Print
Email Friend
Add to Favorites
del.icio.us
Digg It!
Slashdot It!
I could not believe the democratic response to the state of the union. The senator was tooting his horn about asking Exxon to return some of the profits they made. This really scares me. What's next, telling Bill Gates he's making to much money on computers? Telling Donald Trump not to build anymore buildings? Forcing Warren Buffet to sell some of his stocks because he is to rich? Don't you understand that is what this country was founded on. It's call Capitalism. The free market will work itself out. If you don't like Exxon, don't buy there products. If you don't like the price of gas, change your driving habits, drive a smaller call, live closer to work, ride a bike, walk, car pool put pressere on your people to develop alternative fuels, write the car manufactures. Don't you understand; the more people make the better off the economy is. When you make and keep more money you spend more money, you go out to eat, go to home depot, buy a house and more. This stimulates the economy. It realley scares me that you want everyone to be the same on income level and never rise above the pack. I think they tried that in Russia. Go out and take care of yourself. Very simple differences we help ourselves you want the Government to help you with everything. I also think it's great when Kennedy, Gore, Jackson, Dean open the pie hole. Because it assures me the democrats will be left out for years to come. The best thing the party could do is distance themselves from those people. I pray, Kerry, Dean or Gore run again. Quit crying about Bush and quit looking for handouts. Go out and make your own breaks and build a better America everyday just like I do.
Why we differ
|
Posted By: tonyd Posted on: Feb. 5, 2006 at 11:58 AM  12 Comments
|
2.9 / 5
Based on 10 ratings.
|
Anonymous commenting has been disabled, you must login to comment on articles.
Signup for an accountComments:
|
Feb. 5, 2006 at 10:20:38 PM
|
Rating for this article
|
| Akman: Why does it bother you that Exxon had record profits. DON"T USE EXXON. I have read anti-trust especially with Gates situation. Nobody forced you to use windows. Hey, a guy named Jobs went out a started a little company called Apple. You might of heard of it. No even close to the windows program. I think they are doing pretty good right now. That is free enterprise at it's finest. Just like all the people that bitch about Walmart. They say Walmart is squeezing out the little guys. Guess what if people don't shop at Walmart that solves the problems. You have Lowes and Home Depot, but yet I sometimes like going to ACE because they have better service and I can get in and out quicker. The day the Government start capping profits in America is the day we are headed in the wrong direction.
|
||
|
Feb. 5, 2006 at 11:23:52 PM
|
|
| RE: "The senator was tooting his horn about asking Exxon to return some of the profits they made. This really scares me..." Tony, I thought you felt the senator was off-base and found his remarks about Exxon frightening. He didn't talk about Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Trump or Buffet, he was talking about Exxon. You sort of slid off the point. What was the senator's problem with Exxon's profits? And, for the reasons I've stated, how in hell could Exxon report record profits anyway? |
||
|
Feb. 7, 2006 at 02:06:58 AM
|
|
| Well here's a shot at your 4th grade Ayn Rand Al Greenspan free market gobbledygook, Monopolies, and near monopolies enjoy certain protections from free markets. Yes, Walmart got big because so many people shop at their stores, but how many other stores recieve/extort so much from the cities in which they locate? Here in Mesa they got, what $70 mil to build a Walmart and a bait shop, at Dobson and the 202, and there ain't a whole lotta fishing in that neighborhood. Now, you can argue about free markets, but I guaruntee I could build a real nice store for $10 mil, and use the extra 60 to keep prices low and kill my competitors, and that ain't free market capitalism; its corporatism and crony capitalism. Yes, Bill Gates and Microsoft are a big company, and he worked hard to get where he is at. But, by US law (and EU laws) there are some things he can't do; he violated those laws, went to court, and subsequently changed the way MS does business. (note also that if more people used Linux, Apples, or other OS then viruses would be less threatening to the www, because the weaknesses of one OS would not necessarily be present in another OS) As for big oil, they can and do manipulate supply, (by shutting refineries for maintainence, pumping less oil, delivering to different regions/nations) and operate with governments that aren't friendly to the US, or US citizens. Placing an excess profits tax on Exxon would simply transfer money we the people paid for Gas and oil from Exxon, who also made money selling oil direct to the US govt at the strategic reserve (at all time price highs, and you thought Bush had an MBA) to the federal treasury to offset the cost of oil put into the strategic reserve. The Ayn Rand money = freedom non-sense is a farce, and Tony if the biggest problem business faces are taxes, then explain why no fortune 500 companies got started or are based in Afghanistan or Kashmir (a region of Pakistan); both states have had no taxes collected for most of the last 5 decades, and yet no wonderous free market wealth springing forth? |
||
|
Feb. 7, 2006 at 06:35:17 PM
|
Rating for this article
|
| Woweee! Some steamroller you're drivin' Phaedrus! Ayn Rand - wasn't she one of Gary Cooper's molls in a TCM film the other night - Three Coins in the Fountain, Eraserhead, or some such? Tony - Phaedrus left my questions unanswered. I've reread my comment and fail to see how you've interpreted it as pro or con. I'm merely asking you to think about the Exxon situation rather than explode into a tantrum about Microsoft, Wal-Mart, free enterprise, etc. How can a company that sells gasoline make such a massive profit when crude oil prices are at record highs? If you can't explain that, you really cannot evaluate whether Governor (not senator) Warner had a legitimate point. Please don't tell me you're one of these shallow thinking Kool Aid drinkers who calls all Democrats "liberals". How can a company that sells gasoline make such a massive profit when crude oil prices are at record highs? How did Exxon do it? Should they be permitted to do it in a free market? |
||
|
|
Feb. 8, 2006 at 04:46:32 AM
|
|
| I must ask Akman a question-you ask if "Exxon should be permitted in a free market". Needing "permission in" a free market is an oxymoron. Forced redistribution of wealth is socialism. History has shown socialitic societies fail. The price of oil is set by the world market, Exxon profits are approximatly 8 cents per gallon. If they lowered their profits it would lower the end user pump price by only a few cents, however would have the devastating effect of lost jobs, increased unemployment, decreased spending on goods and services, increasing our taxes to support the unemployed. |
||
|
|
Feb. 8, 2006 at 10:41:29 AM
|
Rating for this article
|
| On the contrary Carol, presumably the U.S. economy is a "free market" but that's the oxymoron because there are concentrations of economic power that qualify as oligopolies, if not functional monopolies. By definition, those markets are not "free". TonyD can explain that one to you since he says he's versed in anti-trust matters. Your contention that "forced redistribution of wealth is socialistic" is one I've not heard since the John Birch Society stopped buying billboard advertising. Consistency would dictate that you, like the Birchers, are opposed to all taxation, right? That's a sure way to shrink government, I suppose, but I think your premise is a straw man. No one here wants to answer my original question so I'll direct it to you Carol. Given all you've said about Exxon, how could they possibly make such a monumental profit in 2005? |
||
|
Feb. 8, 2006 at 11:19:33 PM
|
Rating for this article
|
| A lonely voice in the wilderness. Tonyd you are right. Welcome to the Socialist Party Head Quarters. God forbid you make a profit, but oil rights during a depressed market and be smart enough to hold onto it until the price goes up, or develop a new technology that can compete and revolutionize an industry. these people want you to pay, from the tax system they love which punishes siccess to the lack of vision about social security reform, you are in for a fight here. I knew more free thinkers would find this site. |
||
|
|
Feb. 10, 2006 at 12:02:04 PM
|
Rating for this article
|
| Thanks for your input, Average, but you're guessing. Seems like the only justification you and Tony can come up with for badmouthing Warner is his party affiliation. Neither of you have the foggiest notion about the issue Warner presented so you can't refute his point and your undying dedication to staying ignorant shows us how Bush was elected and re-elected. |
||
|
|
Feb. 11, 2006 at 08:29:08 PM
|
Rating for this article
|
| I know what Warner stands for. Applying more tax to the rich. Of course the rich for your party is anyone making over 200k. He also talks about the same old tired health insurance issue that nobody has an answer for. He also stands for pulling out of the war NOW. And keeping big business in check by taxing them more and monitoring profits. What is forgot to say is that 20 percent of the people pay 80 percent of the taxes. The poor don't pay tax, they fill out a 1040EZ and wait for the refund. Oh yea I forgot, he stands for helping the poor people, minorities and giving handouts to just about anyone regardless if they need it or not. That's why we differ. You can't stand to see people make money. But most of the Democrats I know, say they believe that but yet strive for the same things I do. I deal with many of them and they are always looking for loopholes in the tax system, driving the big car or SUV, then claiming they are for the little people. The difference is I don't hide behind the fact that making money is good and that I want nice things. Because the more money I make the better my life is and the more I can help people with my money by going out to dinner, donating time and money to a cause of my choice and much more. It makes the world go round. I bet you have some of these thoughts Akman but don't really want to share your feelings with your cronies. Instead, you like for people to think you are very educated. I bet you sit at the coffee shop and talk with big words, while I go out and make it happen everyday. But that's a good thing, because I can work really hard and watch the deadbeats downtown deal drugs, sit at home and mooch off the system waiting for the check to come in. They will embrace, Rangle, Sharpton, Jackson and say they can't get a break. They need to re-direct to JC Watts, Larry Elder, Colin Powell, and Condie Rice. Those people will tell you how to get it done and stop crying, regardless of Race, religion or money.
|
||
I understand your full faith and confidence regarding the "free market" mechanism but would urge you to do some reading on anti-trust policy.
Moreover, doesn't it strike you as odd that Exxon reports all-time record profits when the price of crude has stabilized at a record high and prices at the pump these days are pinching everyone's pocketbook?
I thought high crude prices were just passed on to the price at the pump. How can Exxon earn a record profit in the process when gasoline consumption is dropping off?
Report Abuse