7 replies to this topic

[CampinKiller]

So with all the protests gas prices are going up

What is yall's opinion on the protests?

[Redneck]

turn the entire area into a giant glass parking lot.....

[R.K. TriggerHappy]

Umm hmm. Ok...

[Left_Behind]

Personally I think this is a good thing for the people although it seems Libya will be a civil war.

Gas prices was going to increase anyways so don't buy into that crap saying that it is due to the protests.

[Centurius]

I fully support the current protests in the Middle East regardless of the effects this might have on the economies of Western nations.

The Middle East has millions of people that have never sensed the level of freedom as we do, while they might have prospered and have had access to advanced technologies they were never free. People were kidnapped for speaking out against their governments and in most nations poverty reigned supreme. For example in Libya a lot of the money earned from oil disappeared into the account of Colonel Gadhafi and his loyalists. In Egypt former president Mubarak had secured very sizeable rserves in Swiss bank accounts. In all of these countries the people basically were treated worse than we treat our dogs.

Another angle might be the risk to Israel of these democratic movements however I do not believe the goal of these protests is to implement radicalist governments. I see the region moving to centrist and secular governments with the support and loyalty of their people, in essence a perfect negotiation party for both Israel as the European powers nearby and the USA in a lesser but still reasonable level. If the oil reserves change hands to the people I could also see the region develop into advanced nations with a high level of development and welfare among their populace. In essence if these protests win I only see sunshine in the longterm for the region and perhaps the world.

[Wu Tang Clan]

Anyone that thinks gas prices really rise because of a revolution in one nation, the 4th smallest exporter of oil in OPEC, is misguided. Everyone knows that no matter who is in power, they will sell oil, less their nation's economy witters and dies. Oil is where the money is, and in most of these countries, the only source of money.

Now, obviously the oil companies are going to look for any excuse possible to shove their pump up your ***, so they take what they can get. That being said, after a few weeks, prices will return to where they were before, when the world gets pissed again.

That being said, I think it's a good thing for Libya. Qaddafi is nuts, and it's about time they try to take him out.

I figured out why he's so angry all the time... He's still a Colonel. He's been in power since 1969, and his own country never made him a freakin general...

[CampinKiller]

Now, I don't believe the projections seeing as how the prices have rose maybe a few cents over a week.

The protesters are fighting for a just cause, but in a few of those nations there might be some radical groups trying to take control aswell

[Zzzptm]

Petroleum is already in a really tight supply. It's highly sensitive to minor moves. We barely meet 100% of demand these days. When we have 99% of demand met, the price can spike up hard.

Wait for tomorrow when the Day of Rage happens in Saudi Arabia. If it's crushed, gas prices stay stable - and it may mean that the Saudis gave weapons to the rebels in Libya, if the coverage of said crushing is minimal. Notice how quickly the Bahrain stuff went off the US news radar...