The problem with your Republican split is that it doesn't leave room for "big gov't social Republicans". The libertarians want small gov't and few rules, and Christian side wants a socially restrained gov't but also a less invasive one. The big-gov't side is in power right now, and that's the part that feels more like traditional democrat to me.

That's right. I was watching a documentary on Andrew Jackson a few nights ago, he and his colleagues created the modern democratic party as "the common people's party" and was opposed to the bank of the united states crowd. It strangely mirrors what's happening now, except instead of the bank of the united states, we've got the financial industry and "the economy" that dictates policy. The republicans have somehow managed to convince a lot of people that they can be the common people's party at the same time they stand up for the mercantilists or corporatists (similar interests to those of the bank of the united states).

It does look like the GOP is having some trouble, from what I could see yesterday Bush and Boehner looked like they weren't able to keep the libertarians in line. Maybe this will be the wedge issue that drives them apart? Doubtful, but the disagreements are in plain view now whereas in the past objections (if there were any, I don't know) were made behind closed doors and the image of a united GOP was presented.

Which, oddly, doesn't really match well with the libertarian side of the party, which doesn't care who you are sleeping with, as long as they can make money off it.

Thanks Leanan! That got a big laugh out of me.

Some observations and lessons learned from the present mini-crisis:

1) The government at all levels has been largely silent, except to urge people not to panic buy. There has been NO information given to the public wrt the true supply situation and what might be available where and when. Best to count on this being SOP in the future, and plan accordingly.

2) There has been no official rationing scheme implemented. Some gas stations have implemented their own ad hoc rationing, mainly as a crowd control measure. Thus, don't assume that just because the government hasn't implemented rationing yet that there is no rationing.

3) The emphasis in the media and amongst government officials has not been on the supply disruption, but on "price gouging". This is due in large part due to lack of understanding of the situation and of basic economics, but is also probably intended to be a distraction. Scapegoat the petroleum industry and the service stations as a substitute for being honest with the public and dealing with the real problem. Expect similar behavior in the future.

4) People in general have been slow to become aware of the problem and slow to react to it. Most people seem to be driving as normal, very little noticeable curtailment in motoring activity. Most people don't realize there is a problem and start dealing with it until they are almost out of gas, and so is the service station they were going to refill at. I have had discussions with people at my workplace to discuss what they are going to do if they can't get enough gas to drive to work. Some are open to carpooling, but some have personal reasons why that won't work; they have NO backup plan, and just assume that they are going to find someway to drive themselves to a workplace that is 20+ miles away from where they live. Expect similar denial and lack of realistic contingency planning on the part of the majority of the population during future supply crises.

5) Fortunately, I have arranged my life so I do live reasonably close to my workplace. I do walk the 1.7 miles back and forth to work each day. It certainly does remove a lot of anxiety from one's life to not have to be so very dependent upon motor fuel and to not have to worry about refilling my car every week or two. I'm also noticing some more bicycles on the street now. It is definitely a good idea to have some way to get to work other than driving, and if one does not have such an alternative, then re-arranging one's life so that one does should be a high priority.

6) This Sunday, for the first time I noticed a significant impact to the local economy: most of the parking spaces in the business district of my small town were empty. We have lots of small shops catering to the tourist trade, and usually things are pretty busy here in the fall. Since downtown was almost empty, that must have hurt them a lot. I can only assume that people were finally cutting out the discretionary weekend trips in an effort to save gas (or because they were uncertain that they would be able to find enough gas to get back home). The lesson is that when there is a more protracted supply crisis, it won't take too many weeks before the retail/consumer economy starts hurting.

7) No signs of black market entrepreneurship yet. That may come soon if this goes on much longer. Expect such "alternative market channels" to take a few weeks to establish themselves when mainstream market supplies are disrupted.

Stations are so afraid of getting turned in for "price gouging" (several stations were already turned in back when hurricane Ike first hit) that they're simply not charging enough to keep supplied and they're shutting down.

UFB.

The pain would be a lot less and a lot shorter if governments simply didn't do anything to *help*.

Hurricane damage is temporary and geographically limited - PO will be global and permanent. IMHO, government meddling is going to turn a difficult problem into a total disaster.

After reading reports like this, it amazes me that our energy and oil exploration and production companies aren't hot as blazes.

They are down. ( PSPFX, OEPIX ).

People think something else is more important?!?!!?

So, is there a shortage of product, or are the owners of the independent gas stations unable (or unwilling, IMHO) to pay for their next tank fillup because they won't break even or make a small profit from the next tank of gas?

If I am an astute observer, most retail gasoline stations don't make very much money on the gas anyway, they make the majority of their profits from tobacco, soft drinks, beer, and convenience items which are inside the store. Sheetz is a good example of this. Two years ago, they started building stores in North Carolina and they priced their gasoline up to 20 cents cheaper than those around them. This drew huge amounts of traffic into their stores, and more than offset their losses in the sale of gasoline. Well, competitors whined about their tactics because they sometimes went below the wholesale price of gas, and the great old State of NC told Sheetz to stop selling gasoline for less than they paid for it, or face fines and potential revocation of their licenses to operate. I dare anyone to find a Sheetz in NC, even one close to Asheville that is out of gas right now. Sheetz, like Wilco, is smart, and like WalMart, they own their own fleet of trucks to ensure their supplies of gas are adequate to keep their prices lower than their competitors, and keep the customers coming inside the store to buy the profit items.

So now, if it truly ISN'T a supply problem, then it's time for the independent stores to revamp their in-store offerings, and mark up the smokes and beer to help pay for the next tanker of fuel. If not, they may as well capitulate and go out of business. In case you didn't know, this is what competition and Capitalism are all about.

Only Nixon could go to China.

Right-wing socialism is called fascism....

Excellent observation! You're spot on.

...sounds like one of them thar conspaaracy tharries I read about on that there inner-tube

There's little doubt in my mind that gas station owners already save the bottom of the tank for their friends and family. Why not? I doubt this is illegal, and if they cannot charge market rates for the gas anyway, they may as well sell to people they like...

I definitly would if there is a shortage, hell its yours since you paid for it. If things break down I wonder what the local management will do at the chains stores. Save it for yourself and just quietly hang the "out of service" sign on?

And the cool part is, stockholders actually get to sue if the corporation chooses morality over short-term dividends!