October 27, 2008

NEWS: Gas Price Manipulation by Elections

While in college, my mom has started a tradition of a daily random text. Its been our way of keeping in touch, and sometimes informed. A few days ago I received a text that said, "Gas 1.99!"

1.99?! Before I left for college, just two months ago, I was paying around four dollars a gallon.

It makes no sense how gas prices can drop that quickly, that low, for no reason. In 2006, my social studies teacher proposed a gas price theory, that the elections were making the gas prices drop. At the time, I thought he forgot to take his meds and labeled the thought as just another conspiracy theory.

However, in a crucial election such as this, the gas price drop has been so apparent that it makes me wonder if "Crazy O'Connor" was onto something.

Admittedly, I have no evidence to prove this, nor has anyone been able to explain its feasibility. However, no one has been able to prove this wrong or give an alternate theory . To be honest, I think people are so happy with the current prices that they don't want to ask questions, thus the lack of answers.

So I leave it to the only thing I found on the internet. John Zavaglia, a local news producer from Massachusetts, puts his own spin on the gas theory and presents evidence to back up the "conspiracy theory." It's a nine minute clip of two segments from his show, but I encourage you to take the time to watch all of it. It's something that Americans should be thinking about.




2 comments:

Unknown said...

I did not realize OPEC were members of the Republican Party. The last news blurb I heard was oil is at 64 dollars a barrel, OPEC to cut production. Guess what gas prices will rise. Remember Bush can't find the door when he leaves the room, you really think he could pull this off.

Aaron said...

Thanks Matt:

I'm not saying that the govt. is controlling gas prices, I think if they did and Americans found out then the streets would be set on fire.

My political science teacher noted that it was not a good idea for the environment, and overall for America to elect an "oil man" into office. No one can refute that amount of involvement the oil companies have had in Washington as of late (ie. they got to view/edit Bush's environmental/energy proposal created by Cheney).

I think it's interesting that gas dropped 50% right now. I don't believe OPEC alone can do this. Gas prices have been steadily high since 2006 (like the video pointed out) then before that were consistently high since 2003 (invasion in Iraq). A sudden drop in price ($4-$2) is brow-raising to me.

OPEC and production of oil have an obvious correlation with prices, but there is no data supporting an OPEC production (+ or -) to 2003, 2006 or 2008.

My "conspiracy theory" side would believe maybe the gas companies are doing this so it's a non-issue around elections, which are pivitol times that the American people get to speak their mind about what they want to change. But I believe it to be near impossible that governmental control over prices could exist.

-ALSO!-
I'd like to point out something that would support your case Matt: Congress is now a Democratic majority.

In conclusion, I doubt any party, and for that matter any form of government owns US oil prices. I do however think there is a correlation to oil prices and elections.