If energy production in the US was nationalized, what would a gallon of gas cost

[dutch508]

Star Member maxrandb (12,720 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216456201

Just a question.

If energy production in the US was nationalized, what would a gallon of gas cost?

I don't understand why, with the immense importance that energy plays in our country, it is not run by a GS16 making $120K a year, vice a CEO making $20-30 Billion a year.

Energy seems about as important to our sovereignty as the military.

The entire military is run by a government employee making a few hundred K a year, supported by an appointed Senior Executive Service government employee making a couple hundred K a year.

Both of these employees, and those serving under them, are answerable to the American people.

Talk me down, because I don't think something so critical to our nations security should be in the hands of billionaires that don't give a **** about our national security.

 

Star Member Hugin (29,698 posts)

1. After the break up of Standard Oil by Teddy...

It largely was, peaking around WWII. Especially refining.

But, by the ‘80s, the GOCOs were phased out by attrition. Now, about all that is left is the strategic reserves. The volume of which is of course a closely guarded secret. TFG was doing his best to drain those and hand his cronies the assets at pennies on the dollar, if not outright.

Star Member gab13by13 (8,427 posts)

3. The price of oil is supposed to be set globally.

With that said we have our own American oligarchs. 50 years ago president Nixon gave a speech stating that the US needed to rid itself of dependance on foreign oil by exploring alternative energy production, and that was back when alternative energy was way more expensive than fossil fuels.

Today, instead of politicians talking about ridding ourselves of fossil fuels they have brought back, "drill baby drill."

Star Member Chainfire (7,977 posts)

6. While they are at it, healthcare would be another great product to nationalize.

We don't need buzzards making billions off of other people's illnesses. We don't need a system where you only get the medical care that you can afford.

Star Member Volaris (9,517 posts)

5. I dont think you're wrong, but changing something like that would take decades..

A publicly, taxpayer-owned energy company is a wonderful idea.
So is a citizen-owned national credit union, run out of the dept of the treasury (I'd use it to make simple-interest mortgage loans to people---but again, TPTB would raise so much hell it would take decades to work properly...see CFPB as a reference).

The only thing these people hate more than being called out for their greed, is something being done about it

fescuerescue (3,921 posts)

22. SO you would want a Trump appointee determining which states get fuel?

Because the lowly $120k bureaucrat that you pick, won't always be the one in charge.

Democrats won't always be in charge. We are only guaranteed to November 2022.

It wouldn't be an issue of cost per gallon. It would be an issue of who can buy it at any cost.

Star Member cstanleytech (23,513 posts)

25. Not sure if it would be a good thing or a bad thing but what I do believe is that we should not be

exporting any of our fossil fuels as we might need them one day for ourselves.

 

[FlaGator]

Star Member maxrandb (12,720 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216456201

Just a question.

If energy production in the US was nationalized, what would a gallon of gas cost?

I don't understand why, with the immense importance that energy plays in our country, it is not run by a GS16 making $120K a year, vice a CEO making $20-30 Billion a year.

Energy seems about as important to our sovereignty as the military.

The entire military is run by a government employee making a few hundred K a year, supported by an appointed Senior Executive Service government employee making a couple hundred K a year.

Both of these employees, and those serving under them, are answerable to the American people.

Talk me down, because I don't think something so critical to our nations security should be in the hands of billionaires that don't give a **** about our national security.

I would like to know why American Billionaires don't care about national security? They live in a country where there is little to no risk of having their businesses nationalized as opposed to having Russia or China invade and then nationalizing everything.

I suspect the OP has no evidence other than a hatred of anyone who is better off than the OP.

[Old n Grumpy]

If energy production in the US was nationalized, what would a gallon of gas cost?

About $75.00 to $100.00 a gallon if you were fortunate enough to find some.

[BannedFromDU]

About $75.00 to $100.00 a gallon if you were fortunate enough to find some.

     It would cost exactly what it costs now, plus some, maybe plus a lot. I give you tobacco products as my evidence.

[USA4ME]

Idiots! There first impulse when things are going out of control is “How can we go communist?”

.

[jukin]

About $75.00 to $100.00 a gallon if you were fortunate enough to find some.

Beat me too it!  At a minimum $25/gl.

[SVPete]

Star Member maxrandb (12,720 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216456201

Just a question.

If energy production in the US was nationalized, what would a gallon of gas cost?

  Whatever government decided to charge, regardless of actual cost to produce.

The grossly obvious aside, ask Mexican and Venezuelan people how well it worked when their governments nationalized oil and spent the money on everything but maintenance and development.

[FiddyBeowulf]

Star Member Hugin (29,698 posts)

1. After the break up of Standard Oil by Teddy...

It largely was, peaking around WWII. Especially refining.

But, by the ‘80s, the GOCOs were phased out by attrition. Now, about all that is left is the strategic reserves. The volume of which is of course a closely guarded secret. TFG was doing his best to drain those and hand his cronies the assets at pennies on the dollar, if not outright.

When oil was at record lows Trump wanted to replenish the SPR.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/trump-asks-energy-department-to-purchase-oil-for-the-strategic-petroleum-reserve.html

[SVPete]

There's a reason bureaucrats and efficiency are only associated in sarcasm.

[CollectivismMustDie]

The answer to the DUmmies question is exceedingly simple:

A gallon of gas would cost as much as necessary to 'nudge' people at large in the direction in which the nationalizers want them to move, for whatever reason the nationalizers desire them to.

[ABC-2]

Whatever government decided to charge, regardless of actual cost to produce.

The grossly obvious aside, ask Mexican and Venezuelan people how well it worked when their governments nationalized oil and spent the money on everything but maintenance and development.

"Whatever government decided to charge, regardless of actual cost to produce."


How true and very astute of you! 

    plus a    to boot!

~ ABC

[DefiantSix]

Idiots! There first impulse when things are going out of control is “How can we go communist?”

.

When all you have is a hammer (and sickle) everything starts looking like a nail after a while...

[Aristotelian]

About $75.00 to $100.00 a gallon if you were fortunate enough to find some.

Plus a bit extra for the bribes to the Gosplan officials...

[Ralph Wiggum]

[Zathras]

DUmbasses....if you're looking to go after the people who make the most profit off of a gallon of gas it isn't the oil companies you want. Big Oil are the ones who do all of the work to get the product out of the ground and refine it into the products they sell. Does Big Oil get profit for those products they make? Yes but the profit they make is a pittance compared to the big winner of oil sales. That winner is local, state and federal governments with the gasoline taxes they impose on every gallon of fuel dispensed in the US. Here in San Jose with sales, state and federal tax on 1 gallon of gasoline, we are charged a total of 69.9 cents per gallon plus another 9.13% sales tax on top. This is nothing but pure profit for government  as they did nothing to get the oil out of the ground or process it into a usable form. Maybe, just maybe we should start by lowering the gas taxes levied by government entities instead of going after the companies that actually do the work.