Don't Be A Victim Of "Passalaw Syndrome"

We are stupid people sometimes. Whether we are Conservative or Liberal, we get stupid when we feel like things are out of our control or don’t go like we think they should.

Take the current price of gas.  It’s high and I’m not going to lie to you, it impacts me.  It is causing me to make some different choices, curtailing trips over the mountains to see our granddaughter or just to get away for a weekend.  I don’t drive big gas guzzler SUVs.  I have a little Kia Rio and a Chevy Lumina.  My commute isn’t bad, about 11 miles.

But aside from people adjusting their lives, they think passing legislation to fix everything that some up is the only answer.

The problem with things like oil prices, terrorists and nutcakes rampaging, and people being stupid is the tendency for politicians (especially politicians), victims and those who claim to care, to be caught up with Passalaw’s Syndrome.  A condition first observed back in 1929 by Dr. Yvgehni Passalaw of Harvard right after the Stock Market crash.  He noted the almost uncontrollable urge for all concerned to demand that legislation be passed at some level, preferably at the highest level, to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again. And just as importantly, to compensate the victims in some way – usually in the form of a check from said highest level's treasury.

I think the old Doc was on to something.  Legislating the price of oil will only cause it to be in shorter supply and eventually cost even more.  Idiots complain because an oil company makes an 8% profit , calling it gouging and paying $3.00 a gallon, but think nothing of Starbucks forecasting a 25% profit and charging them $3.00 for 16 ounces.  Who’s gouging who?  Just for the record, you can take that idiot idea to send $100 checks and and stuff’em where the sun don’t shine!

IF there is some sort of price fixing within the industry, then the FBI, State Police, the Local Cops or the Law Enforcement Explorer Post # 177 in Elm Grove, WI or whoever has jurisdiction investigate.  IF they aren’t doing their jobs, then let the Congress investigate the FBI, the State investigate the state police, the city council investigate the city cops and the BSA should take a look at Explorer Post 177 – IF there is evidence of gouging and IF someone isn’t looking into it.

The demand for oil by China and India, coupled with the threats of the Iranian madman, is driving up the cost of a barrel of crude.  When we were paying 40 bucks a barrel and paying $2.00 a gallon, no one seemed to be too upset.  Now it’s almost doubled and we are paying over $3, we ain’t liking it.

Legislation to control prices never works.  We know that because it’s been tried and tried over and over again and it has never, ever worked.  It works in a Socialist’s pipe dream (Depending on what he or she is smokin’) but it doesn’t work in the real world. 

Stop the madness.  Don’t be a victim of Passalaw Syndrome!

VW

Comments

[Jon]

There is no legislation that will fix the market driven prices of gasoline. No matter how much the Democrats and the Republicans in Congress think that punishing the Oil Companies is going to fix the high gasoline prices they are fooling themselves.

My favorite gas station (Shell)has dropped their prices on gasoline $.20 a gallon in less than two weeks and it was done without the interference of Congress.