Hey Freak!

I would think news like this would be covered by all the major networks and news agencies.

But, no. Sadly, no. Well, at least I haven't seen anything about it around.

Big Oil escapes windfall tax

The 51-43 Senate vote fell nine short of the 60 required to proceed to debate on the Democrat-sponsored energy measure, which would have erased $17 billion in tax breaks for oil companies over 10 years. It also would have created a levy on "unreasonable" profits collected by the five largest U.S. oil companies.

...

The bill would have used the revenue to create an Energy Independence and Security Trust Fund, charged with reducing U.S. dependence on foreign and "unsustainable" energy sources and reducing the risks of global warming.

The bill also would have instructed the Justice Department to pursue members of OPEC for alleged price fixing and required oil traders to put up more cash on futures exchanges to address speculation, which many observers believe is contributing to the unprecedented run-up in world crude oil prices.

Let's see... a tax on the oil companies' record profits, to be used to create a fund for reducing US dependence on oil. And a bonus - it was designed to outlaw price gouging. Oh yeah, that's gotta be bad for America. HORRIBLE for America. We don't need to tax oil companies. We don't need to guard against price gouging. And most of all, we don't need alternate, renewable energy sources. We'd rather just drill in ANWAR.

Sheesh.

Don't give me this shit about "Oh, well, oil companies will just pass the cost on to us" or "Oil companies don't set the price - that's dependent on OPEC and other factors" or "You can't blame oil companies for raising prices because some refinery was shut down blah blah blah." No. I'm not buying that. Why? Because these motherfuckers have had record profits for years now. Record fucking profits. You can throw any excuse at me that you want (for the high gas prices NOT being the fault of oil companies), but you'll never be able to explain the record profits being enjoyed by these companies.

So. My question is... why isn't this news? Why haven't I seen anything about this on any of the major networks? This story is a few days old. I've seen a hundred stories in the last week about high/rising gas prices (the avg. price in San Diego is now over $4.50/gallon), why not a story about how Republicans are protecting the profits for oil companies?

And... speaking of news that pisses me off (but is not week-old news like the last article - this story at least broke today)...

R. Kelly found... not guilty? Really? There's video of him pissing on a 14 year old girl and then fucking her... and he's not guilty?

"After the verdict, one of his attorneys, Sam Adam Jr., described his client as deeply religious."

Oh, duh! That's right! Because nobody who's "deeply religious" has ever committed a crime. It must have been one of those atheist R. Kelly impersonators who was the perpetrator. You can never trust atheists; we all know that only religious people are the ones with morals.

Note: I'm not ripping on religious people. I'm just absolutely sick of the notion that someone's religious standing (or perceived religious standing) has anything to do with the possibility of them committing a crime. Just because someone's "deeply religious" doesn't mean that they don't commit crimes. Also, just because someone doesn't believe in God doesn't automatically make them some heinous sinner. I've known religious people, both good and bad. I've known atheists, both good and bad. Conclusion: people in general are good and bad, regardless of a belief in God.

Of course, that's just my opinion. And I'm a "heinous sinner."

But then again, I've never pissed on, then fucked a 14 year old girl, either.

You'll be pleased to know that the R. Kelly thing was breaking news today. The vote in the Senate where the Republicans issued a fuck you to the American people and a swallowing blowjob to the energy companies? Not so much as a peep.

That is the one thing that has been sticking in my mind too - record profits and I believe something about really high bonuses to executives? Oh how hard it must be to live on that $50 million f'ing bonus. Give me a million and I would be set for life. Bastards.

I get so depressed because every morning for two weeks when my radio alarm goes off, I am greeted by the news telling me how many more cents a gallon gas has gone up over night. I'm so SICK of it.

Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

First, let me start by saying I don't think the oil companies are right and/or blameless. What I am saying is that I cannot tell from the News Reports I've seen.

Record Profits does sound like someone is robbing us...but... If, for instance, oil companies are making profits that are only 25% of the profits made on their investment as compared to all other US companies, and then their profit jumps to 35% of what other companies are making, then you can report that oil companies are making Record Profits even though the profits are still way below what is generally made.

The only "fact" I have is a statement by an oil industry spokesman...big shot at Exxon I think it was...stating that Exxon's profit margin (profit compared to investment) was 10% which was midrange for Fortune 500 companies.

I also heard a statement by the Madman Stock adviser (can't remember his name..but he is a very forceful voice on investing) saying that in the world market we should be paying $5 plus for a gallon. Hinted reason was that our oil companies are more efficient at delivering oil to us than other places...mainly because our demand of 2 to 3 times anyone else has "honed" the delivery process.

Now, I don't know if any of this is true...but then I don't know if it is false either. What I do know is that from what hits the TV screen, no one can know what is true.

What else I do know is that folks probably won't keep money in an investment if they can make more elsewhere. Would you keep your money in an investment that was making you 4% a year if you knew of an investment with the same or less risk that would make you 8%? Probably not.

Also, even if you don't want to hear that taxes are passed on to consumers, they are. Who else pays the expenses a company incurs to provide their product but those who buy the product??

I guess you can insist they reduce their profits..but if you answered the question about investments truthfully, you will know that they then risk losing investors.

Because of my political beliefs, I do not want the government telling me how much I can be paid or how much my business can make and how profitable my business can be (I am not a business owner, just an employee) and, because I'm not a hypocrite, I don't want the government doing that to anyone, even oil companies and their high paid execs.

Since we strive for a Completive Free Market economy (or we should) government oversight to prevent monopolies and price fixing should be done. Unfortunately, these would have to be proven to take action against violators.

All that can be done to lower gas prices in the US would be to lower our demand and/or increase our production. The higher prices go, the more incentive we have to reduce usage.

As far as production goes, we would need to allow drilling in ecologically sensitive areas.

Of course any adjustments to oil supply and demand problems are focused on the short solution since oil is a dwindling resource. But them our current gas prices are screaming for a short term, if not immediate, solution.

Long term solution is to find an alternate energy source but that should be another post where I talk to much again...

Sorry

He didn't have Judge Ito by any chance, did he?
It's amazing how many people "find God" once they are arrested. And lets not even begin about the "deeply religious" priests, 'k?

The news makes me so angry these days I can hardly watch it. But I do. It is not at all about keeping us informed, it is about making money. We really have to dig a bit deeper to get information that matters.

As for the religous=moral thing, you have just pushed one of my major buttons. Everyone acts so amazed when one of ths so called "Good" people screws up. Living in Houston, I can't believe how many people "assume" how and what I believe. We are getting ready to do some volunteer work with the girls, and my main requirement is that it be "non religion" related. THey go to church with their mom, and I want them to know that us heathens can be good people too.

(Glad you are back)

I must say, the news of the bill not passing doesn't surprise me. Oil companies have deep pockets, and politicians of all stripes are money whores. It's that simple.

As for R. Kelly, holy shit, I just don't know what to say about that. You're right; they have fucking VIDEO of it and he got off. Man, it must be good to have money.

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