House passes bill to sue OPEC over oil prices

[freelance]

We don't have a forum titled, ASININE, so I suppose that General Politics is as good as any.

If you need any more proof that Congress has lost its collective mind, I'm not sure what kind of proof you would need.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSWAT00953020080520

This would be hilarious if it were a SNL vignette, but it's real life in the good ole USA.

 

[ARealConservative]

If OPEC is vulnerable to lawsuit, why would unions not be?

You don't like the price of a car - file a lawsuit.

Movie costs too much? File a lawsuit.


Brilliant!

 

[Zippyjuan]

So does Congress know how much oil or gasoline should cost?

The lawmaker said Americans "are at the mercy" of OPEC for how much they pay for gasoline, which this week hit a record average of $3.79 a gallon

Europeans would love to pay this low of a price for gasoline. They pay about twice what we do. Which is probably why we consume so much more than everybody else.
Domestic energy market manipulation may be a seperate issue. California had energy blackmail a few years ago. Rolling blackouts occured over alleged shortages and ensuing higher prices. Once investigations ensued, prices fell and the blackouts went away- without any significant increases in supply.

 

[gbates31]

4char

 

[gbates31]

4char

 

[freelance]

Congress has zero power--it's all been transferred to the Executive branch. The agencies are where the real lawmaking powers reside now. Since they have no power, they pass meaningless laws and senseless resolutions.

 

[angelatc]

So does Congress know how much oil or gasoline should cost?

Europeans would love to pay this low of a price for gasoline. They pay about twice what we do. .

Apples and oranges. First, they're taxed out the wazoo.

Second, because we use more it should cost less. That's how supply and demand works.

Finally, Europeans use a lot of nuclear power, which Americans have preferred not be involved with. They're less dependent on fossil fuels than we are.

 

[Fox McCloud]

I'm not surprised that this happened...it's probably the beginning of price fixing for a number of major products since they "cost so much now"...they automatically assume that rising prices means that someone is making a bigger profit...they don't consider that they, themselves are chiefly responsible for the rising costs.

*sigh* what is this world coming to?

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

Second, because we use more it should cost less. That's how supply and demand works.

Uhhh... actually, you have that completely backwards. More demand from one buyer is likely to raise prices for all buyers (with no change in supply). Maybe you're thinking of "economies of scale," which wouldn't apply much in this case.

 

[moostraks]

Ugh...324 arrogant idiots. Yet another task force:"The legislation also creates a Justice Department task force to aggressively investigate gasoline price gouging and energy market manipulation."

Do they do anything constructive nowadays?? Do we have to continuely make ourselves a laughingstock? Where do they get off thinking we can sue them?

 

[SeanEdwards]

After flipping through my pocket Constitution, I can't see any clearly spelled out authority for Congress to sue anything. How is it possible that we even have jurisdiction over foreign entities?

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes

 

[ARealConservative]

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes

that gives us jurisdiction?

hold on, I'm writing some stuff down on paper right now that gives me jurisdiction over you.......

 

[SeanEdwards]

that gives us jurisdiction?

hold on, I'm writing some stuff down on paper right now that gives me jurisdiction over you.......

If they do business in America it gives our government jurisidiction. The EU recently successfully sued microsoft for anti-competitive business practices that violated their laws. I don't see this matter as being much different.

Keep in mind, I'm not arguing about the merits of the case, I'm merely responding to the claim that it's unconstitutional for the federal legislature to pass laws regarding international trade, when clearly that IS one of the few things the Congress is authorized to do under our Constitution.

 

[ARealConservative]

If they do business in America it gives our government jurisidiction. The EU recently successfully sued microsoft for anti-competitive business practices that violated their laws. I don't see this matter as being much different.

Keep in mind, I'm not arguing about the merits of the case, I'm merely responding to the claim that it's unconstitutional for the federal legislature to pass laws regarding international trade, when clearly that IS one of the few things the Congress is authorized to do under our Constitution.

the lawsuit isn't about the business being conducted in this country, it is about the business being conducted in foreign countries

Specifically, the lawsuit is designed to make them increase production. Did the EU tell Microsoft they need to produce more cd's of OEM software, or was it based on the product being sold within their borders?

the poster asked about foreign entities - business that operate in this country are not foreign entities.

 

[SeanEdwards]

the lawsuit isn't about the business being conducted in this country, it is about the business being conducted in foreign countries

Specifically, the lawsuit is designed to make them increase production. Did the EU tell Microsoft they need to produce more cd's of OEM software, or was it based on the product being sold within their borders?

the poster asked about foreign entities - business that operate in this country are not foreign entities.

I said I'm not arguing the merits of this particular case, I merely point out that it is in fact Constitutional for Congress to regulate international commerce.

It's constitutional for Congress to declare war on Estonia too. Doesn't mean that's a good idea, but it's certainly not unconstitutional.

 

[ARealConservative]

I said I'm not arguing the merits of this particular case, I merely point out that it is in fact Constitutional for Congress to regulate international commerce.

It's constitutional for Congress to declare war on Estonia too. Doesn't mean that's a good idea, but it's certainly not unconstitutional.

I can't see any clearly spelled out authority for Congress to sue anything. How is it possible that we even have jurisdiction over foreign entities?

So regulating commerce means initiating law suits?

Seems like quite a stretch to me.

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

Congressional Bafoons!

This is the crap the DUMBEST VOTERS in the world Elect and Re-elect to the US Congress every term... a BUNCH of monkeys trying to F*CK a Football?

Want to understand how MORONS comprise the American voting pool?

Watch and listen to C-SPAN's Washington Journal callers every morning for the finest forms of IGNORANCE & STUPIDITY!


BUT, the point is, on US Gov & Fed's DIS-information and MIS-information... Now the BUSH REGIME and CONGRESS have someone else to blame... a Foreign Entity! Of course the MSM Media will buy it all, and SPIN IT how the government wants it reported to the people. Watch FAUX NEWS have a field day with spreading DISINFORMATION... they're great at these tactics.

US Government is 'Off The Hook' with this Premeditated, Covert, Conspiring, P.R. campaign, and of course, the US TAXPAYERS... PICK UP ALL THE TABS/BILLS!

 

[DriftWood]

I shouldn't laugh about something so serious, but all this populism is kindof funny.. First Bush went to Saudi Arabia and told them to lower prices, then congress grilled Oil companies over their evil profits, and now the congress is going to sue. Ehmm.. did no one ever teach these people about demand and supply. You cant force someone to sell something for a low price (no matter how much profits the selling party makes or does not make). Trade is supposed to be voluntary. Involuntary trade is stealing.

Capitalism seems to be taking a beating.. first the increase in farming subsidies and now this. Price fixing to the rescue! Thats one sure way to run out of supply, and when that happens then ration coupons to the rescue. Yeeeay.

Cheers

 

[HitchcockKid]

I am new here and have supported Ron Paul! If he does not win today, he will tomorrow!

 

[Andrew-Austin]

This is one of those "please re-elect me I am pretending to try and lower the price of gas" bills.