Opus 2014-149: On the Street: What Price Socialism?

I am currently in Texas and one of the first things I notice is the price of gas.  In California, the last time I filled up at a discount station, regular was $3.95 a gallon.  Here we just filled up for $3.36.  We are talking around 60 cents a gallon cheaper.  Why?

Let’s start with taxes.  California charges through the nose.  Texas keeps it down.  Is there anything else to say?

Then we have regulations for saving the environment.  California has numerous regulations about additives that must be put in the fuel.  Each one causes the price to increase.  Since other states do not add these things it cuts down competition because their gas cannot be used in the Golden State.  California refineries are the only possible source.  Is that ka-ching the sound of the cash register?

Then we have another form of regulation in that California has not allowed a new refinery to be built in around 30 years.  Does lack of competition mean anything to you?  Have you ever heard of supply and demand?

California is a failed socialist state.  The governor is bragging about a balanced budget and how the economy is improving.  I am guessing that the balanced budget is based on overestimated increases in revenue because of tax increases and underestimated costs of programs.  The computer models are probably designed by the same people who preach global warming.  If you tweak the formula you put in the computer you can get the results you want.  The same goes for the economic recovery.  I am not seeing people find jobs.

Remember how Communist Russia claimed it was doing so well in the early years.  Remember how the useful idiots who visited from the West were willing to close their eyes and even outright lie about what was going on.  I think most of them are now working for the Government of California.  Socialism works, if you believe the socialists.  Socialism works if you don’t look at the facts.  If you need a loaf of bread or a TV that works you might have a different view of things.

homo unius libri