Depending on ones definition of ‘conspire’ of course. 
-XT
And to the extent that political policies can affect their profits, they’ll attempt to influence political policies. And they’re quite willing and able to decrease their short-term profits slightly if it will mean an increase in their long-term profits. Why is absurd to think that they would adjust prices to try to improve the odds of getting politicians who would favor them in the long run? I mean, maybe it would cost them more than it’s worth (in which case you should argue the numbers), but they’d surely at least consider it.
We’re not necessarily talking about macro-level price changes. Lots of factors can affect the price of gasoline at the pump in the short term. See the post-Gulf oil spill price jump, for example.
We’re not talking about the president.
No doubt about it. Add the rising fuel prices with the rest of the spirally economy we are facing and Obama doesn’t stand a chance. Vote Paul for 2012!
Poe’s Law, anyone?
It won’t affect my vote. The Prez doesn’t control the price of gas and I have a hybrid getting 48 MPG, so I don’t really care what gas costs that much except in a peripheral way.
I think hybrid-drivers, as a demographic, are probably already pretty far into Obama’s base anyway.
Seriously. I honestly can’t tell with the post above yours.
Drive-by.
Above $4 close to $5 will heard everyone and on that poin i wouldn’t care who is president
This supports absolutely nothing.
I consider this thread conclusively answered:
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Yes gas prices will impact voting.
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No, there is absolutely zero evidence that a deliberate conspiracy exists that is causing increases in the international crude market as a means of unseating President Obama. Big evil ExxonMobil is less than 10% of the world’s oil production, by the way, but they are large enough that if they working with say, BP, Shell and a few others (who are still babies compared to the big state run oil firms) to increase oil prices you would notice it.
The only real way a company can increase oil prices is by indicating supply is going to tighten or by actually tightening supply. Do you really think several of the largest non-state oil companies in the world could just secretly hide their oil without people who literally live in the world of commodities trading noticing it?
This is just more evidence that liberals lack a fundamental understanding of economics. With a market with so many sources of production people would notice weird stuff going on and adjust accordingly.
Sure, if Exxon wanted to start turning wells or refineries off or stop shipping stuff, it would impact prices. But it wouldn’t explain the massive increase we’ve seen nor would it go without notice if only a select number of producers suddenly had supply issues versus the rest of the world.
Actually, it supports exactly what he said:
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
…the American petroleum companies… …take a definite and highly expensive interest in American politics, even when OPEC is indifferent.
[/QUOTE]
Yes, because all liberals believe that Big Oil is conspiring to unseat Obama. :rolleyes:
This is what I was actually interested in evidence for:
And that was him saying the idea that big oil is deliberately manipulating prices to unseat Obama isn’t entirely preposterous.
I was not asking for evidence that oil companies are involved in political money spending, but because his post was divided in two by quotes I didn’t capture the part I was actually concerned with by just hitting the “quote” button.
So let me make it very clear, I’m not interested in whether or not oil companies are involved in politics. I’m only interested in actual evidence big oil is actually manipulating commodity prices as part of a conspiracy to defeat Barack Obama’s reelection.
I’ll refrain from further participation in this thread until some evidence to that effect is produced.
A co-worker brought up the 2012 election. (I didn’t speak; I just listened while having my lunch.) He said he would vote for Gingrich. His reason? Gingrich’s promise of $2.50 gas prices. :smack:
And I think that promise is totally achievable. All he has to do is repeal all banking regulations and let them crash the economy again. Last time gas went below $2.00.
Its only preposterous because it would hurt their bottom line. A lot. But if there was a concerted effort, of course they could pull it off. A lot of industries could tank the economy if they cared nothing for the effects on themselves.
What there IS evidence of is speculative foam. The market has diversified its investments and these days that includes gold and oil. Heck, they’re even buying derivatives based on pools of life insurance policies and debt that is exposed to natural disasters.
Well shit, someone should make this claim in every thread. 
Of course its not true. Its no more true now than when gas prices went up under Bush (or his dad for that matter). I read a review of a book that told history through the lens of Cod Fish and how Cod basically drove the course of human events. I think someone wrote a similar and much more convincing book about oil. I wish I could remember the title.
Personally, I believe the oil companies are manipulating supply to increase prices…to make a whole hell of a lot of money…
(Well, it makes a little more sense…)