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I am trying to figure out the OP's point, is he for nationalizing the oil companies ? Is he still for it after being shown by the Coalman that it is been a failure? I would bet the OP is a environmentalist to boot, what is his opinion because fuel is so cheap people just cruise around for the fun of it.
Well then, there ya go! Make the basis for all our trade with Venezuela gasoline. Whatever it is they want (or need) from us--they have to supply us with gas to get it. Then someone on a Venezuelan version of C-D can complain that Americans aren't paying as much for [fill in the blank] as they are.
"The 64-year old lawyer is in no need of a government handout but as a wealthy car owner is one of the biggest beneficiaries of a gasoline subsidy that’s costing the state’s economy at least $1.5 billion in revenue even as it struggles to recover after two consecutive years of loss."
LOL. It costs Chavez about $10 billion a year to subsidize. Diverting much needed investment into keeping the poor masses happy. The bolivar is about as good for toilet paper because of this policy and other leftist shenanigans.
Look at what his socialist housing policies have created in Caracas:
Once one of Latin America’s most developed cities, Caracas now grapples with an acute housing shortage of about 400,000 units, breeding building invasions. In the area around the Tower of David, squatters have occupied 20 other properties, including the Viasa and Radio Continente towers. White elephants occupying the cityscape, like the Sambil shopping mall close to the Tower of David and seized by the government, now house flood victims.
Private construction of housing here has virtually ground to a halt because of fears of government expropriation. The government, hobbled by inefficiency, has built little housing of its own for the poor. The policies toward squatters are also unclear and in flux, effectively allowing many to stay in once empty properties.
And what is the Supply and Demand of gasoline in Venezuela?
What is the refinery capacity? And that would be for gasoline, not petro-chemicals (US has 49 refineries operating but only 17 produce gasoline).
What percentage of Venezuelans own a car?
Own more than one car?
Own more than two cars?
Own more than three cars?
Own four or more cars?
How many miles does the average Venezuelan drive per month or per year?
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Originally Posted by Savoir Faire
Try doing research before you post.
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All prices updated March, 2005.
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Originally Posted by workingclasshero
but then again the weekly salary in Venezuela is only about $108
You're cruel. Stop trying to confuse him with large numbers.
I guess next he'll be whining because beer is some countries is $0.05/bottle (but costs an outrage $0.15/bottle to buy the same beer in a bar).
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Originally Posted by 70Ford
I blame Obama for this.
Well, not everyone has the intellectual insight of a 3-year old.
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Originally Posted by Swingblade
Is he still for it after being shown by the Coalman that it is been a failure?
Nationalized oil companies are not a failure in other countries, like Norway, but then Norway doesn't have 6 carrier battle groups, 3 marine amphibious groups and an large army and air force, and Norway isn't trying to take over the world. Those things are expensive.
It's not just Citgo it's the fact that gasoline is very heavily subsidized just like it is in dozens of countries. Before anyone says it, yes, these subsidies distort market demand and cause all sorts of problems not least of which is black marketing, reselling even small quantities by massive numbers of people, and inevitably rationing to help prevent such black marketing and/or reselling. Then there is the fact the government loses so much money selling finished gas at below market rates that usually it is forced to save money some where and an easy place to do that is to skip maintance or not to build additional refining capacity even though demand is sky rocketing (take gas costing $4.50 a gallon and make it $0.12 and I assure you demand will sky rocket).
It all sounds good to have ultra cheap gas but as dozens of middle eastern, Latin America, and even Asia countries have found it rarely is as good as it sounds plus it even can cause long term economic problems due to rationing and energy shortages. Personally, I'd much rather have gas at $4.50 provided that is the market price but then again I'd also rather we didn't give a penny of subsidies to any company yet our supposedly free market supporting Republicans are lying dirt bags who will give money and/or tax subsidies to anyone who bribes them with enough "campaign donations" including big oil so f'em as far as I'm concerned.
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BTW, thanks for the rep point!!
