P.S. Correction: "inefficiencies" should be efficiency...

Yes 89 to 94 mb/d over that period (considering the supposed expansion of markets world wide), does seem rather small. Though some of it could be accounted for in greater inefficiencies... Still, it does not reflect what one would expect when we are being told we are on the road to recovery.

You know if you look at that chart in three years the maximum change is from 89 to 94 in about three years, that is almost nothing. I think it is a good indicator of the how little growth there has been in the world economy.

Yes, I noted that too. It would seem to indicate that while demand is still growing the downturn in the world economy has decreased the rate at which increasing demand was expected.
Sort of like government decreasing spending... they call reducing the increase... a reduction.

Based on the chart in this article https://www.iea.org/oilmarketreport/omrp..... it looks like demand is steadily growing, so it must be more about supply than demand.

Yes. I am in Mi. The snow is flying...
Supply and demand work on the labor market. If cheap labor was not being imported and exploited, the price system would naturally work and prices for those goods would have to rise in order to pay higher wages and attract American workers. I have heard estimates that the average weekly increase on your grocery bill would probably only amount to about $10, though this estimate is a few years old. The spin-off benefits to the economy and the reduced unemployment of citizens would likely outweigh the increased costs. Also if the costs were still too high, more automation would probably be brought to bear (think cotton Gin) in order to meet the demand and cost constraints.
Also, much money would stop leaving the country since foreign nationals send much home.
This would provide starter, unskilled labor jobs for many of the unemployed if it only paid more than welfare. I don't believe that Americans are unwilling to work these jobs unless the pay is too low and the government check is more.

Do these help?

http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist...

https://www.iea.org/oilmarketreport/omrp...

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dc2683b4-7bd6-...

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/colu...

I believe worldwide demand is up, not down. The US does not drive worldwide prices.

One rumor-monger told me that a phone call from O to the Saudis encouraged the Saudis to keep their production up in order to screw over Putin's economy. Go figure. Try to prove it. :)

How do you compromise with a thief who arrives at your house with a gun? He wants what you have and you are supposed to negotiate as to HOW MUCH of it you give him? I say the Republicans should stand firm and give Obama nothing.

Sounds like you are not from the sunbelt states... (the snowplow comment). Unfortunately, here, we have to contend with the vast illegal immigration problem, that unless people are willing to work for sub-minimum wage - while the jobs are there, the people that don't have their family stuffed in a hovel in Mexico for 500 pesos a month just can't compete in the reverse-labor auction and forces people up-market.

Agree in principle. Way, way back when I attended a CC for a semester (to pick up some "basic" course credits before heading off to 4 year), it was "community supported" but still had a very reasonable "fee per credit taken" b/c
"something for nothing" (after high school) was anathema to the culture of that time..........and, I believe it still should be.................

I believe the government inflates the necessity of higher education for many. It is just another way to make more people indebted to the government. Trade schools and apprenticeships should be more prevalent. My roofer, lawn maintenance man, snow plow guy, painter... etc., have no need for more than a high school diploma. I train people with nothing more all the time for high tech jobs through apprenticeship on the job training programs. No government required.

Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. its just not very hard to go to school either, I don't think the $30 / credit is a barrier to entry for anyone. If you can fog a mirror you can get a student loan, I don't even think being a member of the human species is necessarily required.

One thing is absolutely for sure, I'm always willing to cover the nut in taxes (and I do pay a lot in taxes) to help people get an education and get off the dole, rather than keep paying the welfare tab. I just want to see measurement & results, not stupid do-nothing classes and do-nothing skills that don't result in a job.

These are usually vocational/technical training that while being good jobs compared to minimum wage & entry level, usually don't pay a huge salary/wage after graduation - maybe $20 / hour, $25 / hour, etc. Not worth it if you have a ton of student loans, but if keeping affordable / nearly free / free, its a good avenue to lift people out of poverty to be sure and more doable for someone with a family or something than a 4 year fulltime engagement is.

Seems like they usually are, unfortunately with ObamaCare, the feds did a complete takeover of financial aid, so any college with student loans has the feds involved as well as GI Bill & Pell grants.

Most of the money seems to come from state level grants though in California, I can't speak to other states (but we spend $50 billion on K-12 and another $10 billion on higher ed - but that's probably 10 times what most states spend).

Hello dbhalling,
Yes, the good old days... Strange how many speak of "the good old days" and suggest that they were "really no different ... that it is just nostalgia." B.S. We have been lucky to have lived in a nation that did have more freedom and liberty.
One day, if I live long enough, I hope to see it again, but alas it will probably never be the same. It may however be better...
There is hope. They cannot take that away.
Regards,
O.A.

Hello samrigel,
Me too. :)
You are welcome.
O.A.

OA I will op for the Stossel SOTU...........thanks!

Hi Norman, do you have a link for the lack of demand or decrease in demand for oil and natural gas? I have thought this was the case, but I have no hard facts.

Wow, there is no way I could watch it. The last state of the Union Address that was any good was Ronald Reagan's one on Federalism.

Hello scojohnson,
I would have less objection if the local "Community" paid for it. It is after all a "community" college. The Feds should not be involved.
IMHO.
Regards,
O.A.

Hello again Aliona,
When replying to a specific comment use the "reply" button directly beneath it. We will find it much easier to maintain the continuity of the conversation.
This site has a lot of functionality. Stick with it; you will be fine.
Regards,
O.A.

I'm not in favor of free college... don't attack me.

However, at like $30 / credit or whatever we charge for it here in California... and the relatively small size of the student population and small class loads of each student (1/4 time, 1/2 time, etc.)... its entirely possible that the overhead of figuring out grant awards, scholarships, student loan applications & disbursements, reporting on progress to those programs, etc... may very well cost the state/college more in net than it ever gets from actually collecting the tuition.. Especially since the vast majority of students qualify for Pell (Federal) & CalGrants (here). If you look at how much actually comes out of our pocket, and the fact that its pretty much continued learning for high school grads that want to achieve but went to a sucky high school and just can't keep up in a 4 year college yet... I'm not really opposed to the concept. I don't think it would really cost us anything, and may even save money.

4 year college is definitely something that needs to be paid for.

My suggestion though is that it simply not include "art", underwater basket weaving, environmental studies, non-teaching history, etc.. have it coupled with a follow-on career. The Caterpillar ThinkBIG program is an excellent example. The student pays for tuition, but its 50% in-class, and 50% paid internship @ $13.00 hour at the local Caterpillar dealership as a diesel service tech. They go to school for 8 weeks at a time, then work for 8 weeks and apply what they learned, over 2 years, and its 100% placement starting at around $70,000 a year. Obviously, the tax revenue comes back in about a year from that investment...

If they are talking about publicly funding the non-paid part of technical programs like that to put people into jobs and get them earning... I'm completely fine with it. Unfortunately, it won't, it will include all the bullsh!t that will lead to perpetual food stamp & welfare recipients.

My son presently goes to Butte College - (Aaron Rodgers alma mater)... and its really easier for me to just pay the bill every semester than to mess with anything else.. it's like $650 for tuition & fees and maybe $150 for books (per semester) if we leverage Kindle rentals when available. If we're talking $800... when most of his classmates are already getting $3000 (per semester) in grants.. who cares?

If anything, this helps the "producers" because those of us that blow through the upward income limits for grant applications, the kids just kind of suffer. He has acquaintances that are welfare babies and easily rake in enough on benefits & grants to cover tuition & living expenses without having to work, get crappy grades, and will never owe a penny back to taxpayers... while his friends and roommates have to work, borrow from parents, take out student loans, etc.. In our case, at 10% for student loan private interest, versus just giving him the money... I'm happy to just pay his bill as long as he keeps himself employed somewhat and keeps his grades up.

Unfortunately you may be right. True conservatives are rare.