its not a demand issue, its an expense issue. perhaps your wyoming plant would have hired 2 employess to help out on some project but with the added regs and cost of compliance they say screw it, current employees need to work harder because we need to hire a lawyer to figure all this shit out.
Despite the new regulations, we're sitting on more cash than we ever had. But let's suppose that my customers start buying more. They can come to me, or they can go to a competitor. Should I turn them away, turn down the sale, because of "all these regulations"?
its a cycle though (delicate balance actually), no jobs, less demand, less demand, even fewer jobs, added burden of regs, less jobs, less demand... spiral down....... game over.
Marginally, yes. Would you buy more natural gas if it were a penny cheaper by the MMBtu? To a certain extent, probably. But at the end of the day, all business is dependent directly or indirectly on the end consumer, who is broke. Pushing more product, pushing cheaper product (which is being done, by the way) at them is not going to fix the problem. They're too big a slice of the economy.
Obama panic time! Obama halts controversial EPA regulation WASHINGTON (AP) â President Barack Obama is directing his administration to withdraw a controversial proposed regulation updating government smog standards. The withdrawal comes two days after the White House identified seven proposed regulations that would cost the economy at least $1 billion each. The proposed updated smog standard was estimated to cost anywhere between $19 billion and $90 billion, depending on how strict the standard would be. In a statement, Obama says he made his decision in part because it is important to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses as the economy recovers. He says he is still committed to protecting public health and the environment.
This is just sad. I'm hoping "Fast And Furious" will turn out to be Obama's "Watergate". If we can get him out of the White House Biden will be inept and won't do more damage. Obama has more damage planned for the economy if he stays for another 18 months.
Regulations add cost all along the supply line. If you limit carbon emissions then it adds cost to every segment of transportation. If you raise minimum wage it adds cost to all products that are used by business, from office paper to shipping supplies. All these little expenses get multiplied when margins are marked up and finally the consumer has to pay for all the costs. It really adds up..
Same story, different president. The regulations need to be eased, so that business can (presumably) lower its prices to consumers, but he's "still committed to protecting public health and the environment". Look, if you're committed, how exactly are you going to actually DO protection??