.

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      PS9MichiganderorMichiginian
      12/01/14 12:26pm

      Good idea. Too bad the current congress can't be asked to raise taxes and couldn't give two flying flaming flamingo twats about the infrastructure though.

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      Misteaks were madeMichiganderorMichiginian
      12/01/14 1:06pm

      Additionally there should be road usage tax for vehicles that are not powered by gas. Whether it's electric, fuel cell, solar. Use the road, pay a tax.

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    Dave Hamilton Nolan
    12/01/14 11:12am

    THE LOSERS: Oil companies. More importantly, every national government that depends on oil revenues for a significant part of its funding. Russia is fucked! Venezuela is terrified! Canada is worried! Nigeria is tense! Iran is screwed (more than usual)!

    And, you know, the people who will eventually die from famines, floods and pollution. But, hey, fuck those guys, slightly cheaper gas! KnowwhatI'msayin'?

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      RappingNinjaDave
      12/01/14 11:23am

      Are you drawing a throughline from "oil prices are down" to "famine and floods"? Because I'm lost on how that line would look.

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    Sean BrodyHamilton Nolan
    12/01/14 11:28am

    I have no car. But I do heat my apartment with oil, so a bit of a net plus there for the young Sean Brody.

    Thank heck all my savings are in the S&P 500, which will never go down.

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      Joe_BloeSean Brody
      12/01/14 12:43pm

      Short-term, S&P 500 is directly affected by lower oil prices. Two of the top-10 S&P 500 companies are Exxon and Chevron; GE is another, and they sell a lot of equipment to oil companies.

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    benjaminalloverHamilton Nolan
    12/01/14 11:26am

    The major oil producers in the Middle East are hoping that by keeping up their production and driving prices down, they can put a lot of their overseas competition out of business, freeing them to go ahead and raise oil prices once again.

    Oh man... As a Canadian who is dead against Tarsands expansion, I find myself in the unique position of rooting for this diabolical plan. How'd I end up on the same side as these jagoffs?

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      Xylobenjaminallover
      12/01/14 11:30am

      Me too! I'm torn!

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    JonathanSafronForesterHamilton Nolan
    12/01/14 11:51am

    US and Saudi Arabia collude to drive down the price to mess with, among others: Russia, Venezuela, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria — bankrupt their industry and generally cause havoc. The saudis take the short term hit with the knowledge that they will be able to maintain their market share in the US and then jack up the prices when everyone else is gone. winners: saudis, uae, qatar, and subsidized US oil firms

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      Rom RombertsHamilton Nolan
      12/01/14 11:22am

      Oil companies never lose.

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        gilbertkittensHamilton Nolan
        12/01/14 11:32am

        I remember, clearly, when it was predicted that western civilization would not survive $70/barrel oil. Now it's a problem when it goes below $70? I don't know what to think. Oh wait, that's right, I do - a truism that will never go out of style: you're fucked if you do, and fucked if you don't.

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          PopChipsHamilton Nolan
          12/01/14 11:40am

          Finally, I can park my 2012 Leaf for awhile and afford to drive my 1985 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz!

          Of course, my kids will be horrified to have me bringing them to school in it because they think it's tacky, but I don't care. Front bench seating is back!!!

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            burlivesleftnutHamilton Nolan
            12/01/14 12:25pm

            Meh. Oil will magically be more expensive once summer roles around.

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              The Gray Adderburlivesleftnut
              12/09/14 11:55am

              Or once the Republicans recapture the White House and start another stupid war.

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