Gas Price Ripoff.... Ike Hasn't hit yet

[71chally416]

When Dick Cheney was the secretary of Defense for the elder Bush he was a pretty popular guy, especially after the Gulf war when Bush's approval rating was like 90%. I guess sometime after his 52nd birthday (and his third heart attack) he turned into Dr Evil? He worked for Halliburton, yes, but he also gave up 8 Million in stock options from them to serve as VP. I don't really think he needs more money cause he'll never outlive what he had when he took the job. He's just been demonized the same way Gingrich was, one of the smartest people ever to serve in the Senate. That's what the liberal press and the Democrats do to effective Republicans.

[LAA66]

 Another opinion, I think the powers in control would like us to not use as much energy as we do. Bush made that clear (to me) in a speech back when prices were way up. Can't recall exactly but he said something like "Hey look, at least we aren't driving as much now."

 Using oil causes pollution to a certain extent and it also sends our dollars overseas to many unfriendly countries. Last week OPEC tried to Cut crude production by 500,000 barrels a day to bolster falling prices. Saudi Arabia said NO, "We will provide our customers with the energy they need". We are dependent on foreign oil period. Luckily an Allie which we fought for, stood their ground.    
 

[Goehner]

By the way, I love this discussion almost as much as the Sarah Palin thread that somebody thought was driving a wedge between us Mopar people. So we better be careful and make sure we don't talk about politics here, don't want to get banned for speaking my mind.   

I am not sure if there was really a surplus when Clinton left office, but he was President during one of the most crazy business expansions ever, the internet age and the dot.com boom. Was it his policies? I don't think so because taxes were pretty high at the time. I just happened on his watch.

When Bush took over, the dot.com bubble busted, we had the worst terrorist attack on American soil ever, we are at war, the housing bubble burst, now banks that had a hand in it are going boobs up. Was this because of Bush policies? I don't think so.

History has shown that tax cuts increase taxable income, that is a fact. Tax increase's slow growth and penalize making money. I am not rich, I am for sure middle class. But why should someone making 80,000/ year pay a higher percentage of taxes than someone making 40,000/year? I have worked hard to get 3 college degrees on the wall, still paying off student loans, I want as much of my hard earned money to stay with my family who supports me and my hard work.

As far as oil, the big oil companies spend billions searching for oil and sometimes do not find it. Who pays for that? The shareholders of that company. And it is also a fact that as a percentage of market cap, oil companies make less than other industries. Walmart, GE and other companies make a higher return than oil companies. Yes it is Billions, but they are spending a heck of a lot more money to find and refine oil than your hometown Walmart is in finding the cheapest products in the cheapest countries and bring them to you so they can make money.

Yes I am Republican, the main reason is because Republicans are supposed to be the ones that cut spending in Govt and cut taxes so we are rewarded for hard work. The last 8 years, Bush should have gotten the veto pen out way more to stop the crazy govt waste and spending. I believe that McCain and Palin are the ones for this job.
 

[71chally416]

I have to admit I feel a little bit of anger when I see a giant SUV speeding down the interstate doing 80mph with one passenger. If you have a 12mpg daily driver that's not needed on your job you're part of the problem. You're using the fuel of two people.

I don't think we need more government and higher taxes now. We need to cut the waste out of government and produce our own energy, whatever it is. If somebody can figure out how to make a wind propellor work on a car, go for it. I think with all the corporate layoffs a like amount of goverment layoffs would be in order. Maybe half of the IRS would be a good start.... 

[acgwinn]

There are many things we can do to cut down on the power we use.  I'm not opposed to putting a windmill in my backyard, or using solar panels.  The problem is (not necessarily in my case) you have to many idiots that want to complain about someone putting a windmill in their back yard because it obstructs" their view of scenery.  There are plenty of incentives the government could do to make it rewarding for people to do these things, but they choose to waste tax money on wasteful projects.  Our economy is crumbling everyday and we are in a war that we are wasting billions of dollars on that has nothing to do with the terrorists attack on 9/11.  I think it is pretty ridiculous that i have to shut down half of my house this winter to help save on heating fuel.  I have a small two bedroom cape with a refinished attic, so it's not like i have a huge house to heat.  I try not to feel bad for myself and my family, because we'll sacrifice to make ends meet, but i sure do feel bad for the elderly whom are living on fixed incomes.  What are they supposed to do?  Damian.

[MJS73]

I take it your a Republican, correct?

No, I'm an Independent.  And as an independent I don't believe in labeling others or engaging in stereotypes.

It did happen.

No, it didn't.  Show me a federal budget from 1993-2001 in which spending was less than income.  That's the definition of a surplus.  Good luck finding it, it didn't happen.

As for the war, it was said from the very beginning that Iraq's sale of oil after we were in there would be used to pay for and REBUILD there cities.

Use proceeds from the sale of their oil to rebuild their cities?  What a scandalous idea!

Is it coincedence the Haliburton (Mr. Cheneys company) is raking in billions of dollars rebuilding over there?  I think not.

First, Mr. Cheney is not employed by Halliburton.  Second, are you not aware that Halliburton is one of a very few companies that are large enough and equipped enough to handle projects of this scale?  You are probably also not aware that Halliburton has made billions of dollars doing the same type of work under every president going back to John Kennedy.  Perhaps they are also parts of this great conspiracy.

Oil=Money=Greed=Evil

Agreed.  And classic Mopars (an the new Challenger) are also evil, because people are getting ripped off buying them, too.

I have to admit I feel a little bit of anger when I see a giant SUV speeding down the interstate doing 80mph with one passenger. If you have a 12mpg daily driver that's not needed on your job you're part of the problem. You're using the fuel of two people.

What angers me is living in a country where self-proclaimed free people try to dictate how others should live their lives.  As you get angry watching that SUV go by there's a guy in a Prius getting angry that you're driving sn old gas guzzler.  Can I assume that you're willing to open yourself up to public scrutiny of how you live your life?

Mike

[71chally416]

I don't drive a "gas guzzler" on a daily basis. And even if I could afford a new car it sure wouldn't be foreign. People who buy those are part of a whole different problem we have that's crippling our economy that I don't want to get into.

To get back on topic....

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/04/27/kennedy_faces_fight_on_cape_wind/

"Not in my backyard".  Not only that, he also tells the people in Alaska who overwhelmingly think we should drill in Anwar that they can't.  So no windmills where there is abundant wind, and no drilling where there is lots of oil. Just more gridlock and blaming Bush for everything to get their candidate elected so we can get more of the same. The solution to the problem is obvious. Vote the hypocrits out of Congress. The ones that are costing you $$$ every time you buy gas. We need real change.

[Bullitt-]

 The solution to the problem is obvious. Vote the hypocrits out of Congress. The ones that are costing you $$$ every time you buy gas. We need real change.

Here Here 71chally has hit the nail on the head, problem is that an incumbent senator or congressmen is almost impossible to defeat as the political machine of their party will spend anything to keep them there....Soltion?...Term limits of like 2 for senators & 4 for congress....will that ever happen?.... who do you think would have to pass the law.. Our founding Fathers, as I understand, never envisioned carrier polititicans.......Time we revolt.

[71chally416]

The latest polls>

Which of the following plans of action do you MOST support to lower energy prices for U.S. consumers?

[MJS73]

I don't drive a "gas guzzler" on a daily basis.

You get my point.  But we agree on the other.

Term limits might only exacerbate the problem.  Less time to cash in, so cram it in.

Mike