Hilariously on target
Too bad it's so true.
Replies
57
needs to get out moreAuthor
Funnkalicious
cantore? really? can you say attention whore? watching him during the hurricanes was hilarious.Cantore Can '08
I'd love to be his campaign manager. He's a cutie too. Mama likey. There's just something about a man who hangs out in the driving rain. Does it for me every time. For a while, when Wfunn called me, his picture popped up. Actually, I think it still does! :clap_1:
Poor Telly...You may be right. I just like to make lists sometimes. And his name popped into my head.
needs to get out moreAuthor
although i dislike being in front of the camera, i could have called color on the hurricanes in sowal
Beach Lover
I would love to read your explanation as to how you believe the government should determine what prices businesses can charge for their products.
Dont put words in to my mouth that I think the gov should determine prices businesses should charge. I did not say that.
It is clear the oil companies are making record profit since they started these high gas prices. It is also clear that entire communities and industries are suffering because of their greed. The Government should step in to protect consumers from companies that take advantage of their people by price gauging.
Thats all I meant.
needs to get out moreAuthor
the president has heard your cry. next he's going to realize that global warming is a concern...
guy's a genius i tell ya. bold by me for incredulity and hilarity.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/25/bush.energy/index.html
Bush takes aim at rising gasoline prices
Summer deposits to national oil reserve halted
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Calling the oil issue a matter of national security, President Bush outlined a plan Tuesday to cut gasoline costs and temporarily stopped deposits to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Bush is delaying this summer's deposits to the reserve -- an emergency stockpile of government-owned crude oil -- as he faces political pressure from campaigning members of Congress and anger from consumers about high gas prices.
"So by deferring deposits until the fall, we'll leave a little more oil on the market," Bush said during a speech at the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington. "Every little bit helps."
"Our addiction to oil is a matter of national security concern," Bush said.
However, oil experts said the impact of withholding deposits, while positive, will have a negligible impact on gas prices.
"It's less than 30,000 barrels a day in a country that consumers 21 million. That's not even rearranging a single deck chair on the Titanic," Peter Beutel, president of Cameron Hanover, also told CNNMoney.com. "But psychologically, it has some effect."
In outlining the other parts of his energy plan, Bush said the U.S. should "follow suit on what we have been emphasizing, particularly through the energy bill, and that is to encourage conservation, to expand domestic production, and to develop alternative sources of energy like ethanol," Bush said.
The plan calls for making sure consumers and taxpayers are treated fairly, promoting greater fuel efficiency, boosting the U.S. gasoline supply and investing aggressively in gasoline alternatives.
Bush also has ordered a federal investigation into possible cheating, price gouging or illegal manipulation in the gasoline markets.
Bush said consumers must first be treated fairly at the gas pump.
"Americans understand by and large that the price of crude oil is going up and that [gas] prices are going up, but what they don't want and will not accept is manipulation of the market," Bush said. "And neither will I."
Bush also called for a rollback in $2 billion in government assistance and tax breaks for oil companies over the next 10 years for items such as research and development for deep water drilling.
"Record oil prices and large cash flows also mean that Congress has got to understand that these energy companies don't need unnecessary tax breaks like the write-offs of certain geological and geophysical expenditures or the use of taxpayers' monies to subsidize energy companies' research into deepwater drilling," Bush said.
Additionally, Bush said he would ask the EPA to temporarily ease clean air regulations that have caused gas shortages in some portions of the Northeast. There have been media reports of shortages as producers switch over to cleaner-burning summer blends.
"I think it makes sense that they should be allowed to, so I'm directing EPA administrator [Steve] Johnson to use all of his available authority to grant waivers that would relief critical fuel supply shortages," Bush said. "And I do that for the sake of our consumers."
After the speech, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, accused Bush of failing to get tough on powerful oil companies.
"The president today just spoke about high gas prices. And to listen to the president, you'd think that it's the local gas station that's the problem," Schumer said. "We all know it's the big oil companies who are causing these massive price increases that go way beyond what supply and demand would merit."
Oil companies reported record profits in 2005, led by Exxon Mobil, which said it made $36.1 billion -- the largest-ever annual profit for a U.S. firm.
"There were five words missing from the president's speech today: 'Get tough on big oil,' " Schumer said.
More gas pain ahead
As the nation's busiest driving season approaches, American consumers are paying a national average of $2.91 per gallon for regular self-serve, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gasoline stations this month.
The president has political concerns in addition to high oil prices. His presidential approval ratings have sunk to a personal low, with only 32 percent of respondents to a new CNN poll saying they approve of the way Bush is handling his job.
In another CNN poll question, 23 percent of respondents said rising gasoline prices have caused "severe hardship" in their family and 46 percent said it was causing a "moderate hardship."
Bush has asked the departments of Energy and Justice to begin the inquiries into possible price gouging.
Members of the GOP-controlled Congress are concerned that rising gasoline prices could threaten their success in the November elections.
Hastert calls for investigation
In a letter released on Monday, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, urged Bush to order a federal probe into possible gasoline price gouging or market speculation.
"There is no silver bullet," Frist said Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," according to The Associated Press. "We need to make sure that any efforts at price gouging be addressed and addressed aggressively."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, dismissed Hastert's and Frist's letter as "empty rhetoric."
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the Bush administration shares "a commitment with congressional leaders to make sure that we're acting to ensure that there is no price gouging."
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the Federal Trade Commission sent a letter Tuesday to all 50 state attorneys general, McClellan said, who have primary authority over price gouging issues. The letter will ask them to monitor the issue, he said, and to offer federal help.
The letter asks officials to vigorously enforce state law "against any anticompetitive, anticonsumer conduct in the petroleum industry," the AP reported.
"Consumers around the nation have expressed concerns about what they have perceived as anticompetitive or otherwise unfair conduct by the world's major oil companies," the letter said, according to AP.
guy's a genius i tell ya. bold by me for incredulity and hilarity.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/25/bush.energy/index.html
Bush takes aim at rising gasoline prices
Summer deposits to national oil reserve halted
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Calling the oil issue a matter of national security, President Bush outlined a plan Tuesday to cut gasoline costs and temporarily stopped deposits to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Bush is delaying this summer's deposits to the reserve -- an emergency stockpile of government-owned crude oil -- as he faces political pressure from campaigning members of Congress and anger from consumers about high gas prices.
"So by deferring deposits until the fall, we'll leave a little more oil on the market," Bush said during a speech at the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington. "Every little bit helps."
"Our addiction to oil is a matter of national security concern," Bush said.
However, oil experts said the impact of withholding deposits, while positive, will have a negligible impact on gas prices.
"It's less than 30,000 barrels a day in a country that consumers 21 million. That's not even rearranging a single deck chair on the Titanic," Peter Beutel, president of Cameron Hanover, also told CNNMoney.com. "But psychologically, it has some effect."
In outlining the other parts of his energy plan, Bush said the U.S. should "follow suit on what we have been emphasizing, particularly through the energy bill, and that is to encourage conservation, to expand domestic production, and to develop alternative sources of energy like ethanol," Bush said.
The plan calls for making sure consumers and taxpayers are treated fairly, promoting greater fuel efficiency, boosting the U.S. gasoline supply and investing aggressively in gasoline alternatives.
Bush also has ordered a federal investigation into possible cheating, price gouging or illegal manipulation in the gasoline markets.
Bush said consumers must first be treated fairly at the gas pump.
"Americans understand by and large that the price of crude oil is going up and that [gas] prices are going up, but what they don't want and will not accept is manipulation of the market," Bush said. "And neither will I."
Bush also called for a rollback in $2 billion in government assistance and tax breaks for oil companies over the next 10 years for items such as research and development for deep water drilling.
"Record oil prices and large cash flows also mean that Congress has got to understand that these energy companies don't need unnecessary tax breaks like the write-offs of certain geological and geophysical expenditures or the use of taxpayers' monies to subsidize energy companies' research into deepwater drilling," Bush said.
Additionally, Bush said he would ask the EPA to temporarily ease clean air regulations that have caused gas shortages in some portions of the Northeast. There have been media reports of shortages as producers switch over to cleaner-burning summer blends.
"I think it makes sense that they should be allowed to, so I'm directing EPA administrator [Steve] Johnson to use all of his available authority to grant waivers that would relief critical fuel supply shortages," Bush said. "And I do that for the sake of our consumers."
After the speech, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, accused Bush of failing to get tough on powerful oil companies.
"The president today just spoke about high gas prices. And to listen to the president, you'd think that it's the local gas station that's the problem," Schumer said. "We all know it's the big oil companies who are causing these massive price increases that go way beyond what supply and demand would merit."
Oil companies reported record profits in 2005, led by Exxon Mobil, which said it made $36.1 billion -- the largest-ever annual profit for a U.S. firm.
"There were five words missing from the president's speech today: 'Get tough on big oil,' " Schumer said.
More gas pain ahead
As the nation's busiest driving season approaches, American consumers are paying a national average of $2.91 per gallon for regular self-serve, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gasoline stations this month.
The president has political concerns in addition to high oil prices. His presidential approval ratings have sunk to a personal low, with only 32 percent of respondents to a new CNN poll saying they approve of the way Bush is handling his job.
In another CNN poll question, 23 percent of respondents said rising gasoline prices have caused "severe hardship" in their family and 46 percent said it was causing a "moderate hardship."
Bush has asked the departments of Energy and Justice to begin the inquiries into possible price gouging.
Members of the GOP-controlled Congress are concerned that rising gasoline prices could threaten their success in the November elections.
Hastert calls for investigation
In a letter released on Monday, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, urged Bush to order a federal probe into possible gasoline price gouging or market speculation.
"There is no silver bullet," Frist said Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," according to The Associated Press. "We need to make sure that any efforts at price gouging be addressed and addressed aggressively."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, dismissed Hastert's and Frist's letter as "empty rhetoric."
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the Bush administration shares "a commitment with congressional leaders to make sure that we're acting to ensure that there is no price gouging."
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the Federal Trade Commission sent a letter Tuesday to all 50 state attorneys general, McClellan said, who have primary authority over price gouging issues. The letter will ask them to monitor the issue, he said, and to offer federal help.
The letter asks officials to vigorously enforce state law "against any anticompetitive, anticonsumer conduct in the petroleum industry," the AP reported.
"Consumers around the nation have expressed concerns about what they have perceived as anticompetitive or otherwise unfair conduct by the world's major oil companies," the letter said, according to AP.
Beach Lover
Thank John R.....I appriciate that post.
SoWal Staff
Smiley J, what happened to your smiley that said "blah, blah, blah"?
Funnkalicious
Smiley J, what happened to your smiley that said "blah, blah, blah"?John R...You sure gave Jim Cantore a run for his money there. Nice. I wonder if he can lean like that on a rickey about to wash away walkover. :clap_1:
Jfunn did a great impersonation of the blah blah blah smiley. Remember? Or was that you? Either way, it was truly brillant.
needs to get out moreAuthor
i figured treehugger would get ahold of this. like my post observes above in bold, bad things happens to good nations when anyone named gw bush is the president. maybe he won't realize global warming is a concern. toolbox.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/gas_too_expensi_1.php
Gas too Expensive? Dump Environmental Rules.
April 25, 2006 02:26 PM - Lloyd Alter, Toronto
This makes so much sense: President Bush just ordered a temporary suspension of environmental rules for gasoline, making it easier for refiners to meet demand and possibly dampen prices at the pump. According to Yahoo News, Easing the environment rules will allow refiners greater flexibility in providing oil supplies since they will not have to use certain additives such as ethanol to meet clean air standards. Where did he announce this? at a speech in front of the Ethanol lobby group- kind of like announcing gun registration at an NRA convention. "Our addiction to oil is a matter of national security concerns," the president said in a speech to the Renewable Fuels Association, which advocates alternate energy sources. "After all, today we get about 60 percent of our oil from foreign countries. That's up from 20 years ago, where about 25 percent of our oil came from foreign countries." We suppose those pesky scrubbers needed for high sulphur coal will be next to go.
From President Bush's speech:
Amazing, isn't it? Without much cost, your automobile can be converted to be able to burn fuel with 85 percent ethanol or a product made from corn grown right here in America.
Ethanol is a versatile fuel. And the benefits are easy to recognize when you think about it.
One, the use of ethanol in automobiles is good for the agricultural sector. I'm one of these people who believes when the agricultural sector is strong, America is strong.
The way I like to put it would be ? it's a good thing when a president can sit there and say, gosh, we've got a lot of corn. And that means we're less dependent on foreign sources of oil.
Years back, they'd say, oh, gosh, we've got a lot of corn and worried about the price.
Ethanol is good for our rural communities. It's good economic development for rural America. You know, new bio-refinery construction creates jobs and local tax revenues. When the family farmer's doing well, it's good for the local merchants.
Ethanol is good for the environment. I keep emphasizing that we can be good stewards of our environment and at the same time continue with our economic expansion. And ethanol will help meet that strategy.
You don't have to choose between good environment and good economics. You can have both by the use of technology. And ethanol is an example of what I'm talking about. And ethanol's good for drivers. Ethanol is homegrown. Ethanol will replace gasoline consumption.
Ethanol's good for the whole country. And we've been ... I thought you'd like that.
The ethanol industry is booming. It must be exciting to have worked for as long as you have on encouraging alternative sources of energy and then all of a sudden see the work come to fruition.
Last year, America used a record 4 billion gallons of ethanol. There are now 97 ethanol refineries in our country, and nine of those are expanding and 35 more are under construction. The ethanol industry is on the move, and America is better off for it.
Many of these refineries are in the Midwest ? the Midwest because that is where the source ? you know, the feed stock for ethanol comes from.
BUSH: That happens to be corn.
classic. what a genius
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/gas_too_expensi_1.php
Gas too Expensive? Dump Environmental Rules.
April 25, 2006 02:26 PM - Lloyd Alter, Toronto
This makes so much sense: President Bush just ordered a temporary suspension of environmental rules for gasoline, making it easier for refiners to meet demand and possibly dampen prices at the pump. According to Yahoo News, Easing the environment rules will allow refiners greater flexibility in providing oil supplies since they will not have to use certain additives such as ethanol to meet clean air standards. Where did he announce this? at a speech in front of the Ethanol lobby group- kind of like announcing gun registration at an NRA convention. "Our addiction to oil is a matter of national security concerns," the president said in a speech to the Renewable Fuels Association, which advocates alternate energy sources. "After all, today we get about 60 percent of our oil from foreign countries. That's up from 20 years ago, where about 25 percent of our oil came from foreign countries." We suppose those pesky scrubbers needed for high sulphur coal will be next to go.
From President Bush's speech:
Amazing, isn't it? Without much cost, your automobile can be converted to be able to burn fuel with 85 percent ethanol or a product made from corn grown right here in America.
Ethanol is a versatile fuel. And the benefits are easy to recognize when you think about it.
One, the use of ethanol in automobiles is good for the agricultural sector. I'm one of these people who believes when the agricultural sector is strong, America is strong.
The way I like to put it would be ? it's a good thing when a president can sit there and say, gosh, we've got a lot of corn. And that means we're less dependent on foreign sources of oil.
Years back, they'd say, oh, gosh, we've got a lot of corn and worried about the price.
Ethanol is good for our rural communities. It's good economic development for rural America. You know, new bio-refinery construction creates jobs and local tax revenues. When the family farmer's doing well, it's good for the local merchants.
Ethanol is good for the environment. I keep emphasizing that we can be good stewards of our environment and at the same time continue with our economic expansion. And ethanol will help meet that strategy.
You don't have to choose between good environment and good economics. You can have both by the use of technology. And ethanol is an example of what I'm talking about. And ethanol's good for drivers. Ethanol is homegrown. Ethanol will replace gasoline consumption.
Ethanol's good for the whole country. And we've been ... I thought you'd like that.
The ethanol industry is booming. It must be exciting to have worked for as long as you have on encouraging alternative sources of energy and then all of a sudden see the work come to fruition.
Last year, America used a record 4 billion gallons of ethanol. There are now 97 ethanol refineries in our country, and nine of those are expanding and 35 more are under construction. The ethanol industry is on the move, and America is better off for it.
Many of these refineries are in the Midwest ? the Midwest because that is where the source ? you know, the feed stock for ethanol comes from.
BUSH: That happens to be corn.
classic. what a genius
Beach Fanatic
Dont put words in to my mouth that I think the gov should determine prices businesses should charge. I did not say that.
...
The Government should step in to protect consumers from companies that take advantage of their people by price gauging.
Sure sounds like "gov should determine prices businesses should charge" to me.
Who decides when it's gouging vs. an "acceptable" profit? The government. Who enforces? The government.
What, in your opinion, constitutes price "gouging"?
needs to get out moreAuthor
since it's a matter of national security, maybe king bush should decree that all gas in the US will retail at 1.98/gal.
SoWal Expert
Sure sounds like "gov should determine prices businesses should charge" to me.... and I think Starbucks gauges me on prices too. I tell you what I do. I buy their beans and brew my own. Wait. That was before they raised the price of their beans in the grocery store from $7.29 per 8 oz bag to $9.02 per bag. I guess they went up due to the increasing price of oil.
Who decides when it's gouging vs. an "acceptable" profit? The government. Who enforces? The government.
What, in your opinion, constitutes price "gouging"?
The consumer is the one who has to make the decision to change things. Unfortunately, gov't decided long ago to get in bed with lobbyists, oil companies, and auto manufactors rather than giving the people the option for different types of fuel/energy in the autos which we purchase. In summary, our gov't screwed us big time, and the only finger pointing should be in the mirror for allowing them to screw us. Instead of going about our day and making money to pay the bills, or watching American Idol, maybe we need to get off our @sses and decide to do something about it. Unfortunately, more people would rather watch American Idol, so we will continue to see oil and gas prices increase for a while longer. At some point, people will begin to carpool, buy more effecient autos, or quit working because after they pay the gov't and their expenses of getting to and from work, they will be in the red.
Beach Fanatic
... and I think Starbucks gauges me on prices too. I tell you what I do. I buy their beans and brew my own. Wait. That was before they raised the price of their beans in the grocery store from $7.29 per 8 oz bag to $9.02 per bag. I guess they went up due to the increasing price of oil.Beautiful SJ - fair & balanced as usual :clap_1:
The consumer is the one who has to make the decision to change things. Unfortunately, gov't decided long ago to get in bed with lobbyists, oil companies, and auto manufactors rather than giving the people the option for different types of fuel/energy in the autos which we purchase. In summary, our gov't screwed us big time, and the only finger pointing should be in the mirror for allowing them to screw us. Instead of going about our day and making money to pay the bills, or watching American Idol, maybe we need to get off our @sses and decide to do something about it. Unfortunately, more people would rather watch American Idol, so we will continue to see oil and gas prices increase for a while longer. At some point, people will begin to carpool, buy more effecient autos, or quit working because after they pay the gov't and their expenses of getting to and from work, they will be in the red.
needs to get out moreAuthor
althoogh not a fan of $tarbuck$, there was a great segment of the big guy on 60 minutes the other evening. some resons why it's expensive is that he pays growers quite a good rate for the beans, and healthcare is a pretty serious issue there. apparently his father got injured on the job and was basically tossed to the curb, made a big impression on him. he spends more on healthcare for employees than he does on beans. and, i believe a 20 hour employee is covered with healthcare.
regarding gas. although placing blame is easy, you're right SJ, the populace needs to get active. start locally, get on that bike. hit up local politicians and move up the ladder. it seems that we elect the best of the worst into office, but that's it. once they are in office they need to be steered. they work for us, we pay their salaries. write them and let them know how you feel,(i know i'm on the white house's black list, i write the president weekly) show up at local meeting and voice your opinion. Sell that SUV, please. we are headed down the wrong fork of the road and we need to turn this bus around.
jr
regarding gas. although placing blame is easy, you're right SJ, the populace needs to get active. start locally, get on that bike. hit up local politicians and move up the ladder. it seems that we elect the best of the worst into office, but that's it. once they are in office they need to be steered. they work for us, we pay their salaries. write them and let them know how you feel,(i know i'm on the white house's black list, i write the president weekly) show up at local meeting and voice your opinion. Sell that SUV, please. we are headed down the wrong fork of the road and we need to turn this bus around.
jr
Funnkalicious
althoogh not a fan of $tarbuck$, there was a great segment of the big guy on 60 minutes the other evening. some resons why it's expensive is that he pays growers quite a good rate for the beans, and healthcare is a pretty serious issue there. apparently his father got injured on the job and was basically tossed to the curb, made a big impression on him. he spends more on healthcare for employees than he does on beans. and, i believe a 20 hour employee is covered with healthcare.I have a dvd of the CEO on 60 Minutes. I had to get it for a head honcho over here who wanted it. I kinda wanted to check it out.
regarding gas. although placing blame is easy, you're right SJ, the populace needs to get active. start locally, get on that bike. hit up local politicians and move up the ladder. it seems that we elect the best of the worst into office, but that's it. once they are in office they need to be steered. they work for us, we pay their salaries. write them and let them know how you feel,(i know i'm on the white house's black list, i write the president weekly) show up at local meeting and voice your opinion. Sell that SUV, please. we are headed down the wrong fork of the road and we need to turn this bus around.
jr
Beach Fanatic
It took 9-years following the 1970's oil embargo for gas to reach $1 per gallon. It took 25 more years for gas to reach $2. From there, it took less than 12-months for it to top $3.
Exxon/Mobil recently reported the largest corporate profits in history.
I'm not the Executive Decider, but I've decided that something's not right.
Exxon/Mobil recently reported the largest corporate profits in history.
I'm not the Executive Decider, but I've decided that something's not right.
needs to get out moreAuthor
Beach Lover
Sure sounds like "gov should determine prices businesses should charge" to me.
Who decides when it's gouging vs. an "acceptable" profit? The government. Who enforces? The government.
What, in your opinion, constitutes price "gouging"?
Sure sounds like "gov should determine prices businesses should charge" to me.
Then you might want to get your ears checked
To answer you question I think at this point it is Me that determines it is price gouging because that is the way I feel right now
Who enforces? I don?t know but I hope we as a whole can find out.
I will say that I have a problem with a company boasting record profits for a year and not have any sensitivity toward those companies that are going under due to high fuel costs.
The way the Gov. could help us may not be regulating price or getting involved with company profits. But, since they consume more fuel than any industry in the country(don?t know this for a fact but Im can guess they are close) they can make and impact on these oil companies by refusing to pay these prices or reduce consumption for some time. Don?t say they cant since we are at war. They can here in the states.
You can roast me all you want, it doesn?t change me or my opinion. Our Gov can help if they wanted to bring these prices down. Im sure if they cut back their usage for a short time the big oil companies would see the difference and possibly show some price reduction. But I don?t see GB doing anything like that. He appears to be to close to the oil manufactures.
So there is my opinion SlowMovin please take it for what it is worth (not much) and leave it at that. JT
Beach Fanatic
Nutshell is as long as Americans keep sucking up gas indiscriminately (think 3 ton SUV @ maybe 15MPG vs just about anything else at 30MPG or better), everybody (including those paying attention to consumption) is going to keep getting screwed...
As for politics & politicians, they do (on either side of the fence) produce copious volumes of hot air and b******t. If we could just figure out how to direct the former into turbines and extract the methane from the latter, they'd all at least provide one positive service.
As for politics & politicians, they do (on either side of the fence) produce copious volumes of hot air and b******t. If we could just figure out how to direct the former into turbines and extract the methane from the latter, they'd all at least provide one positive service.
Beach Comber
Sure sounds like "gov should determine prices businesses should charge" to me.
Who decides when it's gouging vs. an "acceptable" profit? The government. Who enforces? The government.
What, in your opinion, constitutes price "gouging"?
?Capitalism needs to function like a game of tug-of-war. Two opposing sides need to continually struggle for dominance, but at no time can either side be permitted to walk away with the rope.?
That's the role of the government - to keep any one side from walking away with the rope. All of these people who voted for "less government", which sounds great on the surface of things, are getting what they voted for.
Beach Fanatic
All of these people who voted for "less government", which sounds great on the surface of things, are getting what they voted for.What is it, then, that you wish the government to do?
SoWal Insider
All of these people who voted for "less government", which sounds great on the surface of things, are getting what they voted for.
I would disagree that the people who voted for the incumbent actually got less government. They may have thought that's what they would get, but they didn't.
Meantime, I don't believe "more government" is what is needed here, in the form of price controls. As Donna and others have so eloquently pointed out, prices rising dramatically based on dramatically increased demand is entirely appropriate and perhaps even necessary for our long-term survival as a nation.
This is a statement based on simple economic theory and physics. I remember wondering even in high school, when I learned that fossil fuels take millions of years to form inside the earth, whether we would have millions of years of supply left or whether we would eventually run out. Now that I know more about how the world works it is a foregone conclusion that at some point we WILL run out. The concept of "peak oil" is very real, and very scary, because so few people are talking about what happens when we truly can't produce what we need. Considering we are far from prepared to fill the gap with alternatives yet, that almost guarantees that our economy will stop growing until we can fix this problem, and since we have bet EVERYTHING in our economy on future growth, this is very very bad.
So yes, the prices should go up because people need to THINK and plan more, and start worrying about the world as a whole and not just complain about having to conserve. I'm not necessarily a "doomer," and I think we are going to be able to work ourselves out of this dependence, but it is going to be rocky and will take sacrifice, urgency and ingenuity.
Regardless, I don't think it's a good time to be sinking Social Security money into the stock market a la private accounts, betting on future economic growth... :roll:
Beach Fanatic
I would disagree that the people who voted for the incumbent actually got less government. They may have thought that's what they would get, but they didn't.You can say that again. One might say our two dominant political parties represent the party of big government and the party of even bigger government. I'm no longer sure which is which.
Beach Comber
What is it, then, that you wish the government to do?
Protect its citizens from monopolies, cartels and corporatization at the expense of the greater good.
Beach Fanatic
Protect its citizens from monopolies, cartels and corporatizationThere are reams of anti-trust and anti-collusion laws on the books now. Are you saying we need more of them? Or that the existing ones are ineffective?
What is corporatization?
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