Here's a question for all you geniuses out there..., page 5

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reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 01:54 PM by mybigunit

reply to post by djerwulfe

Thats the excuse I hear from everyone is that if we nationalized oil we would be going down a communist state. Ok well taken but what about the water plants? Those are government controlled are we communist? Military is government controlled why not have a private military? Local medical and policing that is government. I dont buy that argument. I do agree it would be a huge change and some things would have to change. I for one am wanted to get rid of income taxes which is pretty anti communistic dont you think? If we have to nationalize oil and use the profits that are going for government payoffs and huge exec pay and use that money to replace the income tax then so be it.

I also agree with the alternative energies. We HAVE plenty of alternatives that are not being put into affect. Why? Big oil dollars paying off politicians. There is no reason why we shouldnt have roads full of hydrogen cars. No reason at all. But whos going to change anything as long as their palms are being greased. Solar & wind I mean there is no reason we cant load the desert with tons of solar panels to power the west coast and tons of wind in the heartland to power the midwest. We wouldnt even need nuclear.

[edit on 3-8-2008 by mybigunit]

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:10 PM by TheRedneck

reply to post by cpdaman

now do one where Thug manipulated and controls UG and tells him how to use his club and Werko has no idea because he is to busy looking for scraps or watching the latest news where they talk about celeb story's or how much good UG is trying to do for us (while secretly only caring about Thug ) And by the wau THUG has the same relationships with other UG's around the globe. This is the Fascist Business model in La la land U.S.A

OK, you asked for it, you got it.

Werko gets Ug to go after Thug with his club, because Werko is tired of washing pans for leftovers and too lazy to go hunting himself. Ug goes to beat up Thug and Thug tells him that Werko is lazy (true) and that if he'll work with Thug instead of beating Thug up, Thug will give him squirrels. He points out that Werko doesn't hunt squirrels and he does, so Ug agrees.

Now Ug pretends to beat up Thug and makes Werko happy. So happy in fact, that Werko happily goes back to working for Thug, convinced he will get a 'fair shake' since Ug is in his corner now. In the meantime, Thug and Ug split the squirrels and Thug gives Werko more and more to do for his leftovers. Every time Werko complains, Ug steps in and 'makes' Thug give him more leftovers. Of course, Thug also gives Werko more to do each time. By now Thug has amassed a huge stockpile of squirrels that he and Ug enjoy eating together, all the time laughing at Werko because of how easily they tricked him into doing all the work. Werko is still eating leftovers, but doing more work because he is washing Ug's plates, too, all the time wondering why Thug is using twice as many pans.

How's that? Now, I have to point out that it was Werko who didn't want to hunt for his own squirrels, it was Werko who thought washing one set of pans was too much work, and it was Werko who doesn't have a clue about what's going on. Sure Thug and Ug took advantage of him, but they couldn't have if he had just gone hunting in the first place or washed the pots instead of hunting.

Hope you enjoyed the tale Werko, er, I mean cpdaman.

TheRedneck

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:12 PM by gnosis111

As high as gas prices are we are still ranked fairly low compared to Europe and other parts of the industrialized world. I hate the high prices as well, but it is the American way to turn a profit, no matter the way you do it. From what I can see, what they are doing isn't illegal, so just get used to grabbing your ankles.

And this is good for auto designers to search for alternative fuel....obviously.

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:14 PM by coven

reply to post by verbal kint

56 hours straight... $5000 per second.

for 1 billion.

Think about that people.

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:19 PM by Krieger

Originally posted by TheRedneck
I dunno, maybe they sold an awful lot of gas, diesel, heating oil, propane... did you buy any of it?

I was waiting on this thread ever since I heard the story. Their purpose is to make money. If the product is too expensive, you can always quit using it. The oil companies may do a lot of bad things, but making fuel for the nation isn't real high on my list of 'terrible evils'.

Oh, yes, and I have my own question: how much profit is acceptable for them to make? Can we get a good solid number as to what's acceptable on that? Remember that they can always just stop making fuel if the number is too low.

TheRedneck

You CAN'T STOP USING IT! That is BS to say "If you don't like it stop using it!" That's like saying if the price for food gets too high stop eating.

Gas is needed, you NEED IT. It isn't like say, Nikes, where you don't NEED to buy it. But Gas? Not only do you NEED it you don't have cheaper sources. If work is 25 miles away, you need to drive there.

Also, all your stuff you buy? Brought by truck. So according to you YOU would NEED to start growing all your own food, making your own milk and juices, toilet paper, everything to "quit" buying fuel as you are paying for high gas prices no matter what.

Also, the GOP BLOCKED DRILLING! LOOK AT MY SIGGY FOR PROOF THEY WANT HIGH OIL PRICES!

Also, Americans have cut back on driving so the profit should have been less.

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:21 PM by RexxCrow

Price Gouging is an illegal act is it not? All U.S.A. based companies are required to follow all U.S.A. the laws when operating wihtin the U.S.A. are they not?

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:23 PM by Swingarm

reply to post by gnosis111

Yes, it could be that something could be coming on this. Funny how Steorn and MPI (magnetic power inc) John Bedini
etc are relegated to nut jobs ,failures and promoters and frauds when introducing their technologies. Not a dollar comes their way. No media attention either. Could it be this is the last drunken binge before the emergence of new technology?

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:28 PM by verbal kint

reply to post by jackinthebox

Great video. It rings darkly true. The only issue I have is that, if not mistaken, he never named names as he so often promised he'd do. Nor did he ever give the Iran date. Those coincidentally, are the two hard facts that could help people do something about the situation. Those are the two promises he made to sustain his credibility numerous times, but didn't give either answer. Gives the stench of male cow poo. In the tradition of David Icke, such a powerful message, ringing with truth, snagged by the tip of the tale by a single oddity you want to pretend you didn't hear, but that ultimately cannot be completely disregarded.

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:29 PM by TheWalkingFox

reply to post by TheRedneck

no, you CAN'T "just quit using it". We're not talking a bout beer nuts here. We're talking about a substance that pretty much every aspect of our daily lives revolves around.

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:34 PM by verbal kint

Originally posted by coven
reply to post by verbal kint

56 hours straight... $5000 per second.

for 1 billion.

Think about that people.

lol exactly! there is no thinking about it cause it's just to big for our stunted brains. $5000 PER SECOND. It completely loses all meaning after an hour or so. 56 hours... phe.... lol

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:54 PM by mybigunit

heh the irony is redneck says quit using gas meanwhile he is a TRUCK DRIVER!!! So if you want everyone to stop using gas please by all means you get us started. Dont tell everyone to quit using gas while you drive a 9 mpg big rig.

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 02:55 PM by jackinthebox

reply to post by verbal kint

I'm sure there's a certain element of "buy the book" syndrome in the video. Even if not by the speaker, then through editing by the producers perhaps.

One thing to keep in mind though, is that the video is old, and some of his predictions have indeed already come true in the meantime.

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 03:00 PM by mother_jung

First things first. You panzies need to stop whining. Yes oil price is outrageous. Stop blaming Bush and Co. for being the sole cause of this. What about your environmentalist and democrat reps that have blocked gasoline refineries? Or the greenies wanting to block wind turbines because some birds get killed! What about some granola eater demanding I get an environmental study done before I drain a 1 acre pond on my 160 acres that I own!

I don't like the price of gas, but nationalizing the oil companies wont fix the problem, it will only put more power into the governments hands. I dont want that!

ps wusses, I just filled up for around 98 cents a gallon Plus I didn't have to pay gas tax on it either. They want you to feel helpless, they want you to ask the government to help you. This is what THEY want. I went out and found a solution that works for me. Why dont you find one that works for you instead of debating how the various political parties may or may not help you out in your particular situation. They wont help you. It is not in there nature. Stop expecting someone else to solve this thing for you. You have the power.

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 03:18 PM by Krieger

Originally posted by mother_jung
First things first. You panzies need to stop whining. Yes oil price is outrageous. Stop blaming Bush and Co. for being the sole cause of this. What about your environmentalist and democrat reps that have blocked gasoline refineries? Or the greenies wanting to block wind turbines because some birds get killed! What about some granola eater demanding I get an environmental study done before I drain a 1 acre pond on my 160 acres that I own!

I don't like the price of gas, but nationalizing the oil companies wont fix the problem, it will only put more power into the governments hands. I dont want that!

ps wusses, I just filled up for around 98 cents a gallon Plus I didn't have to pay gas tax on it either. They want you to feel helpless, they want you to ask the government to help you. This is what THEY want. I went out and found a solution that works for me. Why dont you find one that works for you instead of debating how the various political parties may or may not help you out in your particular situation. They wont help you. It is not in there nature. Stop expecting someone else to solve this thing for you. You have the power.

Except the Democrats are trying to FORCE OIL COMPANIES TO DRILL IN ALASKA AND OFF SHORE EXCEPT THE GOP BLOCKED IT! Crazy no? Look at my siggy

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 03:28 PM by TheWalkingFox

Originally posted by mother_jung
First things first. You panzies need to stop whining.

Who's whining, you insipid ninny?

Yes oil price is outrageous. Stop blaming Bush and Co. for being the sole cause of this.

Most seem to be blaming the oil companies. Can you tell the difference? And there's the fact of course that under the Republicans, we've had a 400% increase in fuel costs. Not just any republicans... But a bunch of back-slapping, constitution-free Republican Legislators,and a Republican president who didn't know how to veto until January, 2007.

What about your environmentalist and democrat reps that have blocked gasoline refineries?

Hello, welcome to Wrongsville, population: You.

Environmental measures have been passed regarding the means of constructing and running refineries in the United States. These in no way stop anyone from building refineries, only require they produce less waste. Know what "less waste" means? MORE EFFICIENCY.

In the period between 1975 and 2000, the EPA received -one- request to build a new refinery. One. Several requests to expand existing refineries, but only one request for a new one.

Given that increased efficiency actually helps all business, that complying with EPA regulations is a great PR move, and that government subsidizes the costs of this industry with your tax dollars, combined with the growing DE-regulation under the bush administration, why do you think there are still no refineries being built?

The refineries are the choke point. Their shortage is what allows the oil companies to artificially inflate their prices, by restricting supply in the face of increasing demand. There's no shortage of crude out there.

Or the greenies wanting to block wind turbines because some birds get killed!

How about the people who don't want a turbine within the view of their 260 million dollar summer home?

What about some granola eater demanding I get an environmental study done before I drain a 1 acre pond on my 160 acres that I own!

This has what to do with the price of Unleaded in the US? or are you just whining about environmentalists in general?

You know you have to get all sorts of studies and surveys done to alter your property, bud. it would be the same if you were trying to empty a 100-acre lake. Being a conservative ninny, I know you think you deserve special considerations to put you above the law, well, you don't.

I don't like the price of gas, but nationalizing the oil companies wont fix the problem, it will only put more power into the governments hands. I dont want that!

of course you don't. Move to Monaco.

ps wusses, I just filled up for around 98 cents a gallon Plus I didn't have to pay gas tax on it either.

Siphoning someone else's tank makes you manly?

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 03:30 PM by skeptic1

Net profit margin is what a company gets after dividing net profits (after taxes) by their net sales.

And, last time I checked, every company was in business to make money....to make a profit. Businesses don't succeed by breaking even.

The oil industry has a profit margin of 8-9%. Does that seem high given the price of oil, the price of gas, the price of refining? Not when you look at other industries and companies.

Coca-Cola has a profit margin of 18-20%.
Merck has a profit margin of 19-20%.
The pharmaceutical industry has a profit margin of between 20-23%.
The biotech industry has a profit margin between 29-32%.
Microsoft has a profit margin of 24-28%.
Times Mirror (a newspaper publisher) has a profit margin of over 45%.

You get into business to make money. If you take the oil companies' profits, then you need to take everyone else's, too. It's only fair, after all, right?

And, truth be told, the freaking government makes more off a gallon of gas than the oil companies do. So, if the oil companies have a profit margin of 8-9%, then the US government has a profit (just from taxes, because they sure as hell aren't doing anything) of around 20% on gasoline alone. Now, looking at those numbers, is the problem with the oil companies or with the government.

But, in the end, we, the consumers, use their products. We are the ones providing them with their profits.

[edit on 3-8-2008 by skeptic1]

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 03:32 PM by mother_jung

reply to post by Krieger

both parties are playing games, the GOP and the Dems. They don't want to fix the problems if they cant create new ones to fix later. Both parties are corrupt. How can you blame one party without seeing the damage that the other is also doing?

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 03:33 PM by TheRedneck

reply to post by Krieger

You CAN'T STOP USING IT! That is BS to say "If you don't like it stop using it!" That's like saying if the price for food gets too high stop eating.

reply to post by TheWalkingFox

no, you CAN'T "just quit using it". We're not talking a bout beer nuts here. We're talking about a substance that pretty much every aspect of our daily lives revolves around.

Then why all the hatred toward someone who produces this necessary product? You do realize that it is completely legal if every oil company in the world just decided one day to shut down, right? After all they're only making 8% profit. They could put the money in a bank and fish all day for 4%.

Thanks to both of you for making my point.

TheRedneck

reply posted on 3-8-2008 @ 03:44 PM by mother_jung

reply to post by TheWalkingFox

It's called natural gas, not siphoning.

I own the property, its mine. The EPA, or in this case the Department of Environmental Quality should have no say in how I use it. This country was founded with self governance of private property in mind.