Nationalize?

I just can't believe these numbers are accurate. 16% of Republicans are for nationalization? I have to guess this is a knee jerk reaction toward current prices, but it does tend to show how little we base our decisions on principal in this country.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/pub...ess/just_47_oppose_nationalizing_oil_industry

That is disturbing, but I agree with your conclusion, republicans are unprincipled. Good post

The government needs to focus on the items already on its plate before they branch out further!

Can't begin to imagine the cluster that would be!!!

That is disturbing, but I agree with your conclusion, republicans are unprincipled. Good post

that was a cheap shot, nicely deliverd! :funn:

Just goes to prove that people will buy the rope that will be used to hang them........

but it does tend to show how little we base our decisions on principal in this country.

Actually, it seems most of our decisions are based on principal, and few, if any, are based on principle.

Actually, it seems most of our decisions are based on principal, and few, if any, are based on principle.

Much appreciated. For patching up my laziness I've become way too dependent on spell checkers these days.

(did I spell all that right? )

Much appreciated. For patching up my laziness I've become way too dependent on spell checkers these days.

I don't think it was laziness. More likely a freudian slip. ;-) You inadvertently hit the nail on the head.

No respectable Republican would be in favor of a knee jerk reaction to anything, not even 16% of them to nationalize the U.S.Oil Industry....that is just waaaaayyyy to Democratic an approach to things IMO.

Not only are they big gov't. spenders now, but apparently they will also say and do anything to get elected.

For a preview of nationilzed oil, one need only to consider Amtrak. Amtrak manages to lose over a billion dollars per year and has to be rescued by Congress each year. I just checked the round trip fare from Atlanta to DC two months out. $250. You can fly for less than that.

If the government ran oil, it would be ten dollars per gallon, we would be in constant short supply and Congress would have to subsidize it. On the plus side, it would effectively end talk of a windfall profits tax.

For a preview of nationilzed oil, one need only to consider Amtrak. Amtrak manages to lose over a billion dollars per year and has to be rescued by Congress each year. I just checked the round trip fare from Atlanta to DC two months out. $250. You can fly for less than that.

If the government ran oil, it would be ten dollars per gallon, we would be in constant short supply and Congress would have to subsidize it. On the plus side, it would effectively end talk of a windfall profits tax.

Actually we are about to get Amtrak service again.

http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/19787504.html

Also public transportation as a whole is at its' highest point in 50 years. Please don't make the argument that government ran public transportation into the ground as that was a concerted effort by tire, oil, and car companies.

Actually we are about to get Amtrak service again.

http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/19787504.html

Also public transportation as a whole is at its' highest point in 50 years. Please don't make the argument that government ran public transportation into the ground as that was a concerted effort by tire, oil, and car companies.

What do you mean that public transportation is at its highest point?

Do you have a souce for this statement?

I never made the argument that the government ran public transportation into the ground; I simply said that the government operates Amtrak in such a way that taking the train costs more than flying and that Amtrak runs a billion dollar deficit each year which taxpyers pay.

Then there is MARTA here in Atlanta. It was conceived and built as a hub-and-spoke from the CBD to a few suburbs when in fact, 83% of commutes in the Atlanta MSA are from suburb to suburb. And people wonder why MARTA loses almost $400 million annually.

For a preview of nationilzed oil, one need only to consider Amtrak. Amtrak manages to lose over a billion dollars per year and has to be rescued by Congress each year. I just checked the round trip fare from Atlanta to DC two months out. $250. You can fly for less than that.

If the government ran oil, it would be ten dollars per gallon, we would be in constant short supply and Congress would have to subsidize it. On the plus side, it would effectively end talk of a windfall profits tax.

Agree with you there traderx - Amtrack needs to be privatized. It's a mess.

What do you mean that public transportation is at its highest point?

Do you have a souce for this statement?

I never made the argument that the government ran public transportation into the ground; I simply said that the government operates Amtrak in such a way that taking the train costs more than flying and that Amtrak runs a billion dollar deficit each year which taxpyers pay.

Then there is MARTA here in Atlanta. It was conceived and built as a hub-and-spoke from the CBD to a few suburbs when in fact, 83% of commutes in the Atlanta MSA are from suburb to suburb. And people wonder why MARTA loses almost $400 million annually.

Source:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/03/us-use-of-publi.html
Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years, representing a 2.1% increase over the previous year, according to data released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

Having said that I should have probably clarified that you live in Atlanta, according to your profile. Having said that you live in a HUB city. No one flying from PFN or VPS, our closest airports, could get a flight that cheap. Flights from major city to major city are generally cheap, but from the sticks to anywhere else are going to cost and only recently were cheaper than driving in a lot of cases. Let's see what oil prices do and see how cheap air travel remains.

P.S. I hope you weren't planning on wearing more than the clothes on your back to DC. ;-)

Ridership on mass transit may be up 10% in Atlanta but MARTA still runs a huge deficit. Revenue from fares totals approx. $100 million while expenses run half a billion. The deficit is funded by a special MARTA sales tax, the federal government and other revenues. Amtrak runs a deficit and must be subsidized by taxpayers. When mass transit can operate at a profit or at least break-even, then we can call it a success notwithstanding the number of riders.

I assume that other mass transit systems don't run major deficits - Chicago, East Coast etc. Am I wrong?

If I'm not, what do they do differently?

Ridership on mass transit may be up 10% in Atlanta but MARTA still runs a huge deficit. Revenue from fares totals approx. $100 million while expenses run half a billion. The deficit is funded by a special MARTA sales tax, the federal government and other revenues. Amtrak runs a deficit and must be subsidized by taxpayers. When mass transit can operate at a profit or at least break-even, then we can call it a success notwithstanding the number of riders.

Yes, they all have deficits, but as oil prices rise those deficits are shrinking.

I just can't believe these numbers are accurate. 16% of Republicans are for nationalization? I have to guess this is a knee jerk reaction toward current prices, but it does tend to show how little we base our decisions on principle in this country.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/pub...ess/just_47_oppose_nationalizing_oil_industry

That is disturbing, but I agree with your conclusion, republicans are unprincipled. Good post

Yes. Thank you for posting the results of a telephone poll. I'm sure that the folks who were home watching Springer when they got the call represent me perfectly.

And thanks for the generalization about republicans. I'm sure that's completely accurate, too. :roll:

I assume that other mass transit systems don't run major deficits - Chicago, East Coast etc. Am I wrong?

If I'm not, what do they do differently?

"Let me tell you a story 'bout a man named Charlie....."

You know, I had the same hunch when I thought about it. Atlanta is so different compared to Chicago, NYC, Boston, etc. We don't have a thriving downtown and the vast majority of the Atlanta MSA commutes are from suburb to suburb, not suburb to CBD. The MARTA CBD and spoke system was instigated by the City of Atlanta in concert with Federal officials to address the shrinking importance of Atlanta as a commute to site. Today, Atlanta represents nine percent of the Atlanta MSA population and the largest office submarket is not downtown, it is north central. Next is northwest and the northern suburbs are quickly catching and will overcome downtown Atlanta as an office market and an employment base. People want to live closer to their jobs. No surprise there.

But, I digress. To answer your question, yes, all of the major mass transits lose money, at least the ones I have bothered to check including Chicago, Boston and NYC. Government cannot be trusted or expected to run a business properly.

More calls from the Democrats to nationalize -

http://themoderatevoice.com/science/energy/oil/20493/the-obligatory-socialized-oil-column/

The video is, without a doubt, jaw dropping. Over on HuffPo, more calls for nationalized oil yesterday -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/raymond-j-learsy/president-bush-call-for-o_b_107831.html

How in the world would they even BEGIN to nationalize?

Talk about a stupid idea and waste of time!

Well they couldn't seize existing assets without paying for them thanks to the 5th amendment, and I imagine refineries are fairly expensive. So I doubt we will see existing infrastructure being taken over. But congress could pass a bill funding the development of new assets.

But congress could pass a bill funding the development of new assets.

Not if they want to get reelected!! :angry:

It would be the end of America.

Not if they want to get reelected!! :angry:

Lets see if you still feel this way after another 6 months of $4 gas. This is the issue that's going to bite the dem's in the arse. They just don't understand that yet.

Lets see if you still feel this way after another 6 months of $4 gas. This is the issue that's going to bite the dem's in the arse. They just don't understand that yet.

Is that because they don't just confuse the masses with a repeal of gas taxes or some other short sighted (drilling in the Gulf ANWAR IMO) savings. Maybe dangle a terrorist out there to get the fear vote?