Democrats Ruin Economy, Hurt Stimulus, Increase Gas Prices
by Big Dog on Apr 26, 2008 at 10:21 Political
The Democratic party, the party currently in control, is responsible for the economic slowdown and the problems facing long term recovery. When they ran in 2006 they promised to be more open and run a more ethical government. They also promised to fix every problem that faced this country. The Democrats told the American people that they had a plan to make fix it all. Nancy Pelosi put out a press release promising the American public that the Democrats had a plan to bring gasoline prices under control. It would appear as if her claims are as phony as the Biblical passage she constantly quotes.
Interestingly, many Americans are uninformed and unaware of what is going on so many of them will either not know this or will not understand it. What can we expect from people who follow a candidate who promises change but never says what change? Anyway, President Bush was discussing the redistribution of income plan [Congress calls it the economic stimulus plan] where “rebate” checks are sent to Americans in hopes they will spend them and put more cash flow into the economy. It is a stupid plan concocted in an election year in order to buy votes. Both parties want to be able to tell voters that they gave them money to help them out. Interestingly, this is an admission by the Democrats that allowing us to have more of our money is good for the economy but too many people will be too busy taking money they did not pay in and spending it on gasoline that was supposed to be cheap after Democrats took power.
President Bush, in talking about the checks, stated that they would allow people to pay for the rising cost of food and gas. Democrats jumped right on this and said that the economic stimulus checks were not meant to line the pockets of the oil companies. The Democrats blamed President Bush for this and said it was all his fault (it is an election year so they have to lie, once again, about being able to fix this problem) and that he needed to get OPEC to increase production. In other words, they are saying that the President needs to fix the problem that they caused and that they said they could fix if we elected them.
“It’s galling to think that taxpayers’ stimulus checks will be lining the pockets of OPEC. The sad truth is that the average American family will spend almost their entire stimulus check on higher gas prices this year,” said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.
OPEC is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
“Unless the administration gets OPEC to increase oil supply, American consumers are going to be in for a scorching summer of $4 gasoline with no relief in sight,” Schumer said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., agreed that people “need this rebate to cope with the rising cost of gas and groceries.” She said that, while the rebates would help to get the economy moving, there was a need for a second stimulus package “and we have begun some conversation with the administration and Republicans.” My Way News
No Mr. Schumer, what is galling is that you Democrats promised Americans that you had a plan to fix the high price of gasoline when you didn’t. What is galling is that you lied about this to get elected and what is even more galling is that you now expect the President to fix the problem when your premise during the election was that he was incapable of fixing it so we needed to elect you to get it done. Mr. Schumer, if Americans will spend almost their entire check on gasoline it is because YOU failed to do what you promised.
Ms. Pelosi, we do not need another stimulus package where you take money from those of us who paid taxes and give it to those who did not. We do not need any more government interference in our lives. If you want to make things easier on Americans then cut our taxes. Reduce the amount of taxes we pay on our income, privatize social security (so we have all our OWN money when we retire or we can pass it to our heirs), and eliminate the gasoline tax. You Democrats promised to go after gouging. You people in Congress have absolutely nothing to do with the production of gas but you gouge consumers for 18.4 cents on every gallon of gas we use. Ms. Pelosi, if you want things to be better than live up to your campaign promise and execute your so-called plan to lower gas prices. Typically, you promised something you could not and had no intention of delivering on. I actually believe that a bunch of monkeys could do your jobs better.
For those of you who think that George Bush and the Republican party is to blame for the slowdown, keep in mind that when these folks were elected the economy was in great shape and the major focus of their campaigning was the war in Iraq (which they continue to cite as a reason for winning). The price of gasoline was $2.19 a gallon and they were crying about it being high and promising to fix the problem. Nearly two years later and we are in an economic downturn and gasoline is more expensive as is nearly everything. The economy went in the tank with the Democrats in charge so much so that they have hardly mentioned Iraq and they are trying to pin all this on Bush. Remember the Carter years and you will have an idea of what it will be like with a Democrat in the White House and a Democratically controlled Congress.
Who will they blame then? Just keep this in mind:
In just one year. Remember the election in 2006?
Thought you might like to read the following:
A little over one year ago:1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon and crude was $50 a barrel;
3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%.Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen:
1) Consumer confidence plummet;
2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon and crude to $117 a barrel;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!
This is what Democrats do to us. Vote for them at your own risk. I can’t see how the workers in this country will continue to fund a government that has an increasing appetite for our hard earned money. It will not take too much more of the income redistribution schemes (universal health care, Social Security, welfare) before people rebel. We did it once to expel the tyranny of government and we can do it again. I think it appropriate that I end with these words from the Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. [emphasis mine]
Our government would do well to remember these words. We have a Second Amendment for a reason (which is why they keep trying to take our weapons)…
Tags: democrat lies, gas prices, income redistribution, lies, Pelosi, revolution, schumer, secret plan, taxes
If that were true then why has the country been going downhill since Bush took office?
Election Blogs last blog post..Jeremiah Wright On Bill Moyers
The country hasn’t been going downhill since Bush took office. His numbers are better than or equal to Clintons and you libs think he had a great economy. Unemployment has been low, job creation up, the stock market up, all economic indicators up.
Since the Democrats took office these numbers have started going down.
Look it all up and compare with the last administration which you all say was great. The real problem is that liberals refuse to say that anything good is taking place when a Republican is in office.
If you care to show numbers or some other sources for facts that show the country has gone down hill since Bush took office I would appreciate it. I think you will find that the numbers were pretty good the first 6 years. Then Democrats took control of Congress.
Good article. Isn’t it funny how Democrats admit by agreeing to the rebates that the economy would be better if Americans kept more of their money, yet they are going to take more away from us if they are elected. This makes no sense. People need to wake up and realize what the Democrats are going to do to the economy and our check books if they are elected.
Steve Denniss last blog post..Masssachusetts Governor Passes a Bill That Benefits his Wife’s Company
Bush just admitted that this is not a stimulus; it’s a partial refund for victims of Bernanke’s inflation.
W.C. Varoness last blog post..36 months
I would like to know how Bernanke caused the inflation. I would like to know how one man is so powerful that he could do this.
I would also like to know how you can say that this is for inflation when inflation is relatively low and about what it was during the last administration. Yes, prices are going up but one guy did not cause it.
Gas is the result of a global market. It is also because the Democrats will not allow us to drill for our own oil or build refineries. Of course prices will go up. Food is going up because you need fuel to transport it and we all know about fuel. Couple this with the fact that they use corn for fuel rather than food and you can see how this is going.
Keep in mind, all these problems started after the Democrats took control. Gas was 2.19 a gallon when they took over…
The housing crisis is another problem created by Congress but we can discuss that later. I don’t want to overwhelm you with too much.
One reason is we have seen the price of oil more than double from $60 to $135 is just over two years without major supply disruptions. We have also been plagued by manipulation in other energy markets.
Enron and others manipulated the Western electricity markets in 2000 and 2001 and cost consumers over $40 billion. In light of that, Congress gave the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission new authority in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Specifically, Congress made it “unlawful for any person … to use or employ … any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance,” in connection with the wholesale electricity and natural gas markets. We’re going to hear today from FERC’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement on how FERC has used its new authority to root out manipulation in physical electricity and natural gas markets.
To date, FERC has used its new authority to conduct 64 investigations resulting in 14 settlements totaling over $48 million in civil penalties. We have seen the very same energy traders move from Enron to Amaranth, and American families and business alike have the same concerns about potential manipulation in our oil markets.
Last December 2007, Congress granted the FTC anti-manipulation authority in the Energy Bill. Specifically, Congress made it “unlawful for any person … to use or employ … any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance,” in connection with the purchase or sale of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates at wholesale.
During the hearing is was reported Michael Greenburger (the former speculation committe chairman) reported that gas could drop 25 to fifty percent. If spectulation could proprerly regulated would get prices back under control would drop the almost right away. These controls were removed in 2000.
One reason is we have seen the price of oil more than double from $60 to $135 is just over two years without major supply disruptions. We have also been plagued by manipulation in other energy markets.
Enron and others manipulated the Western electricity markets in 2000 and 2001 and cost consumers over $40 billion. In light of that, Congress gave the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission new authority in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Specifically, Congress made it “unlawful for any person … to use or employ … any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance,” in connection with the wholesale electricity and natural gas markets. We’re going to hear today from FERC’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement on how FERC has used its new authority to root out manipulation in physical electricity and natural gas markets.
To date, FERC has used its new authority to conduct 64 investigations resulting in 14 settlements totaling over $48 million in civil penalties. We have seen the very same energy traders move from Enron to Amaranth, and American families and business alike have the same concerns about potential manipulation in our oil markets.
Last December 2007, Congress granted the FTC anti-manipulation authority in the Energy Bill. Specifically, Congress made it “unlawful for any person … to use or employ … any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance,” in connection with the purchase or sale of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates at wholesale.
Americans may be surprised to learn that our oil futures markets were substantially deregulated by CFTC staff decisions that were made behind closed doors. This “London-Loophole” and now the “Dubai-Loophole” is keeping important U.S. energy trading in the dark. And without proper light manipulators have free reign.
What exactly did the Democrats do to “ruin the economy” as you stated in the subject header? What did they do? You named NOTHING they did. Can you show what job creation was pre-2006? Can you state what the deficit was also? Also, please explain how the Democrats are responsible for the sub-prime meltdown, and that it had NOTHING to do with insanely low interest rates by the Fed that were run 2001 onward. Can you answer any of these?
The meltdown of the mortgage industry is the result of Democratic policies that allowed low income people to get loans they were not qualified for. Fannie and Freddie took on huge amounts of debt from people who were not qualified for loans. Those organizations were run by former Clinton administration members who all received huge payouts after they cooked the books.
Look at the numbers and you will see plenty of job creation prior to 2006. You will also see gas prices that were lower. Now, I would not blame the prices on Democrats because I understand how the market works but Nancy Pelosi said that the Democrats had a plan to control gas prices and they obviously did not.
I don’t have to name specifics. I am doing what the left does, if it happens on your watch, you are guilty of it. They blame 9/11 on Bush when Clinton set the table for it. So, bad economy on their watch equals their fault…
To Rich:
NewsBusters catches a portion of a video shown by Political Radar, where Bill Clinton blames Democrats for resisting Republicans and himself regarding tightening up on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Key exchange:
CHRIS CUOMO, ABC NEWS: A little surprising for you to hear the Democrats saying, “This came out of nowhere, this is all about the Republicans. We had nothing to do with this.” Nancy Pelosi saying it. She signed the ’99 Gramm Bill. She knew what was going on with the SEC. They’re all sophisticated people. Is that playing politics in this situation?
BILL CLINTON: Well, maybe everybody does that a little bit. I think the responsibility the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was President to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The Democrats caused this financial meltdown and Bush admin made several attempts to get a Dem Congress to fix it and warned of impeniding disaster.
Well, here it is.