Alaskan Pipeline Corrosion

[ducati996]

9/11 was in 2001. A few years ago, was 2003 and if you look at the stocks and profits of the oil companies, they were in the toilet after the "recession" you speak of was well into a recovery. So your view of history is flawed. But if you go back farther into history you will see the oil companies have cycles of profits and losses and they are based on many factors, one of the main factors is the price of the raw oil. The higher their costs the higher their profits, but the lower their costs the more money they loose.

Ok Bob what ever you say - since the recession (or economic slowdown) lasted a while, and started in 2000, and lasted past 9/11(but that really pushed demand to a new low) on up into late or early 2003 what the heck - its on the oils 10q's as being a reason, so dont take my word for it -
What you failed to mentioned is that a lot of the their costs are fixed and have gone down (better technologies), so their profits go up. But its a different animal controlling the market, and playing with supply....oh by the way thanks for the history lesson, I find Im pretty much in the know and in sync with the times...

 

[ducati996]

Oh if we decide on how we are going define what a ression is or an economic slowdown is, we will not be looking at when the Admin announced it - usualy thats the last thing in the world they want to announce( its basically admittting your policies are a failure) - but look at the GNP, employment rate, layoffs, Industry annoucments, etc.. the real indicators that the "real Joe schmoe " of america deals with everyday

Duc

 

[MikePA]

Good thing we have folks like LMTC telling us what we need and dont need and the choices we evidently have based on his opinion. Oh yeah dont forget Economics 101 before you can converse with him....what a windbag

Simple logic - pigs get fat hogs get slaughtered.....want to guess who the hogs are?

1. If what the oil companies are making now is too much, what's the right amount of profit?

2. Who will set this amount?

3. How will it be enforced?

4. How will it lower fuel prices?

 

[ducati996]

1. If what the oil companies are making now is too much, what's the right amount of profit?

2. Who will set this amount?

3. How will it be enforced?

4. How will it lower fuel prices?

Are you looking to be educated or give education? Try answering your own questions first, and then I will either add my comments or agree/disagree to what you say...in other words contribute to the converstaion first in someway, otherwise you get ignored

 

[scesnick]

Ever hear of a guy named Lee Raymond? He is the retired CEO of Exxon. He was paid close to 1 Billion dollars by that company from 1993 to the present. His retirement package is close to 400 million. The Exxon board of directors approved his compensation. Care to guess who appointed those well paid directors ? You got it, Lee Raymond himself. And guess who is paying those Exxon salaries along with good ol' Lee. The working class people of America who MUST buy gas to go to work and heat thier homes.

What the American oil companies are doing is exploiting the uncertainty of the world . everytime a crazy mideast Government threatens to kill the Americans or Jews or whoever, speculators bid up the price of a barrel of oil . These speculators operate in the so called commodities markets. They simply gamble on what the price of oil will be six months from now. ( futures contracts)

Everytime oil company executives ( like Lee Raymond) see these people bidding up "futures" they order the gas stations owners to jack up the price of fuel passing the buck to the american people. This has absolutely nothing to do with 'Free Market" And is not " Supply and Demand" Gas supplies are at an 8 year high ( according to OPEC) and there is plenty of gas selling on the open market, more than enough to meet todays demand.

So everyday Americans are at the mercy of of this little game that is manipulated by a few greedy people playing high stakes financial roulette. And if they happen to lose once in a while , well, that will be passed on to us also..

Besides,there comes a time when making a profit borders dangerously close to the edge of price goughing, and I think these oil tycoons fell off that edge a while ago.

Personally, I am sick and tired of lining these A-Holes pockets. And I also know that the majority of America is too !!!

UH Oh, looks like someone did take Economics 101 !!!

 

[MikePA]

Are you looking to be educated or give education? Try answering your own questions first, and then I will either add my comments or agree/disagree to what you say...in other words contribute to the converstaion first in someway, otherwise you get ignored

I asked four simple questions of someone who believes the oil companies are making too much profit. If you don't want to, or can't, answer them say so. People who propose a change should have the integrity to show how it will be better and not hide behind personal attacks as you and scesnick have.

 

[ducati996]

I asked four simple questions of someone who believes the oil companies are making too much profit. If you don't want to, or can't, answer them say so.

BTW, I could care less if you ignore me. Your response is what I expected.

So is yours...scripted and by the play book - sorry I dont play by your rules find someone else for that game....

 

[MikePA]

So is yours...scripted and by the play book - sorry I dont play by your rules find someone else for that game....

There is no playbook and you obviously do not want to engage in a civil discussion.

 

[Bird]

Are you looking to be educated or give education? Try answering your own questions first, and then I will either add my comments or agree/disagree to what you say...in other words contribute to the converstaion first in someway, otherwise you get ignored

Ducati, that sure doesn't make much sense to me. Most of us ask questions when we don't know the answers and hope someone else does. Personally, I thought Mike asked some good questions and I'd like to hear any possible answers. Do you really think a person should not ask a question without answering his own question.

 

[scesnick]

MikePA,
In 1973 president Nixon imposed, by executive order, a ceiling on the price of crude oil During the oil crisis.
Why can't the Gov't do this again? Or impose some sort of Winfall tax?? While I'm not going to try and explain how this worked here on this forum, And I am not going to pretend to know everything about what and how this happend, ( I was only 3yrs. old at the time) This pretty much should answer your questions if you do some research.

Or, we could just simply bury our heads in the sand, let the price spiral out of control and just go along with the status quo.

For the guys here that think everything is just fine and this is business as usual, I ask you this. At what price are you personally going to say enough is enough already? $5-$6-$10 a gallon????
If we just do nothing and the price gets to $10 a gallon America WILL (not might) be shut down.
Truckers will not be able to afford to haul our goods, along with the railroad. And those two transportation businesses are the backbone of America.
Airline companies are already barely getting by now. The big 3 automotive manufacturers will shut down. A major depression will quickly rear its ugly head.
See where i am going with this ???

As a matter of fact the largest trucking company ( Schnieder) is already shutting down for one day and fuel is only at $3.10 now !!!!
So what is your personal price????