Midwest Gasoline to Spike $0.50-$1.00 Per gallon

[jyoutz]

Yet it happens. Besides, the agenda is set by the exec. He or she proposes a budget. Especially when a friendly Congress is along for the ride, they get what they want.

The president proposes a budget. It works it’s way through congress and what is passed often has little resemblance to the president’s budget. But you are correct: when the House and Senate are the same party as the president, much of the president’s budget request ends up being funded. Executive orders however cannot allocate funds not appropriated by congress. The executive branch does prioritize programs, but are constrained by the agency missions and legislation enacted by congress. My agency operates under the National Forest Management Act of 1978, and no matter who is president, we are bound to operate under the Act. Each administration (I have been around since Reagan) prioritizes programs, but only within the constraints of the congressional legislation.

 

[Torvy]

Rather true on paper. Way too many examples in history of money intended for one thing going to something else.

You get things like this...l (hypothetical executive) have decided that "A" is a health crisis (even though no reasonable person would equate "A" and health care). Since this is an emergency, I am address "A" as I see fit using health care dollars.

Feel free to substitute for variables, including health..could be transportation or defense or whatever. By the time the courts can get involved, if they do, the crisis is 'over'.

This is a nearly universal truism of government. Fewer examples of executives who didn't spend out of bounds than those who stayed in the lines.

While it is true that the rules say one thing, reality has proven much different. Maybe the Foreat Service has not been a victim or a beneficiary of executive malfeasance, but departments with more hot-button issues have.

 

[rodneyn]

The president proposes a budget. It works it’s way through congress and what is passed often has little resemblance to the president’s budget. But you are correct: when the House and Senate are the same party as the president, much of the president’s budget request ends up being funded. Executive orders however cannot allocate funds not appropriated by congress. The executive branch does prioritize programs, but are constrained by the agency missions and legislation enacted by congress. My agency operates under the National Forest Management Act of 1978, and no matter who is president, we are bound to operate under the Act. Each administration (I have been around since Reagan) prioritizes programs, but only within the constraints of the congressional legislation.

We all need to put things in perspective we still have desirable society. Meaning we have 6000 immigrants per day pouring through the borders. They believe there is still hope seeking a better life and their next meal. We are all paying their way to better life via budget expenditures to support them. I believe Margret Thatcher put it into perspective “ it’s easy spending other fellas money until it’s gone” we all agree immigration provides positive growth to society but someone needs to manage the volume to assure we treat our visitors well and integrate them into our “sustainable society” what is happening now is not sustainable. Where have all the common sense people gone.

 

[jyoutz]

We all need to put things in perspective we still have desirable society. Meaning we have 6000 immigrants per day pouring through the borders. They believe there is still hope seeking a better life and their next meal. We are all paying their way to better life via budget expenditures to support them. I believe Margret Thatcher put it into perspective “ it’s easy spending other fellas money until it’s gone” we all agree immigration provides positive growth to society but someone needs to manage the volume to assure we treat our visitors well and integrate them into our “sustainable society” what is happening now is not sustainable. Where have all the common sense people gone.

Keep in mind, they come here because our employers hire them. Until we address this, nothing will change.

 

[jyoutz]

Rather true on paper. Way too many examples in history of money intended for one thing going to something else.

You get things like this...l (hypothetical executive) have decided that "A" is a health crisis (even though no reasonable person would equate "A" and health care). Since this is an emergency, I am address "A" as I see fit using health care dollars.

Feel free to substitute for variables, including health..could be transportation or defense or whatever. By the time the courts can get involved, if they do, the crisis is 'over'.

This is a nearly universal truism of government. Fewer examples of executives who didn't spend out of bounds than those who stayed in the lines.

While it is true that the rules say one thing, reality has proven much different. Maybe the Foreat Service has not been a victim or a beneficiary of executive malfeasance, but departments with more hot-button issues have.

You are suggesting misappropriation of funds by moving from a funded program to another. People are fired and prosecuted for these actions. But it does happen. And politically appointed cabinet secretaries do have a degree of discretion to interpret the legislative intent of some funds (while others are extremely specific as to purpose). What doesn’t happen is spending funds not appropriated by congress, because these funds are simply not available for obligation. And that topic is the original catalyst for this discussion. No president can spend any funds not appropriated by congress.

 

[Torvy]

Keep in mind, they come here because our employers hire them. Until we address this, nothing will change.

It is a much easier task to address the influx. Most of it comes along a long, but defined border and through ports. Once in the country you have a very large space to monitor.

I taught in a school with a large number of students who came here illegally or who's parents came here illegally. The vast majority of them work off-book for family members or friends in small (2-5 people) businesses getting paid cash. They have fake SSN that are all but impossible to detect. The coyotes sell them as part of the package. It only got worse when the irs decided all kids needed SSN to stop tax cheats (law of unintended consequences). Those kids SSN are used for years undetected.

Part of my banking job was managing a fraud/risk unit. We 'caught' these many times when those now adult kids tried to get credit and had horrible credit. The sad thing is that some of those illegals naively believe they were given legit papers. The ones that get caught are an entirely different class of illegal...those who come on student or other legal means and then don't return.

The press would have you believe most of these people are working in processing plants. That is because INS used to target those companies because they could make headlines...very convenient during those appropriations discussions. The thing is, despite 'big' numbers compared to the 2 or 3 at a time, those places are not where most of them work. In many (not all) of those big cases, the company was being duped. Don't confuse headlines with facts.

 

[sd455dan]

That is why China, Europe and most of North America are embracing renewables and EVs at breakneck speeds.

Some are okay with being held hostage by bad acting dictators when it comes to energy but I am not.

In 2019 when I read about EV adoption rates in Norway was eating Mercedes Benz lunch that removed all reasonable doubt the EV evolution was just a passing fad.

Within weeks I had spent $13,500 for a 2016 Nissan Leaf SL with 22K miles and a dying battery that still had about 60 miles of effective range instead of the new range.

Five weeks later it triggered the warranty for a new traction battery. Nissan installed a new 40 kWh battery that still gives 150 miles of range today.

If one can come up with a dependable EV they can be great for people on fixed incomes. Where gas $1 or $10 a gallon driving our cost is still about $0.03 per mile on local TVA.

If one is 72 and has a newer like vehicle that gets 10+ MPG keep driving it could be a good option. A new Tesla is going to cost around $40K today but in 5 years the $25K Tesla should be readily available option.

Personal note.
2018+ Nissan battery chemistry seems finally stable. 40 kWh and 62 kWh batteries are 2018 or newer. Leaf Spy is available ($20??) and downloadable for smart phones that will show battery health down to cell level in graphic format.

If buying new Tesla is the only one I would consider because technology wise currently they about 5 years ahead plus they are the lowest price. I have been driving Nissans for 50 years but they have dropped the ball when it come to EVs even with their newest one in my view. Because I need FSD that limits me to Tesla today. For bopping around town I prefer the Leaf. When I am out of pocket it's a wife's work car.

The 25% tariff on cars from China is limiting EV sales and hurting some people but right now union power is strong.

Used EVs like most used cars today are overpriced.

11 January 2023 my son spent 3 hours trying to get me to order a Model Y. 12 January 2023 Elon Musk cut my cost to get Model Y by $20,500.00 On Friday the 13th I thought the price cut was a sign to order. Since this was going to be my second new car 50 years after I got first new car I didn't want to order it on Friday the 13th.

I ordered it at 2am on the 14th and picked it up at 11 am in Nashville TN six days later on 20 January 2023. 12K miles later all is

Sooner or later most will drive an EV because it makes financial sense. Yes some will still be driving ICE 50 years from now.

Remember what the mind can conceive the hand can achieve.

Heck. I am surprised How much Tesla prices have dropped since we bought our Model Y's. With scale increases and more vertical integration every month at Tesla, my guess is they will continue to reduce prices except during initial releases of new models or refreshes.
I was thinking today how just waiting a mere six more months would have saved me over 4k on my car, but in retrospect, If I could go back and change the order I would not, have enjoyed the last 5k miles of owning and driving the MY That much.

Drove the TA and the M Y both today and everyone else around here much prefers seeing an old Muscle car on the road...
In 3 stops I had 4 admirers wanting to talk and that's not counting thumbs UP while driving. Priceless.

Tesla today -0-
but I enjoyed driving it.

The concerns difference in the two while in a store?
Theft of the muscle car,
Keying of the Tesla,
SMH.

 

[Hay Dude]

But a president worth a pile of rocks could use its influence to STOP runaway Spending.
And let’s cut the silly, naive thinking that a presidents economic agenda doesn’t set the tone for spending on mostly ridiculous boondoggles.
These presidents get themselves elected by promising to spend trillions on this or that. Now we are 33 trillion in debt with no chance.

You want to “build back better”?? Cut the wasteful spending and return to a fiscal responsibility.

 

[rodneyn]

But a president worth a pile of rocks could use its influence to STOP runaway Spending.
And let’s cut the silly, naive thinking that a presidents economic agenda sets the tone for spending on mostly ridiculous boondoggles.
These presidents get themselves elected by promising to spend trillions on this or that. Now we are 33 trillion in debt with no chance.

You want to “build back better”?? Cut the wasteful spending and return to a fiscal responsibility.

Well stated, seeing China dumping US dollars and purchasing gold like no tomorrow. Tells us that our spending days are numbered. Not to mention the BRICS group are trying destabilize the US dollar in lieu of different currency yet not seen but will emerge once the BRICS countries have sufficient gold reserves. Bottom line reality of spending without having funds to cover it is coming to an end. BRICS nations know we spend ourselves into oblivion they just have wait until we are completely insolvent. Entitlement people are going to come up short one of these days it will be wake up call the party is over.

 

[scootr]

Don't dismiss executive orders as precedential cost like build a wall or open a boarder. These things all cost $.