THIS IS TOTAL B.S.

[CajunMama]

If you own a company you expect to make a profit - correct? Why is it when major companies make a profit everyone complains. When they don't make a profit everyone complains. The object of a business is to make a profit.

As for those paying high prices in California, ya'll won't let them drill offshore.

[JQ Public]

Unbelievable it took more than twenty dollars to fill up our accord yesterday!!! Thats crazy...i rarely ever paid that much for gas...i haven't been driving much cuz of college, but now i have a car to drive and this gas stuff is gonna keep me in a lot more than out

[sunny shine]

If you own a company you expect to make a profit - correct? Why is it when major companies make a profit everyone complains. When they don't make a profit everyone complains. The object of a business is to make a profit.

As for those paying high prices in California, ya'll won't let them drill offshore.

But to make them billionaires? I do not think so. While we poor folk have to pay those high prices. If they are making profit then they should pass that on to the consumers. Because without us, they would be nothing.

[wannabehippie]

i know some have called for drilling in the artic national reserve. but there is a place that is far easier to access a large supply of oil and much quicker. In the gulf of mexico off the coast of florida, there is a large field that is undeveloped. This field can produce oil much quicker, easier and cheaper than the artic reserve. But this was nixed by GW Bush after his brother Jeb, complained that an accident could hurt the coast of florida.

Also for those calling for drilling in the artic reserve, if they were to start exploration today it would take about 7-10 years if not a few more to produce oil from that field. Additionally, due to darkness and cold, oil could only be drilled 6 months of the year.

So ask why arent we developing a field, that is easier to access and can be developed quicker?


peace
david

[CajunMama]

Those "billionaires" have worked their rear ends off for their companies. They went to school, began working, had a goal and worked for it.Why should they give you a hand out for all their hard work. Does Walmart pass on their profits to you? The government already gives out handouts. It's called welfare.

[Stormsfury]

Some of the smallest towns surprised me on my trip ...
Walterboro, SC had some gas prices at low as $1.51 a gallon!

Right now here, it just went back up to $1.60 a gallon/regular 87 unleaded.
Thank goodness, my miles per gallon is around 30 MPG.

The Western States cost of living so much higher, it's no surprise that EVERYTHING is higher, including salaries.

[sunny shine]

Those "billionaires" have worked their rear ends off for their companies. They went to school, began working, had a goal and worked for it.Why should they give you a hand out for all their hard work. Does Walmart pass on their profits to you? The government already gives out handouts. It's called welfare.

No they do not pass their "profits" on to the consumer. BUT, they should pass on lower prices. How can you compare the two. Walmart and the Greedy Oil Industry. There is no comparison. Walmart is KNOWN to help handicapped children, fund neighborhood programs etc. What does the oil industry EVER do for the people who help them continue to make their almighty dollar. And how can you even compare welfare to greedy oil companies? I do not get the connection.

[streetsoldier]

You guys are forgetting something which also feeds into the problem; under more "eco-friendly" Administrations, our ability to refine crude has been seriously disrupted by OSHA and other "alphabet" agencies...we have only 14 refineries in the U.S. still operating...imagine trying to pour a 55-gallon drum of crude sweet oil through a common little garage funnel, and you get the idea.

[JQ Public]

Well we don't have an eco-friendly administration now...i mean NJ's governor is now the head of the EPA.

[sunny shine]

You guys are forgetting something which also feeds into the problem; under more "eco-friendly" Administrations, our ability to refine crude has been seriously disrupted by OSHA and other "alphabet" agencies...we have only 14 refineries in the U.S. still operating...imagine trying to pour a 55-gallon drum of crude sweet oil through a common little garage funnel, and you get the idea.

Excellent point.

[wannabehippie]

snip<hose "billionaires" have worked their rear ends off for their companies. They went to school, began working, had a goal and worked for it.Why should they give you a hand out for all their hard work. Does Walmart pass on their profits to you? The government already gives out handouts. It's called welfare.>


actually from my investigations the government actually spends more on "corporate welfare" than to individuals.

the oil companies (and many other companies) do not pass on their profits to individuals or to common stockholders. instead they give the top management outrageous salaries/compensation. in the 12 months before it declared bankruptcy, Enron gave over $100 million in compensation to Ken Lay. if thats not outrageous i dont know what is.

and as far as the "alphabet agencies" that streetsolider referred to, i know you are in favor of a very limited government, but the reason most of those agencies were started in the first place is because of a lack of reasonable caring on the part of corporations. they did not care if workplaces were unsafe, put tons of pollutants into the atmosphere, etc. those things cost money, profits and compensation to the top management.

do those agencies at times go overboard, sure they do. but they serve a very important purpose. if they were to go away tomorrow, i honestly believe that most major corporations would quickly proceed to spew tons of more pollutants, workplaces would become unsafe. All for the sake of more profit which would go into the pockets of CEOs etc. and not because the did anything special to earn it, but simply because they increased profits at any cost, regardless of whom they hurt in the process.

peace
david

[wannabehippie]

snip <.we have only 14 refineries in the U.S. still operating...imagine trying to pour a 55-gallon drum of crude sweet oil through a common little garage funnel, and you get the idea.>

while we do need more future capacity for refineries, right now that is not an issue for the most part. its not like we have gas lines like back in the 70's during the arab oil embargo when supply was a major issue.

if current capacity was a major issue in the rise of gasoline and other refined oil products, we would be facing shortages, perhaps even rationing if it got to bad.
the current rise in prices is majorly the fault of the uncertainty of a war with Iraq, and the the problems in Venezuala.

the bottom line is we need to find other sources of energy. even if we opened up the artic reserve and drilled in new fields in the gulf of mexico and off the coast of california, the United States would still have to import oil.
the only way to solve this is to increase the development of alternate fuel sources. mainly solar, nuclear, wind and water.



peace
david

[mf_dolphin]

I don't think anyone has a problem with a company making a profit. The problem comes when a company makes unfair profit by taking advantage of a crisis. This is called price gouging. You watch, the oile companies will report huge profits this next quarter or two because they are taking advantage of the American public.

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

Which is worse, shaking hands with Saddam or being pictured in the Nuclear reactor your country sold to him???

The war is about oil. Who (nation - not person) controls it, controls wealth (national - not personal). This war is also about religion. Which must be funded. All wars are about national (more often than not - again tied to religion) interest and security.

W/O touching on the Israeli-Palestinian problem. (which has very little to do with OBL) bin Laden's primary goal is to remove the U.S. from the Middle East. That is the real reason behind the terrorism we (the world) are experiencing. OBL needs us out so he can go after Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and maybe Egypt. (he has Syria already) But first he needs the Philippines.

This is all done with money (read oil). Income producing assets are a necessity. War is expensive. Conquest even more so. And oil will be soon (20years) be worth less and less. The time is now for him.

On a personal note. OBL see's himself as the Caliph. An out of date term, but still very powerful.

So when you read "oil" think "national/religious wealth = national/religious power"! You'll sleep better.

[Stephanie]

Quote: "The war is about oil. Who (nation - not person) controls it, controls wealth (national - not personal). This war is also about religion. Which must be funded. All wars are about national (more often than not - again tied to religion) interest and security"

Careful Rob! you're starting to sound like one of those liberal "extremists" that is against the war!

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

Nah..I'm not a winger..I'm neutral...but I know when and where all this will end up eventually. Its reflected within our own economy and markets daily. I wish we'd get this party started and then things will get back to 'normal'.....whatever that may be.

[wannabehippie]

one addendum to robstormchashers post. back in 1982 israel flew over hostile territory and bombed a nuclear reactor that iraq was building with french help.

at the time the world (including the US) condemmed israel for their actions.

bet we are all glad (at least in the US) that they did it now


peace
david

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

France and, perhaps to a lesser degree Germany, are both sh*t-terrified of what might come out of a post-Saddam Baghdad. The flouting of sanctions and sales of military and other technology are pretty well known, but what political landmines will be set off by revelations of mutual back-scratching between Saddam and Chirac? Schroeder might dodge those explosions, but he'll still be tainted by association and will probably end up paying the ultimate political price. His "Red-Green" coalition has pretty much screwed the pooch on the German economy; even the appearance of a foreign policy SNAFU (or scandal) may well be enough to send him and his warmed-over Commie pals packing. Economies are wonderful things insofar as they do tend to right themselves in time, but they can and do tend to destroy politicians. Add impropriety and/or incompetence to the mix and a president or a chancellor may end up wishing he'd been a garbageman instead! lol

[Stormsfury]

France may not be too happy and holding a grudge that one of their embassies was "accidently" bombed when they didn't allow the U.S. to use their airspace during another conflict (might have been the Gulf War).
I don't exactly remember.

SF

[streetsoldier]

Whatever you may think about France...you're right.