Why Are Fuel Prices Not Regulated

[rsmith6621]

....If my electric provider wants $4.00 more a month from me they must go before the state utility commission and ask for approval...same for my phone and cable providers....I'm certain that this is how it is done in most states.

So why doesn't the FEDS require the same. I think that if a presidential candidate were to start talking about a policy like this I'm sure it would be a big winner for them.

Since fuel prices drive the price of everything else doesn't this make since????...as long as the oil company's can rake in 50 billion $$$ in profit each quarter they have a lot of profit to concede before rising fuel prices.

What is the difference between oil and electricity???

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Smirk. That would be telling - smirk" - Commander AWOL

[RB TexLa]

2. Retail gas prices are regulated. Most states have a minimum mark up on a gallon of gas

I don't see how the federal government could put regulations on a worldwide market, except to prohibit domestic importation of a product if the price is too high which would lead to higher prices and shortages.

[TomInTib]

3. They used to be, somewhat.

But that was before St. Ronnie came along.

You see, he was gonna make sure that we never had to go through all of that awfulness that Poor Ol' Jimmy put us through.

[dflprincess]

4. Why do you hate America?

:sarcasm:

[truedelphi]

5. We buy two thirds of our oil from the Middle east

If our Preesident was smart, he would get over his huff with Venzuela and start importing from them.

Chavez has even been offering poor people "free" gas and heating oil.

But a big problem with oil prices is that we are paying the oil producers for their oil in dollars. Which have been deflating rapidly, and will continue to do so every single time that more hundreds of billions are given by our Treasury to prop up failing financial institutions.

As we bailout failing banks, we devalue the dollar. Then that becomes a price increase at the pump.

The Europeans have a more stable currency, the Euro. They have seen a 200% incrase in oil barrell prices. Our increase is about 300%

[Lasher]

6. Then how could the invisible hand continue to heap prosperity on us all?

Everybody knows an unfettered free market is the only way to heaven on earth.

[tama]

7. What is the difference between oil and electricity???

Electricity market is more local (national grid) than global oil market. But more important question, why is oil still subsidized instead of taxed out of competition from renewable sources ("green taxation").