Time to Rein In the Pump Profiteers

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's not the ratio of highest to lowest, Steven, it's the ratio of highest to average. Big difference, and one which makes it even more scary.

I don't think that the oil industry is alone in increasing payments to CEOs; regardless of which industry they're in, the CEO of a major corporation is making more now than he ever did. I don't understand why either, but it's not something exclusive to the oil industry.

No, it's not exclusive to the oil industry. Seems to be more extreme there than elsewhere but executive excess is really all over the place. And it is getting worse year after year. Those thugs get bolder, too. Fattening their own compensation packages while fighting in court, in bancruptcy court no less, to have employees make concessions. That little stunt that Delta and/or AA executives pulled really kind of took the cake. And it exemplifies everything that's wrong with today's corporate world.

[Scott & Lai 12]

So, tax the super rich some more. It's not like taking away any money they "earned" - it's just taking back some of the money they grabbed from the rest of us...

But yeah, I can see the gas price dropping in the run-up to election day. Such scenario should remove any and all doubts even with the staunchest supporters of the guys currently running the show.

So, if we tax the super rich, do you really think that the tax money will go back into the pockets of the rest of us?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So, tax the super rich some more. It's not like taking away any money they "earned" - it's just taking back some of the money they grabbed from the rest of us...

But yeah, I can see the gas price dropping in the run-up to election day. Such scenario should remove any and all doubts even with the staunchest supporters of the guys currently running the show.

So, if we tax the super rich, do you really think that the tax money will go back into the pockets of the rest of us?

Not neccessarily. But I also don't buy into the whiny line of taxes on the super rich equals "punishing hard work". Those thugs don't "earn" that money. They grab it 'cause they can. 'Cause they sit on each other's boards lining each other's pockets. They take away from the many and then cry foul when the many come and want to take back some of what's been taken from them.

[Heracles 417]

Difference is, it's higher in the UK and other European countries because of TAXES, as you mentioned, not CEOs getting rich.

Also consider that most of Europe has a public transportation infrastructure, while it's very rare to find that in the US. For the most part, people in the US HAVE to drive. Also consider that petrol prices in the EU and UK have been high for years. In the US, gas prices have increased 300% within 5 years.

What's the deal with no adequate public transport in the US. Its as if americans are against it.. Hmm I don't see liberals or gore complaining about this now do i..

In Melbourne AUS, we use Trains, trams, buses and taxis to cover our city..

Edited August 31, 2006 by Infidel

[john_and_marlene 162]

I saw gas at 2.49 on my way to work yesterday and decided to fill up the van on my way home. I found it at 2.43 on my way home (Oklahoma City). It's a welcome break--I use about 30 gallons/week.

[PsychoKat 0]

I saw gas at 2.49 on my way to work yesterday and decided to fill up the van on my way home. I found it at 2.43 on my way home (Oklahoma City). It's a welcome break--I use about 30 gallons/week.

I'm seriously jealous now, I've been paying around 3.13 to 3.15 per gallon, and was somewhat enthused 2 days ago when it dropped briefly to 3.11, but it's back up to 3.14 now

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I saw gas at 2.49 on my way to work yesterday and decided to fill up the van on my way home. I found it at 2.43 on my way home (Oklahoma City). It's a welcome break--I use about 30 gallons/week.

I'm seriously jealous now, I've been paying around 3.13 to 3.15 per gallon, and was somewhat enthused 2 days ago when it dropped briefly to 3.11, but it's back up to 3.14 now

Thanks for making me feel better about the $2.75 that I currently have to shell out for a gallon of gas.

[PsychoKat 0]

I saw gas at 2.49 on my way to work yesterday and decided to fill up the van on my way home. I found it at 2.43 on my way home (Oklahoma City). It's a welcome break--I use about 30 gallons/week.

I'm seriously jealous now, I've been paying around 3.13 to 3.15 per gallon, and was somewhat enthused 2 days ago when it dropped briefly to 3.11, but it's back up to 3.14 now

Thanks for making me feel better about the $2.75 that I currently have to shell out for a gallon of gas.

*sniffle* glad to be of service hehe

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

My Dad was telling me about this.

That it's AMERICAN companies that produce the Brazillian ethanol. And mostly AMERICAN companies that have been making the cars that run on this Brazillian fuel. So it's not like it's a foreign concept to the U.S. companies, it just hasn't been implimented (because that's not where the money is, eh?)

Cass (bebop the great)

Good post steve i think its crazy that we subsidise oil companys and after spending alot of time in brazil where they use 70% alcohal i dont understand why we dont use more of these fuels here in the states.

US automakers have been making FLEX-fuel (run on ethanol or gas) vehicles since 1999. Primarily for environmental tax breaks. But only recently have we even heard about Flex-fueled vehicles.

[PlatyPius 5]

Difference is, it's higher in the UK and other European countries because of TAXES, as you mentioned, not CEOs getting rich.

Also consider that most of Europe has a public transportation infrastructure, while it's very rare to find that in the US. For the most part, people in the US HAVE to drive. Also consider that petrol prices in the EU and UK have been high for years. In the US, gas prices have increased 300% within 5 years.

What's the deal with no adequate public transport in the US. Its as if americans are against it.. Hmm I don't see liberals or gore complaining about this now do i..

In Melbourne AUS, we use Trains, trams, buses and taxis to cover our city..

Honestly? I think part of it is that we ARE against it, at least in some way.

Americans tend to be, among other things, fiercely independent. We don't like depending on anyone else for anything. We like doing what we want, going where we want, going WHEN we want, etc. We'll use me as an example....

I work in Plainfield, which is 35 miles away. Why? Because there are no jobs near me that pay over $12.00/hour. Why do I stay here? Because I own my house free-and-clear and have no intention of selling it. There is no public transportation from Greencastle to Plainfield. Assume though that there were.

I go to work at 10pm. The HP factory is about 1.5 miles from downtown Plainfield. How would I get from any logical drop-off point to work? What would I do for lunch? (Keeping in mind that every time I've tried taking my lunch and storing it in the giant refrigerators provided, it gets stolen) What happens when I need to stop for groceries or such on the way home? What if I get off work early or late and there isn't a bus/train/whatever for hours?

As it is now, it takes me 40 minutes to drive to work. If I were using public transportation, that could easily take an hour and a half, considering schedules, stops, etc. I am at work for 42.5 hours/week. I spend 6.667 hours/week driving to or from work. There's 49.167 hours of my week lost to work. At the current gas price, it costs me $40/week to drive to/from work. How much would I really save if public transportation were available? How much of my freedom would I lose? Could I still go to Subway for "lunch" (can it really be called lunch at 3:30am?)? Could I still pull over to check out the yard sale that's just started up? Could I stop at the convenience store to get a cup of coffee on the way home?

I think this has a lot to do with why Americans tend to not like public transportation. If we all lived in cities or worked within a few miles of where we lived, then yeah....we'd probably do it. But we don't.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Exactly Cian.

[PlatyPius 5]

My Dad was telling me about this.

That it's AMERICAN companies that produce the Brazillian ethanol. And mostly AMERICAN companies that have been making the cars that run on this Brazillian fuel. So it's not like it's a foreign concept to the U.S. companies, it just hasn't been implimented (because that's not where the money is, eh?)

Cass (bebop the great)

Good post steve i think its crazy that we subsidise oil companys and after spending alot of time in brazil where they use 70% alcohal i dont understand why we dont use more of these fuels here in the states.

US automakers have been making FLEX-fuel (run on ethanol or gas) vehicles since 1999. Primarily for environmental tax breaks. But only recently have we even heard about Flex-fueled vehicles.

Ford has Hydrogen Focuses (Focii?) out in the wild. They've been around since 2004. Their plan was to partner with BP, with BP being the fueling center of course.

http://www.ford.com/en/vehicles/specialtyV...ll/focusFCV.htm

[mawilson 2,133]

So, tax the super rich some more.

I don't like the idea of taxing the super rich because some day I will be super rich

[Scott & Lai 12]

Honestly? I think part of it is that we ARE against it, at least in some way.

Americans tend to be, among other things, fiercely independent. We don't like depending on anyone else for anything. We like doing what we want, going where we want, going WHEN we want, etc. We'll use me as an example....

I work in Plainfield, which is 35 miles away. Why? Because there are no jobs near me that pay over $12.00/hour. Why do I stay here? Because I own my house free-and-clear and have no intention of selling it. There is no public transportation from Greencastle to Plainfield. Assume though that there were.

I go to work at 10pm. The HP factory is about 1.5 miles from downtown Plainfield. How would I get from any logical drop-off point to work? What would I do for lunch? (Keeping in mind that every time I've tried taking my lunch and storing it in the giant refrigerators provided, it gets stolen) What happens when I need to stop for groceries or such on the way home? What if I get off work early or late and there isn't a bus/train/whatever for hours?

As it is now, it takes me 40 minutes to drive to work. If I were using public transportation, that could easily take an hour and a half, considering schedules, stops, etc. I am at work for 42.5 hours/week. I spend 6.667 hours/week driving to or from work. There's 49.167 hours of my week lost to work. At the current gas price, it costs me $40/week to drive to/from work. How much would I really save if public transportation were available? How much of my freedom would I lose? Could I still go to Subway for "lunch" (can it really be called lunch at 3:30am?)? Could I still pull over to check out the yard sale that's just started up? Could I stop at the convenience store to get a cup of coffee on the way home?

I think this has a lot to do with why Americans tend to not like public transportation. If we all lived in cities or worked within a few miles of where we lived, then yeah....we'd probably do it. But we don't.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So, tax the super rich some more.

I don't like the idea of taxing the super rich because some day I will be super rich

Lottery?