A Lesson in Interpreting Political Double-Speak

U.S. politicians have a strong aversion to stating the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

(HARRISVILLE, N.H.)) - An AP article titled “Obama says new task force will examine gas prices” and dated 4/21/2011, quotes our President as saying “We are going to make sure that no one is taking advantage of the American people for their own short-term gain”. This statement was made at a town-hall style meeting held in Reno, Nevada.

The article then postulates that with the 2012 campaign in mind, the White House is anxious to show the public that it is taking action to address rising gasoline prices. Those gasoline prices hit a national average of $3.84 on Thursday, about $.30 higher than a month ago and almost $1.00 higher than a year ago.

Let’s examine what makes-up that $3.84 average per gallon price on gasoline?

When you look at the breakout listed above, you must also consider a few other facts. (1) The Retailer (Gas Station) fees are not pure profit. Out of those fees, the retailer must pay his overhead, taxes, and salaries, usually leaving him only 2 to 3 cents per gallon of actual profit. (2) We must also consider the fact that compared to most other countries in the world, gasoline is cheap in the United States. (3) Oil companies have made record profits during the last few years and most of the oil company CEOs make salaries (including stock options and benefits) in the millions of dollars each year.

Now if we are looking at cutting the price per gallon on gasoline, where should we begin and which components of that $3.84 price per gallon can/should we cut?

Here are a few other questions you should consider before answering that question: (1) Can the price per gallon of crude oil be controlled at all and who has the greatest influence on that price? (2) What would be the impact (to the U.S. consumer as well as the consumers of other countries) of exerting controls on the price per gallon of crude oil? (3) Are the taxes charged by Federal, State, and local agencies exorbitant? (4) What would be the impact of reducing any or all of those taxes?

The reason I have provided these facts and figures and the reason I am laying these associated questions on the table is to show that cutting the price per gallon on gasoline is not as cut-and-dried as one might think at first glance.

For any politician to take a stance against rising gas prices is a good political move but how realistic is it and how much impact can they really have? If they can and do have an impact, what costs and reactions would result from any action taken by the politician?

There is no question in my mind that the President would like to bring the price per gallon of gasoline down for U.S. consumers. There is also no question in my mind that he would do so if he could. Now based on what President Obama said and considering the facts, figures, and questions I have stated above, what do you expect to happen?

What I am trying to show here folks is that we must learn to interpret political double-speak because the last 50 years or so should have taught us that U.S. politicians, regardless of party affiliation, have a strong aversion to stating the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth... but, that is just my opinion!

Writer Robert Collinsworth is an American who isn't hesitant to talk about the good side of his country, and that is a welcome thing in this day and age. Salem-News.com admittedly, is very critical of both American politics, as well as those of other nations that we perceive is being wrong in their motives and actions. At the same time, within these structures we criticize, are many outstanding people who make each day a better place for all those around them. They embody and personify the American spirit that is sometimes fleeting, but always present. These are some of the things Robert takes into account when writing commentary that is designed reach people, to "get them thinking" in his words, and indeed it does. Salem-News.com's goal is for all people to be on the same page, we appreciate Bob's more conservative approach toward that same goal."

You can write to Bob Collingsworth at this email address: colli2@webryders.net

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Anonymous April 30, 2011 6:17 pm (Pacific time)

Seems the Whitehouse is no booster for the First Amendment as another poster below commented on. FYI the below rhubarb was over Pvt. Manning's treatment. The link below shows the protestors in song (paid a total of $76,000 for tickets to be there!), and it's pretty mild in terms of a protest. "Update: In a pants-on-fire moment, the White House press office today denied anyone there had issued threats to remove Carla Marinucci and possibly other Hearst reporters from the press pool covering the President in the Bay Area. Chronicle editor Ward Bushee called the press office on its fib: "Sadly, we expected the White House to respond in this manner based on our experiences yesterday. It is not a truthful response. It follows a day of off-the-record exchanges with key people in the White House communications office who told us they would remove our reporter, then threatened retaliation to Chronicle and Hearst reporters if we reported on the ban, and then recanted to say our reporter might not be removed after all. The Chronicle's report is accurate. If the White House has indeed decided not to ban our reporter, we would like an on-the-record notice that she will remain the San Francisco print pool reporter. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/bronstein/detail?entry_id=87978#ixzz1L1GEiay4

Messenger April 29, 2011 10:23 am (Pacific time)

The hip, transparent and social media-loving Obama administration is showing its analog roots. And maybe even some hypocrisy highlights. White House officials have banished one of the best political reporters in the country from the approved pool of journalists covering presidential visits to the Bay Area for using now-standard multimedia tools to gather the news. The Chronicle's Carla Marinucci - who, like many contemporary reporters, has a phone with video capabilities on her at all times - pulled out a small video camera last week and shot some protesters interrupting an Obama fundraiser at the St. Regis Hotel. It says in the article that the female reporter was even warned about reporting the very fact that she was removed from the reporter pool;BECAUSE she dared to take photos of people protesting Obama. This is very telling. The mainstream media blindly cover for him on every issue but that he is acting like a dictator and controls. The media are the very essence of the progressive commiecrat movement yet they cannot accept the full ideal of freedom of press; being taken away? The most transparent presidency ever...http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/bronstein/detail?entry_id=87978

Morrison April 26, 2011 10:50 am (Pacific time)

Doublespeak to the nth. If Obama Wants To End Oil Subsidies, Why Then Is Brazil Getting $2 Billion Dollars In Oil Subsidies? Obama has said that $4 billion dollars in subsidies going to U.S. oil companies must come to an end. Why then is a Brazilian oil company getting $2 billion dollars in what is effectively a subsidy for them to drill in offshore waters? Why are they getting taxpayer dollars and the jobs that we should get? Why are they getting the money to do the same thing that we can do? It would be interesting to see him explain why. MORE questions the MSM will NEVER ask President Obama.

CONCERNED April 26, 2011 8:50 am (Pacific time)

Mr. President, your hesitation and vacillation in the Middle East breed uncertainty. It’s symptomatic of the puzzling way you govern. See, uncertainty is one of the factors over which you have control, and I would think you’d want to eliminate that additional element that helps breed problems like higher oil prices. Higher oil means exorbitant gas prices weighing down our economy. Consistency and strength – and greater domestic energy production – will help fix higher gas prices and help heal the economy. But only with leadership. These sorts of problems don’t fix themselves. It’s unbelievable to me that you spent last week in campaign mode, gallivanting around the country to start raising the billion dollars for your reelection bid that is still 19 months away “while Rome burns.” Our economy is in the tank; jobs are as scarce as ever; you’re asking Congress to let you incur even more unsustainable, immoral, freedom-stealing government debt; and many of our brave men and women in uniform are shaking their heads in disbelief over your befuddled military directions. Yet instead of working with Congress and a wise multitude of advisers to fix some problems, you choose all this campaigning, already? As was recently asked: When do you ever just “roll up your sleeves, unplug the teleprompter” and do the job of governing and administrating for which voters hired you? I know, I know, granted you will be even busier very soon. After all, golf season kicks into high gear shortly. NBA and NHL brackets await. Summer vacations and that all-consuming campaign whistle stop tour will no doubt slam you. But I would ask, while the rest of us are also busy working, saving, planning ahead, fighting to protect our Constitution, and trying to keep up with where and why you’re spending our Department of Defense funds – I’d ask that you find time to tell Americans the truth about the state of our union and what you are doing to find solutions to our challenges. Please start with explaining Libya.

Daniel Johnson April 25, 2011 5:13 pm (Pacific time)

Obama says: “We are going to make sure that no one is taking advantage of the American people for their own short-term gain”.
Wha?? That's what capitalism is all about. If O believes that, then accusations of him being a socialist are valid.

Douglas Benson April 24, 2011 9:32 am (Pacific time)

Anon, all I did was point out one of the tools being used to do just what you are talking about and you call it garbage?

Bob Collinsworth April 23, 2011 5:51 pm (Pacific time)

Wow - Anonymous . . . Buddy . . . you need to chill a bit before you blow a major vein somewhere. I'd hate to think one of my articles caused you to wake-up gazing at the wrong side of the grass tomorrow. I am a type "A" personality but I swear man, you are a type "AAA" personality. Getting that up-tight does not help and could only hurt you. Peace Bud! Bob

Anonymous April 23, 2011 3:47 pm (Pacific time)

I am anon from the previous comments..Tim King is a great guy and tries his best. I just get frustrated sometimes. I just wanted to say Tim is a good guy doing his best. And sorry for some of my posts, as mentioned, I just get frustrated. I seem to do research more...but then again, why dont "I" start a website, and take my life to do what Tim is doing? DO you have even a small clue what Tim and Bonnie have taken on?? His website probably gets hacked, he spends time trying his best. I am feeling guilty..If I am sooooo smart and know everything, why dont I take the time to meet with Tim and volunteer etc? Its so easy for me to criticize isnt it? Well, it does go deeper, I am trying to prepare for the economic collapse, and have kids etc, but I should back off on critisizing. (sp). I DO understand the mission that Tim has taken, and how hard it is, and he might make mistakes...grrr to me.

Anonymous April 23, 2011 10:47 am (Pacific time)

By the way...the author of this article does not know a clue about economics. And those who blame it on speculation do not either. It is the de-value of the dollar. The globalists keep printing major dollars, which makes the dollar worthless. Memo to author of this article. Research the CRB index, research the federal reserve bank, research gold prices, research BRIC moving from the dollar.. You have NO clue what is truly going on. This is why I dont take salem-news seriously anymore. Not even in regards to israel/palestine. Your research is kindergarten stuff.

Anonymous April 23, 2011 10:41 am (Pacific time)

wrong...this entire article and the comments are wrong. Obama does not want to reduce oil prices, he is a puppet to the elite/globalists/whatever. He is a salesman for the NWO. He has no say, he reads and speaks what he is told to speak. The bilderberg group, thru inside info, has already made the decision. obama has nothing to do with it, but being a spokesman... 1. Gas prices will continue to climb. The globalists are looking at $7 a gallon by end of 2012. $5 a gallon by autumn 2011. 2. Their goal is to balance the world, making all countries third world status.Including the U.S. The Americans are too rich, they eat too much meat, drive the SUV's blah blah. These are their words, and they get their way 90% of the time. Gas will be 5 bucks a gallon by end of summer, and obama is just out there keeping people calm while the globalists complete building the police state here in the U.S. and conquering the middle east. This is all dog and pony by obama to buy his bosses more time. Watch and see.

Douglas Benson April 23, 2011 8:53 am (Pacific time)

Funny you should mention that.I was just watching congressional hearings on this the other day .The President is making a veiled threat to use regulations they just put in on the stock exchange . Speculation is what is killing us ,driving up prices. What a sweet deal they have sucking so much money out of our pockets .How bad do you think its going to be for the sucker left holding the bag when oil goes back down to $60. The big money game of hot potato ,where the average stock is held less than a second or some crazy stuff like that . So lets say we buy $600 in oil futures I put down my $36 and wait. Ten min. later oil goes up 2% after the small fees lets say $9 is profit. Nice bit of profit at 25% and capitol gains to boot now I know why they want no capitol gains tax. So when you pay another 10 cents at the pump you can thank wall street. By the way isnt that crazy they only put down 6% on futures? Im out Peace

Anonymous April 23, 2011 12:26 am (Pacific time)

If you look at the costs in March, 2011, other than the impact on the cost of oil, the only thing that really stands out is the fact that refining costs are 50% higher than they were in March 2008. See http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/gasoline/margins/index.html

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A Lesson in Interpreting Political Double-Speak

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