NBC Nightly News on Saturday (4/29/11) had a pretty standard report on the politics of gas prices: Republicans blame Obama, and some Democrats are talking up the idea of raising taxes on oil companies. “Democrats call the profits excessive, and portray Republicans as wedded to oil interests,” correspondent Mike Viqueira explained.
Then NBC introduced an expert, who had this somewhat curious take:
VIQUEIRA: With Congress returning Monday from a two-week break, experts say there is little that Washington can do to lower the short-term price per gallon. In the end, what may bring down the high prices of gas is the high price of gas itself.
AMY JAFFE (Baker Institute Energy Forum Director): Consumers don’t realize it, but we have a lot of power. When–last time when Americans stopped driving because they didn’t like the high price, that actually did bring down the price of oil over time. And we probably will see that again.
Oil companies? Come on, the people have the real power!
So what’s the Baker Energy Forum? That would James Baker’s institute at Rice University. And on the group’s advisory board:
Shell
Chevron
ConocoPhilips
ExxonMobil
EnergyFutures Holding Corporation
Marathon Oil Corporation
The “Patrons” list includes Hess and GenOn Energy. The “Members” list includes the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.
Next time NBC might want to mention who they’re using for expert analysis–or better yet, find someone else to talk to about gas prices.
Yes, corporations always act as if they are “powerless against market forces.” It’s absurd. There is nothing at all that prevents them from lowering the prices they charge.
On the other hand I’m not even in favor of that anyway, since we need to be moving away from oil, what we need are additional taxes on fossil fuels. What is interesting is that its very hard politically to tax fuels directly, but its much easier to tax the profits of oil companies, which is effectively the same thing, and they know this which is why they are doing whatever they have to wage a PR campaign against it.
Many people don’t understand that corporations (AKA evil organisations and bottomless source of money to tax collectors) don’t pay taxes, their customers do. (AKA consumers)
If I was forming an energy forum, who knows more about energy than the energy industry. Cynical people would choose who?? politicians for their forum. WOW
The energy industry acts in the interest of greater and greater profit, not in the interest of the consumer. Time and time again disasters that could have been prevented have proven the energy industry is too irresponsible and childishly greedy to “police” itself.
Oh please, ALL so-called “expert guests” are suspect as far as I’m concerned when it comes to Corporate Media. MSM gave up journalist integrity a long time ago. I watch the news for what happened yesterday and for the weather report. When they have their “experts” interpret stuff I play a little game of looking at their faces to see if the BS they are throwing ever makes them crack a smile or start laughing out loud at their own crap. Unfortunately their good hefty paychecks have kept that from happening. I would soooo love to see it though just once!!!
When I want a breakdown of the facts, from experts, I usually watch RT News, DW News, NHK, France 24, etc. In other words I find foreign news channels. They are approaching the story from their viewpoint, which is decidedly not American, Usually non biased, too. Then you get a good picture, not just corporate-sided. Still, it’s sad that our news stations are incapable of true reporting and research.
Funny everybody here blames the old favorite….the corporate boogie man!Well lets put blame aside and realize the only thing that will help.Short term …mid term….and long term.To quote a lovely lady; a strong conservative voice,from a fantastic state filled with rugged individuals…DRILL BABY DRILL!