US Election Outcome

[trottigy]

When President Trump shut the country down for 30 days due to COVID and a lot less people were driving - demand went WAY DOWN. That caused prices to tank - so much so he asked OPEC to drop their production levels dramatically.

 

He did have a a huge impact on the reduction of gas prices. I am not sure that's a good idea to do again, but at least gas prices would be super cheap then. 

Edited October 24 by trottigy

[Hope]

I guess super cheap gas prices aren't that important to me. I prefer regulations if that keeps the environment protected.

 

As far as government action goes - other things affect me more.

Edited October 24 by Hope

[Tortuga]

3 hours ago, trottigy said:

When President Trump shut the country down for 30 days due to COVID and a lot less people were driving - demand went WAY DOWN. That caused prices to tank - so much so he asked OPEC to drop their production levels dramatically.

 

He did have a a huge impact on the reduction of gas prices. I am not sure that's a good idea to do again, but at least gas prices would be super cheap again.

If the President authorizes the Oil Reserves to be used, it drops the cost of raw materials to the refiners. But..that's another topic..

[Pjdriver]

3 hours ago, Hope said:

I guess super cheap gas prices aren't that important to me. 

It’s a domino effect. Oil prices go up everything goes up.  If that is not a big concern for you, can I borrow 100 bucks? 

[Tortuga]

2 minutes ago, Pjdriver said:

It’s a domino effect. Oil prices go up everything goes up.  If that is not a big concern for you, can I borrow 100 bucks? 

I'll send more later...

[Hope]

2 hours ago, Pjdriver said:

It’s a domino effect. Oil prices go up everything goes up.  If that is not a big concern for you, can I borrow 100 bucks? 

Prices in general are huge to me; I am unemployed.  

 

I just don't see any president responsible for how much things cost. Not in the way it's being spoken of during elections. Merchants take the opportunity to raise prices on anything whenever they can (and it has nothing to do with minimum wage 😕) - a president doesn't really do anything about that unless it's considered price gouging. Environmental regulations might help keep our particular environment from looking like it does in China or India. I grew up down the street from a Clark Oil refinery - the smell and smoke were revolting. I'm happy we don't have so much of that factory action in the US anymore, tbh. 

 

I also know that nothing will happen unless Jehovah permits it and that's regardless of who is the American president. He always make certain His people have what they need.

Edited October 24 by Hope

[Violin]

2 hours ago, Hope said:

Prices in general are huge to me; I am unemployed.  

 

I just don't see any president responsible for how much things cost. Not in the way it's being spoken of during elections. Merchants take the opportunity to raise prices on anything whenever they can (and it has nothing to do with minimum wage 😕) - a president doesn't really do anything about that unless it's considered price gouging. Environmental regulations might help keep our particular environment from looking like it does in China or India. I grew up down the street from a Clark Oil refinery - the smell and smoke were revolting. I'm happy we don't have so much of that factory action in the US anymore, tbh. 

 

I also know that nothing will happen unless Jehovah permits it and that's regardless of who is the American president. He always make certain His people have what they need.

I'm sorry you're currently unemployed.  My husband was unemployed over the summer, and I will say that with a young family to care for the higher gas prices have had a massive effect on us.  It's been worse in Canada where there are many carbon taxes imposed and will be imposed in the future.  Canada has been a clean country for many years, there was no need for these huge taxes to be imposed.  It's degraded the quality of life for all of us middle class families.  And I'd better stop there as I don't want to get into anything political.  Just saying that rising cost of living has been a huge issue since covid and gas inflation as it also affects transportation, food prices etc.

[Ostria]

On 10/23/2024 at 4:22 PM, Dustparticle said:

 Might not. Do not forget the resurrection.

 

I wonder if we're gonna remember the crazy stuff that happened on earth. Like imagining seeing my abusive ex in the new world got me like (picture). I mean i know im not supposed to feel that way. However im sure there are people that feel that way about me too 🤣

[Dustparticle]

14 minutes ago, Ostria said:

 

I wonder if we're gonna remember the crazy stuff that happened on earth. Like imagining seeing my abusive ex in the new world got me like (picture). I mean i know im not supposed to feel that way. However im sure there are people that feel that way about me too 🤣

 
 Eventually in time with so much positive thoughts, it will erase the negative thoughts that was in the past.

 

[Pjdriver]

On 10/24/2024 at 6:41 PM, Hope said:

I just don't see any president responsible for how much things cost. Not in the way it's being spoken of during elections. Merchants take the opportunity to raise prices on anything whenever they can (and it has nothing to do with minimum wage 😕) - a president doesn't really do anything about that unless it's considered price gouging.

 

The president can absolutely affect prices, and inflation is not because  merchants are randomly marking things up.

 

It’s primarily  about energy costs, for example. When a president makes it harder to drill or shuts down a pipeline, gas prices go up. That doesn’t just mean higher prices at the pump; it means everything that gets produced and transported—food, clothes, anything—costs more because it’s more expensive to move goods around.  Oil is used anytime products are made and shipped.  If suddenly I have to pay more to produce and ship my product, I have to raise my prices. No one lives in a bubble.

 

Then there’s taxes and regulations. If businesses have to pay more because of new taxes or strict regulations, they’re going to pass that cost on to us as consumers. It’s just how businesses stay afloat. Or they will invest more in their business and expand and providing more jobs.

 

So, the promise to stop price gouging might sound good on the surface, but it doesn’t really address the deeper issues driving high prices. It’s a self-serving political gesture.

 

Also, price gouging laws typically only apply in emergencies, like natural disasters, where there’s a sudden spike in prices for essential goods. But inflation and price increases across the board aren’t  a result of price gouging. They’re more often tied to other factors, like energy costs, supply chain problems, or government policies that impact production and labor costs.

Second, the government has limited power to control prices in a free market economy. For most goods, businesses set prices based on supply and demand. If supply is down and demand is up (for reasons beyond just greed), prices naturally increase. Government regulations on “gouging” don’t tackle the underlying issues, like production costs and supply chain constraints.

Focusing on price gouging is just a distraction from the real policy changes needed to lower prices.

 

High prices are often influenced by factors like energy policies, regulations, and government spending. Without addressing these, simply cracking down on "gouging" is more of a band-aid than a solution.

 

For most products, this natural competition keeps prices relatively in check. Stores, for example, are constantly trying to undercut each other on things like groceries, electronics, and clothes, which keeps prices lower for us.

 

In a free, competitive market, businesses know they can lose customers to lower-priced alternatives, so they’re motivated to keep prices fair. This setup prevents widespread price gouging and keeps it from being the big problem it’s sometimes made out to be.

 

So, unless there’s an emergency....like a hurricane or sudden supply chain crisis.....where demand skyrockets and supply is limited, "price gouging" doesn’t generally come into play on any large scale.

Bottomline: This will do virtually Nothing to help inflation.

 

Edited October 26 by Pjdriver

[trottigy]

As to higher prices ... We can also look around the world and see what is going on. If prices are rising everywhere around the globe, that would show the local administration isn't the primary cause, but if prices are dropping or lower in just the local country then that administration must be having an affect.

[Pjdriver]

26 minutes ago, trottigy said:

As to higher prices ... We can also look around the world and see what is going on. If prices are rising everywhere around the globe, that would show the local administration isn't the primary cause, but if prices are dropping or lower in just the local country then that administration must be having an affect.

 

May seem that way but the economies of the much of the world are interconnected. It’s called a "global economy” 

 

When actions taken in one country affect other nations,... in economic terms, it's called "economic spillover" or "externalities," depending on the specific situation. 

 

Actions like changing trade policies,  adjusting interest rates, or setting energy production levels in one country can absolutely impact other countries.

 

For instance, when the U.S. raises interest rates, it can cause capital outflows in developing nations, affecting their economies. In other words a lot of their money leaves the country.

 

When a country makes a decision—whether it’s a new law, regulation, or policy—the effects of that decision often don’t just stay within that country. Instead, these spill over to other countries, sometimes bringing costs or benefits to others without their direct involvement in the original decision.

 

Also, let’s say a country has strict environmental regulations, such as policies to reduce carbon emissions. By reducing its own emissions, that country not only helps improve its own environment but also benefits the global atmosphere by contributing less to climate change. These are positive spillover effects because other countries benefit from cleaner air and lower global emissions without having made the change themselves.

 

On the flip side, if a country increases pollution or loosens environmental protections, that pollution can travel across borders, affecting air, water, and ecosystems in other nations. Here, other countries bear some of the costs of this decision, such as dealing with acid rain or water pollution, even though they didn’t contribute directly to the problem. 

 

Global interdependence is real.... decisions in one nation often ripple across borders, impacting other countries in ways that can be difficult to control or predict.  A lot more could be said about that.  

 

Here’s what many environmentatist in the USA fail to realize:  

 

When Joe reduced oil production here to protect the environment, he was basically just moving the production.....along with the pollution......to another location. The demand for oil didn’t disappear; it simply shifted to countries with fewer environmental protections, often leading to higher overall emissions because those places may use less clean and efficient methods.

 

So, instead of solving the problem, it just outsourced it, sometimes even making it worse for the global environment.  

 

That whole thing with the environment has become a political issue. They often take a good idea....like protecting the environment...and turn it into a way to gain votes without actually solving the problem.

 

They make big promises that sound great in speeches, but the results often fall short. Policies end up being more about appearances than real solutions, and meanwhile, the core issues, like genuine conservation and practical energy solutions, get put on the back burner.

Edited October 26 by Pjdriver

[Hope]

3 hours ago, Pjdriver said:

 

The president can absolutely affect prices, and inflation is not because  merchants are randomly marking things up.

 

It’s primarily  about energy costs, for example. When a president makes it harder to drill or shuts down a pipeline, gas prices go up. That doesn’t just mean higher prices at the pump; it means everything that gets produced and transported—food, clothes, anything—costs more because it’s more expensive to move goods around.  Oil is used anytime products are made and shipped.  If suddenly I have to pay more to produce and ship my product, I have to raise my prices. No one lives in a bubble.

 

Then there’s taxes and regulations. If businesses have to pay more because of new taxes or strict regulations, they’re going to pass that cost on to us as consumers. It’s just how businesses stay afloat. Or they will invest more in their business and expand and providing more jobs.

 

So, the promise to stop price gouging might sound good on the surface, but it doesn’t really address the deeper issues driving high prices. It’s a self-serving political gesture.

 

Also, price gouging laws typically only apply in emergencies, like natural disasters, where there’s a sudden spike in prices for essential goods. But inflation and price increases across the board aren’t  a result of price gouging. They’re more often tied to other factors, like energy costs, supply chain problems, or government policies that impact production and labor costs.

Second, the government has limited power to control prices in a free market economy. For most goods, businesses set prices based on supply and demand. If supply is down and demand is up (for reasons beyond just greed), prices naturally increase. Government regulations on “gouging” don’t tackle the underlying issues, like production costs and supply chain constraints.

Focusing on price gouging is just a distraction from the real policy changes needed to lower prices.

 

High prices are often influenced by factors like energy policies, regulations, and government spending. Without addressing these, simply cracking down on "gouging" is more of a band-aid than a solution.

 

For most products, this natural competition keeps prices relatively in check. Stores, for example, are constantly trying to undercut each other on things like groceries, electronics, and clothes, which keeps prices lower for us.

 

In a free, competitive market, businesses know they can lose customers to lower-priced alternatives, so they’re motivated to keep prices fair. This setup prevents widespread price gouging and keeps it from being the big problem it’s sometimes made out to be.

 

So, unless there’s an emergency....like a hurricane or sudden supply chain crisis.....where demand skyrockets and supply is limited, "price gouging" doesn’t generally come into play on any large scale.

Bottomline: This will do virtually Nothing to help inflation.

 

I know about price gouging and how economics works. 🤨 I only mentioned it because that's a rare way that a president can personally affect the cost of living, and that only during emergencies. Nothing they say "sound good" to me.

 

My point is that it makes little difference who the American president is at any given time - ever. Inflation, etc will continue because this system is on a set track to chaos and destruction. Whomever is the "engineer" is still trying to drive a runaway train. Maybe a curve is less sharp, a decline less steep, the scenery a bit more attractive.. but the cliff is still out there. They're not really in control. Only Jehovah will save us. Not any puny human.

[Miss Bea]

Um, much ado about nothing. 
What do we need to serve Jehovah? To be alive, and functioning. 
That means beyond that, it’s irrelevant. Food prices, rent, gas prices, etc. we feed ourselves, our family, serve Jehovah. 
So, what ever it takes, at this point in history, to serve Jehovah, we do it. We just do it. Makes no difference to us who thinks they are in charge.

We know who’s in charge. Of this system, anyway. 
Live frugal. Simplify. Serve Jehovah with our best. 
The system is tied up with this election business

Not us.

The best is yet to come!

[Pjdriver]

6 hours ago, Hope said:

I know about price gouging and how economics works. 🤨 I only mentioned it because that's a rare way that a president can personally affect the cost of living, and that only during emergencies. Nothing they say "sound good" to me.

 

My point is that it makes little difference who the American president is at any given time - ever.

My point was just a reply to your statement that the 'President doesn’t affect inflation'. They can have a major impact on inflation. 

 

Nevertheless, at least we can agree  that  the system is eventually going to end,  along with man’s rule.  

 

 

[New World Explorer]

Focus brothers and sisters on Kingdom blessings! not on this corrupt, dying wicked system and it's "various elements" 

God's Kingdom will restore environment, it will educate us how to live in harmony with this beautiful planet ... 

There will be no more "petrol prices & inflation, high rent" discussions and all associated matters. 

This wicked system is indeed wicked, and no amount of discussions will change that. 

It will be removed and discarded forever with it's chief "Satan" and his human elements. 

Think about soon to be realized peaceful conditions that only Jehovah can bring. 

[Lee49]

24 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

There will be no more "petrol prices

Yeah, I don't mind walking, running, riding a horse or even a mule, so long as I don't have any pain in my knees or my artificial hips !  

 

[Shawnster]

I'm curious how this discussion relates to Bible research. 

 

Are we getting ? 

 

[Lee49]

1 hour ago, Shawnster said:

Are we getting ? 

Probably, 

 

 

[Tortuga]

1 hour ago, Shawnster said:

I'm curious how this discussion relates to Bible research. 

 

Are we getting ? 

Can you tell me what this is topic is about? I can't tell if it is off-topic or not...

[feebee]

1 hour ago, Tortuga said:

Can you tell me what this is topic is about? I can't tell if it is off-topic or not...

Politics 🙄

[Dustparticle]

4 hours ago, Shawnster said:

I'm curious how this discussion relates to Bible research. 

 

Are we getting ? 

 

 Off topic or not, I’m all for chocolate my brother.

[Tortuga]

17 minutes ago, Dustparticle said:

 Off topic or not, I’m all for chocolate my brother.

[Pjdriver]

The Topic seems to allow for a wide range of possible discussion regarding the near future. 

Our most important concern of course should be sticking with Jehovah and his organization. 

 

When we start discussing topics like this,....it is a slippery slope. 

[Qapla]

10 hours ago, feebee said:

Politics 🙄

 Poly-tics