Re: Solution to gas prices: Nationalization

natalie, george o. was being sarcastic but - seriously - ppl. have a tendency to confuse " socialism" and "comunism"----------------all scandinavian countries, germany, france, even canada have a SOCIALIST type of economic/political system----cuba and n.korea, and ( formerly) soviet bloc are where the COMMUNISM ruled; nationalization of oil industry - as well as nationalization of health care system - will not make us freaking communists......... just get real, people! what it will is just taking the burden off our wallets............

George Orwell wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@mixmaster.it:

They had 12 cent a gallon gas before Hugo Chavez.

You cannot artificially lower the price of a commodity without the costs squirting out somewhere else. Ever wonder why Venezuela has always been so poor?

A repeat of the other instances where we imposed price controls throughout our history? You are either very young, have a short memory or have zero knowledge of history.

Or you're a troll.

The ignorance and hubris of this paragraph is absolutely breathtaking. This has GOT to be a joke post.

*shrug*

Seems that no matter what societal structure you have, there is someone/some group ready to rip you off.

Natalie

ALL of his posts are joke posts. He just doesn't realize it.

need help! po440 for my 99 beetel vw

Guess it depends on your idea of socialism. The answer is compared to many democratic countries, yes. However, they are quickly moving to Castro style communism. Chavez is already starting to close down media outlets who disagree with him.

So, how is the great Laissez-Faire theory working out since Reagan? For the middle class, I mean.

"F.H." wrote in news:Ir25i.8569$ky6.8028@trnddc02:

What "laissez faire"? You do know what that term means in English, don't you?

"Tegger" ...

I think he probably meant "bourgeois" (middle class)

Laissez-faire means the theory or system of government that upholds the autonomous character of the economic order, believing that government should intervene as little as possible in the direction of economic affairs. (dictionary.com)

Natalie

"Wickeddoll" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.evilcabal.org:

Well, that's sort of true, but the literal translation from the French is "leave us alone".

How many governments in recent memory have actually done that? None to my count. Some have been worse than others, but nobody's ever been "laissez faire".

Probably the closest we've come in modern times to true "laissez faire" is Hong Kong under John Cowperthwaite. No US president could ever be accused of being "laissez faire".

aarcuda69062 wrote in news:nonelson- snipped-for-privacy@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com:

Government-built cars. Hmmm. Let me see...

Yugo Lada Dacia Trabant Zaporozhets FSO Moskvich

Don't those names just stir your blood and awaken fond memories of night cruises past the bright lights, loud music and pretty girls in front of the Kremlin? Va-va-voom, Tovarishch!

Why pretend you don't know what I was referring to?

"F.H." wrote in news:wz55i.13826$qp5.3773@trnddc03:

I'm afraid that, quite honestly, I'm not following your connection. Can you elaborate for me? Not kidding here.

Laissez faire is often used to describe Reaganomics supply side theory, "a rising tide lifts all boats," etc.,etc.. The evidence suggests otherwise. It should say *some* boats. ;)

As for "Venezuela always being so poor" *always* is a long time. Some people claim that offers of help in the form of loans have been part of the problem, that borrowing from the World Bank can turn out to be like borrowing from the Mafia. ;) And like with the Mafia, people can wind up dead. Try the New York Times bestseller, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, it might change your perspective a tad on poverty in some South American countries.

"F.H." wrote in news:iF75i.13858$qp5.6019@trnddc03:

Heres another term for you: "red herring".

You can give any old name you like to things, but just any old name is not always going to be accurate. Reagans' economic policies may be more accurately described as "less mecantilist" than some of the other presidents'. It was certainly not "laissez faire".

Another example of an inaccurate term affecting people's view of a subject: When California and the Canadian province of Ontario altered their regulatory framework for electricity, it was instantly dubbed "deregulation", even though the market remained heavily regulated in a slightly different manner than before. The term was inaccurately used, but you'd never have known that from what you read in the papers.

The indisputable fact is that people are never richer as when their governments leave them alone. The best things a government can do for its population are

1) to recognize and support private property rights, 2) to provide a fair and honest dispute resolution system, 3) to obey its own rules, 4) and to otherwise go away.

Nothing. Off you go then.

That works when most of your oil is sold to others (USA) at a high enough price to cover the give away. Someone said Chavez inherited his oil industry, no he stole it off the backs of international oil companies who built it. In his defense he is using some of the excess oil profits to help his people and those of friendly neighbors, but he is doing nothing for the industry and productivity of his country.

He's just a dictator having a verbal battle with dictator Bush.

There's cheap gas in Iraq too. GO GET IT!

You should call this to the attention of all the right wing economists then. I'm sure they would appreciate the warning against any form of misusing words to convey their own special propaganda. I don't repeat war slogans, just economic ones. ;)

Reagan really *did* start the deregulation craze. Not long thereafter the taxpayers bailed out the Savings and Loans (but not before some Bush family members made off with with some chump change). Then they deregulated electricity. Not like Canada's. Real deregulation. Ever heard of Enron?

*Some* people. And the richer they get, the more influence they can buy. The more influence they can buy...........

Absolutely.

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow