Washington —- As gasoline prices reached a record high Wednesday, Congress was told that more small businesses will be forced to declare bankruptcy unless the government regulates the price of gas.Witnesses at a House Small Business Committee hearing called for government price controls and said it is unfair for energy companies to make huge profits and receive tax breaks while consumers suffer.
"We need to limit the price of fuel on a weekly basis. The government needs to help us with the gas costs rising so we can at least budget for the coming week and know the price will remain stable," said Michael Graff, owner of Michael Graff Trucking in Natrona Heights, Pa.
Hello! Were any of you fuckheads alive during the Nixon, Ford, and Carter administrations? Do you realize that price controls never work? Do you want gas shortages and gas lines?
I'm sorry that you guys are having problems with your businesses. Maybe you should have demanded Congress open up ANWR and offshore drilling. Hmmmmm? China is drilling off the Gulf Coast and they are not as environmentally conscious as we are. They are taking our oil because the buttheads in Congress won't let us drill.
Maybe you should have demanded that we build more oil refineries. We haven't built a new one in over 30 years and the ones we have are running at full capacity. Because of that we have to import diesel fuel.
Maybe you should demand that we come up with a blend for the entire country rather than the multiple blends that have been mandating by the gummint.
Maybe you ought to take Econ 101. Then you would know about the law of supply and demand. World demand has gone up due to the emerging economies of China and India. If demand goes up and supply remains the same, the price goes up. Happens every time. And the rat bastard commies Dimcrats always try to circumvent the law of supply and demand with bullshit like price controls with absolutely no success but that sure doesn't stop them from tying.
Also Econ 101 will explain the difference between profit and profit margin. It sounds like the oil companies are making obscene profits. That's what the asswipe politicians want you to think. But when you look at the money invested to achieve those profits it turns out that the profit margins of the oil companies are around 10%. There are many companies that have higher profit margins than that. Microsoft comes to mind. Are they gouging? Hmmmm. Maybe that's a bad example.
What we are seeing in the oil portion of the energy sector is gonna get worse. We have ecotards blocking the building of coal fired plants and nuke plants because we sure don't want to piss off Gaia. We have already had rolling blackouts in California. They want power but not the power plants.
I got news for you assholes. Wind and solar are not the answer. Solar cannot compete cost wise and the ecotards are pissed because wind turbines kill birds. We sure don't want to kill Tweetie. Also we have people like the Floater who don't want wind turbines where they can see them.
Even if we opened up ANWR and drilling off the coast and started building refineries, it wouldn't solve the problem today, but this is stuff that should have been started years ago. So why didn't the Republicans do this seven years ago when they controlled everything? They tried. Unfortunately, they did not have enough votes in the Senate to prevent a filibuster.
With the Dimnocrats running Congress and soon winning the presidency look for the return of the Jimmah Carter years. Jug Hussein Ears is gonna be the black Jimmah Carter. We will have a windfall profits tax which will do nothing to solve the problem but will feel good because we'll be punishing those eeeeeee-vil oil companies who are making those "obscene profits". Gas prices will continue to rise. Oooops! They won't because we'll return to price controls. That means we'll have gas shortages and gas lines. Been there. Done that. Saw the movie. Got the T-shirt.
History does repeat itself.
Posted by denny at April 10, 2008 11:56 AMExcellent...
Posted by: Shredder on April 10, 2008 01:03 PMToo simple a solution:
REMOVE ALL OF THE FUCKING TAXES FROM FUEL which will literally cut the price in half.
Besides, those GD taxes were instituted so long ago that gas was considered a luxury. It is now a major necessity and should not be taxed, just as food is (somewhat) not taxed.
No necessities for living should be taxed. That is direct highway robbery.
I am now going to call and write my congresscritters and demand that taxes from necessities such a fuel be removed.
Sometimes I wish I was a prick of a lawyer. Someone needs to get fucking sued, and it is not the oil companies.
Posted by: Willie on April 10, 2008 01:06 PM"Due in part to substantial hikes in the federal gasoline excise tax in 1983, 1990, and 1993, annual tax revenues have continued to grow. Since 1977, governments collected more than $1.34 trillion, after adjusting for inflation, in gasoline tax revenues—more than twice the amount of domestic profits earned by major U.S. oil companies during the same period"
Who's fuckin who?
Stole it from here
Posted by: kerrcarto on April 10, 2008 01:11 PMI agree with everything being said, but it is also my understanding that the oil companies recieve subsidies from the govt. Personally, I'm opposed to any subsidies what so ever, but this is the answer libs give me whenever I defend the oil companies. Can anyone tell me how much they recieve in subsidies? A good link would be helpful.
Posted by: Steve on April 10, 2008 01:38 PMWish I could rant like that. I am equally pissed off. Just don't have the creative skills to put it to words.
Crap, I guess I'm just gonna have to steal some of it.
Thanks guys.
Willie - The gas taxes are supposed to pay for roads. Unfortunately, the gummint, in its infinite wisdom uses those revenues for boondoggles like mass transit then claims it doesn't have the money to build roads. As long as the taxes are used for roads I have no problem with them. And, I'm sorry, I don't consider fuel a necessity.
Steve - I believe the oil companies get some tax breaks. In other words, they are allowed to keep some of their own money. To Dimocrats this means a subsidy just like allowing taxpayers to keep some of their own money means the gummint is giving them money. Remember, to a liberal all the money belongs to gummint because they can spend it more wisely than you can.
Posted by: Denny on April 10, 2008 02:09 PMI loved the congresscritters railing on the oil execs asking them why they aren't investing more money in finding alternative fuels. I was just waiting for one of the CEO's to stand up and yell "Because we are in the oil business you fucking moron." That would have made watching all that C-Span worth it.
Posted by: kerrcarto on April 10, 2008 03:08 PMRoger Hitchcock sat in for Rush this morning and hit this topic hard, along with a bunch of other issues and crises that the government has created. His rant was nothing short of awesome. I wish I could get a copy of that.
Posted by: Paul on April 10, 2008 03:15 PMHey Paul-
Roger is an awesome dude. He's local here in S.D., and has a cool radio program. I like listening to him because he bashes the local liberals relentlessly about their fucked up "programs" and silly "ideas". Unless you're not talking about Roger Hedgecock...
Oh man, you know what? It was Jason Lewis not Roger. I confuse the two voices. But yeah, Roger in San Diego is pretty damn smart.
Posted by: Paul on April 10, 2008 03:52 PMWell, if the environmentalist wackos would let 'em build a couple more REFINERIES, & get away from using eleventy-seven different "blends" of gas, that MIGHT help a bit, too. There's PLENTY of oil out there, it's just trying to run it thru the piss ureter of the refinery system...But WTF do I know ? I'm a dum ol' hillbilly...
Posted by: Sandy G on April 10, 2008 03:52 PMOne does not have to look far to get a very clear whiff of the Cheney "morality" at work here.
He was closely involved in the Enron scandal and still refuses to this day to disclose to Congress the documents from the 2001 National Energy Policy Development Group, of which he was the prominent member, citing immunity in his capacity as vice-president.
Ever notice how every time he goes on a "Middle East Mission" that about 14-21 days later domestic fuel prices take another hit?
Certainly, I'm not saying anything is amiss here; but price-controls and gas lines and such are at least openly-visible manifestations of what might be on his agenda.
Posted by: DanS. on April 10, 2008 04:00 PMFuck DanS, you're pointing your finger at the wrong guy. Cheney has always supported oil exploration and increasing refinery capacity. I'm not giving him a free pass here, but you have to understand that it is the Democrat Party not the Republican that has been effectively blocking new oil supply. Oil prices are also the result of increasing global demand chasing after an increasingly finite supply of oil and gas. There is more to this puzzle than just Enron, buddy. I am bring to your attention some very fundamental economic points to consider.
Posted by: Paul on April 10, 2008 04:40 PMFlying into Dallas a while ago I was dumbstruck by the amount of lights that could be seen that went on endlessly.
It dawned on me that those were only the outdoor lights.
Just imagine the energy requirements for the interior lights, refrigerators, heaters, electronic equipment, etc.
And these useless, self-centered, short sighted politicians have the gaul to not get serious about alternative energy sources.
This country needed nuclear power plants 20 years ago, never mind now.
The future for the people in this country is extremely bleak as long as the gummint assholes continue this way.
We have been hearing about alternative sources of energy for 60 years and nothing has changed at all. They are too busy right now debating how to charge companies and citizens in order to curb greenhoues gases. That's right, that are looking to fuck us because they actually believe in global warming.
Even global warming were true, who cares, WE NEED ENERGY, ANY KIND OF ENERGY TO SURVIVE.
This is sincerely where the system is broken. Every decision is based upon the here and now and how will it get me re-elected. As far as the real future is concerned, who gives a shit.
Social Security is a perfect example.
Something seriously needs to occur to get these Mandarins into running this government for the good of the people.
The other problem; nothing will change because most of the politicians are truly LOSERS. They don't even know how to correct problems, how to run anything and how to FIGHT for our interests.
If the value of the dollar wasn't so low and the gummint corruption wasn't so bad, I'd retire, buy a sailboat and sail the Pacific Seas.
Posted by: Willie on April 10, 2008 05:14 PM"We need to limit the price of fuel on a weekly basis. The government needs to help us with the gas costs rising so we can at least budget for the coming week and know the price will remain stable," said Michael Graff, owner of Michael Graff Trucking in Natrona Heights, Pa.
If Micheal Graff is having his drivers put gas in 18 wheelers he's got bigger problems to worry about than the price of gas.
Posted by: Boss429 on April 10, 2008 06:50 PMWithout blowing smoke in any holes, great site, ive taken almost a day to work my way through the last few months worth of posts.
Excellent work, im here in the good old United Kingdom wish we had more people like you telling it like it really is . In the Uk fuel is now £1.10 per letre wich run to about $2.50 per gallon of which 85% is tax.
you think your in the shit whith a future democrat president, try living for 10 years under a Labour (commie dimocrat)party.
keep up the excellent work
rich
Portsmouth UK
Welcome aboard, Richard. Glad to hear from our good brothers and sisters from the United Kingdom.
Posted by: Paul on April 10, 2008 09:03 PMRichard-
I concur with Paul. It’s always nice to hear a friendly voice from across the pond, yet in the same mindset called sanity. Cheers brother!
$2.50/Gal?
Never thought I'd say this, but that don't sound too bad compared to $3.34/Gal here today.
CD:
Beck's case price went up by a whopping $7.50 this week. Marlboro carton went from $27.99 to $32.99; eggs, milk, cheese, bread and the entire shopping cart saw similar increases.
Must be that supply & demand thing, huh?
Posted by: DanS. on April 10, 2008 11:36 PMDanS - Nope. It's that transportation thing. How do you think the Becks, Marlboros (Do you smoke? Think how much you could save by quitting.), eggs, milk, cheese, bread, and the entire shopping cart get to the store? Transportation costs get passed on to the consumer. Thank the Dimocrats. Also, because of the ethanol boondoggle (Thank both parties.), the price of corn has gone up. What do the feed lots use to fatten up cattle? Corn. So that pushes the price of beef up. Since more land is now planted in corn, less land is planted in wheat. Up go wheat prices which push up the price of bread. Soy beans are up as well. Yannow, in your spare time, maybe you should audit an Econ 101 course at the school you teach at or maybe just get an Econ 101 text book and read it.
We're heading for a repeat of the 70's and we are gonna elect the black Jimmah Carter. Unfortunately, McRINO wouldn't be much better. In other words we are screwed. Hello stagflation. Hello gas lines. But by golly we are saving the environment.
Posted by: Denny on April 10, 2008 11:51 PMDen:
I recall my New England Professor commencing Econ101 Class with a single New England drawled-word:
"ScaahCity"
Supply may be finite, but demand can be juiced, tweaked, induced, and otherwise manipulated; now, why do you suppose anyone might want to do such a thing?
Strangely enough, Prostitution101 works off of these same principles. I know I'm in for a lecture on John Maynard Keynes, but one cannot spend what one does not have in perpetuity and somehow think this will increase the supply-side.
What did the first President Bush and his Budget Director (David Stockman) call these policies of Reagan et al?
Oh, yeah: 'voodoo economics'; which is why I quit listening.
Posted by: DanS. on April 11, 2008 12:15 AMrichard - welcome. I am no math major but I believe that if gas is 1.10 pounds per litre that is a lot more then 2.50 per gallon. there is about 4 liters in a gallon and the pound is trading about 1 pound to $2.....that means that your gas is closer to $9 per gallon.
I will also say that a stock holder of exxon hopes that they are an energy company not an oil company. fact is the shit is running out. we have to and indeed will and ARE coming up with alternatives. America is the imagination of the world.
It will be a WONDERFUL day when we replace oil. those fuckers can eat sand and have the same attention the world currently gives Rwanda.
Posted by: patrick on April 11, 2008 12:41 AMOne more thing:
How do you make the big & small decisions that make up your daily day? What factors come into play when deciding between mowing the grass or taking a nap? buying this product over that one? grill a burger or eat a salad?
No need to answer (this is not an accusation!) because I already know:
acting as the 'rational maximizer', comparing expected gain against what one might expect to give up.
I learned this from Milton Friedman:
"TANSTAAFL"!
There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!
Without assigning labels such as (D) or (R) or even (I), I think I am quite grounded if I can assimilate Keynes & Friedman and find a balance between them.
In short, just to stay on topic, gasoline today cost me more than it should simply because some speculators are scared; scared not of running out of supply, but of running out of profits based on (fear) demand. You can take that to the bank!
Posted by: DanS. on April 11, 2008 12:47 AMpatrick:
Thanks for that math! I was thinking the same thing earlier when I posted my first comment on this topic.
And while I agree that Exxon is an Energy Company and not exclusively an oil company, could you possibly grant me that 'global warming' and 'climate change' are not interchangeable terms?
I think that what's left out of that ENTIRE debate is simply the rate of change.
The climate of our Small Blue Planet indeed has wide variations & long periods of both advance & decline, but what cannot be denied is the rate/change as effected by we burping, farting meat-eaters as we peel out from the various fast-food joints of our lifestyle with no thought whatsoever as to the consequences of our every action.
Surely, supply & demand, TANSTAAFL, MPG and calories are marked by close acquaintance, are association-linked, and matter if we are to pass on to our progeny something akin at least to what we have had and have today.
So damn me as the Conservative that I am and
"Have A Fine Navy Day, ShipMate!"
DanO-
Long time...
Beck's case price went up by a whopping $7.50 this week. Marlboro carton went from $27.99 to $32.99;
Shit dude, that's what we've been paying down here for the last couple years. Consider yourself lucky. And this coming from a SPF.
As I enjoy your smartass comments, all I am saying is that I'm not in that typical "middle class" group that these middle-to-upper-class libtards like TDO always use to try and scare us working class folks into believing. I work, I pay my taxes, I don't have children and/or property that I can't afford, and I live pretty good. It could always be better, but then again, it could always be worse. I'm just tired of the diatribe from retards like TDO who try to use "class" as leverage to spew rhetorical bullshit that really means nothing. Nothing. Her BDS has got her by the balls and isn't letting go no matter what the facts may be.
Ya know? That same ol' tired bullshit about the "neo-cons" only giving the "rich folks" the tax breaks? I fucking rent an apartment, my truck is paid off, and I work for a living to support my wants, needs, and vices. I don't need anyone to support me, but me! Simple. And I certainly don't need some deranged "poor me" fool trying to tell me that I can't get by because gas, cheese, milk & cookies cost too much.
Like I said, I'm far from rich, but I'm not bitter because someone else is. They obviously had more motivation than I did. They made better choices than I did. More power to them. I'm also not whining about where I am today. I made my choices and it's nobody's fault but mine. So be it! TDO needs to grow the fuck up and realize that in this country you have the freedom to succeed, and you also have the freedom to fail. She also needs to realize that it's all a personal choice and no one is responsible for one's self but themself. Period!
Fuck, DanS-
Here you got me rambling again...
Supply and demand? Yes. It's a simple concept if you really look into it. You can't blame everything on Dubya and Cheney.
Posted by: CharlieDelta on April 11, 2008 01:34 AMCD:
You know as well as I do that NOBODY tries to understand you more than I do and NO ONE is more in your corner when it comes to DEFENSE!
Didcha ever notice that in the vast majority of my posts, I use far more question marks than periods or exclamation marks?
We've fought it out (amicably, I might add!) over that more than a few times over the years.
I was raised to question ALL authority, to enthusiastically support 'sense' if sense is what made a logical-answer to my question. Obviously, I was equally-raised to enthusiastically blow holes in bombastic bullshit answers.
GLAD, I am, that I have CD 'rambling'! So much more 'sense' comes through! :)
I'll take any comment from any commenter to both thought & heart once I see that the bombast has been thrown on the common bonfire that keeps us all warm! We need rational-THOUGHT more than BBSA!
Now GET TO SLEEP!!! :)
Never you mind what anyone who wants to lay guilt; or scare; or cynicism on you does! You just keep being YOU!
Posted by: DanS. on April 11, 2008 02:13 AM"Ever notice how every time he goes on a "Middle East Mission" that about 14-21 days later domestic fuel prices take another hit?"
Break out the tin foil hats folks, cause Dan is on another one of his great conspiracy tirades again. Hey Dan, have you noticed that whenever the shuttle takes off the weather here on the East Coast is a little funky for a while. Time to stop those trips into outer space.
What everyone here is refusing to see is a very simple fact. The American people have excepted and shown that they will pay X dollars per gallon of gasoline, so why would companies that want to profit lower their prices. Agree or not, it's the way of capitalism.
I'm pissed off, why? Because boobs and rubes like DanS can't see the simple facts for what they are. Smokes in MN are 42.50 per carton, eggs and milk are 3 something and don't even get me started on the price of beef. It is some what supply and demand. Because of the false hype for the crap that is ethonol-corn is now in great demand. China and India demand oil more and can get it from companies that drill in places that we "cannot". It's a bunch of hooey. What is killing me and our biz is the price of Diesel Fuel. Trucks run on diesel, trucks rule the world and literally put food on my table. We are looking for new and outside work now in order to tread water. I'm no expert on the fuel industry, but I do know this. Diesel fuel was 2 bucks a gallon not too long ago, today its doubled. Here's the kicker, diesel fuel is cheaper to make, and provides better fuel economy over-all. I can't help but wonder why we're getting socked so badly-because it's a commercial industry most likely. The powers that be have control over when and why to mix the shit high or low and my guys are out of work. It pisses me off that the environazis and congress critters are attending their black tie events via limos and private jets,while a semi-retired guy like my Dad can't bid a job to make a profit-for example. WTF?
To everyone who bitches about gasoline prices, get a grip. It doesn't cost you a grand to fill up your corolla. Sell your oil company stocks already in protest. Nope, I didn't think so. Sorry for the rant, but I'm none to thrilled as of late.
DanS....
Did you ever consider what the price of all goods dependent on oil & gas for delivery & manufacture would be if we had developed the oil fields under ANWR, the coastal zones & constructed new Refineries to meet consumer demand?.......like other countries are doing!
How about establishing one blend of Gasoline for the country instead of the regional system of custom blends we have now? The one fact all people should understand is oil & gas is absolutely essential to the survival of our economic system.
The only reason we have any problem today is due to the influence of ecological guilt,raving moon bats, environmental wackoloons & liberal do-gooders........ all oblivious for the damage they do to this country & the future for our children.
Economics 101 as I understand it from a real world point of view as a small business owner is supply & demand. If the supply does not meet the demand , the price goes up. If the supply exceeds the demand ,the price goes down. It really is that simple.
You can sit there & dream of conspiratorical efforts of the rich & evil but the truth is they get even wealthier when they sell more of a product at a lower price as opposed to a higher price for a lesser quantity. Why? because the availability of a product increases its usage & hence the demand for it.
The TDO`s, the enviro-nazis, the eco-freaks, the Global warmer/change nut cases, & the raving moon bats etc, are all on the wrong side of reality.A change for the good of this country to accept reality is in order.....where do you plan to place yourself DanS.......with us or with those in need of institutional assistance.
Richard, welcome. You are a little off in your statement. your rate works out to $2.17 a litre, or $8.20 a gallon. Labor has punished you folks for a lot of years now.
Saw your error and wanted to correct it so every one would know what you have to deal with.
A temporary reduction of fuel taxes would help the industry, but is pointless unless congress is willing to all oil drilling in ANWR, and off shore, and to allow wells in places such as California to be reopened. Wells there have been shut down for years due to Mexifornia controls. They have also banned new drilling. Time to end all that and reduce our dependence.
I read somewhere that the profit margin in the banking industry is close to 33%. Anyone ever hear of Congress grilling banking executives for their "obscene profits"? They are buffoons, all of them.
Right on, LisaKay! I have been yelling about diesel for a while myself. In not too far in the distant past, diesel was at least one buck cheaper than unleaded. It's cheaper to make and more economical. For all production and economic purposes, it should sell for cheaper yet still reap an economic profit.
That being said, I'm going to play devil's advocate. Assuming that nothing shady is at work here, there is a possibility that greater refinery capacity is required to produce unleaded over diesel due to the overall energy demand profile. In other words, our country may require more gallons of unleaded to diesel. I understand that our nation's refineries are operating at 90% capacity utilization and higher. At that utilization rate, overall production flexibility is diminished so greatly that it is nearly impossible to satisfy 100% of overall demand on a consistent basis. Therefore, something has to give. In this case, it might be diesel. The opportunity cost is that there are less resources available to produce diesel; therefore, the diesel price has to go up.
The problem can be solved by increasing refinery capacity. Well no shit huh? But the fucking government will have none of that. The problem can also be solved through competition or substitution but, as we have all pointed out, there is simply no economic substitute to oil today. And since the energy industry is regulated so heavily, together with the OPEC assholes, the barriers to entry are too great. For all intensive purposes, energy is an oligopoly. So there goes the competition. The problem can also be solved by deregulating the number of different types of unleaded fuel mixes across the country, as Denny so dutifully pointed out. But, guess who? You're right. It's the government fucking us there, too.
In summary, without the ability to increase refinery capacity, together with the lack of pure industry competition and no viable economic substitutes, I propose that the price of diesel is justifiably, while obviously unfair, higher.
Posted by: Paul on April 11, 2008 11:27 AMjeremy - what am I a potted plant?? ;-)
I am mystifyed at the diesel thing. isn't diesel just some oil tar, sticks, and dirt? I fail to understand how it got so expensive. I'd love to know. is it the refining capacity? is diesel even refined??
inquiring minds.
DanS- I cannot grant you that climate change and global warming are not interchangeable terms. You have to see Pope Al on that one. He holding the puppet strings on all that crap. That is purely dimocrat speak. out of my pay grade.
Posted by: patrick on April 11, 2008 01:04 PMMarlboro's $57.29 + 9.0% tax= $62.45 per carton
Beck's 32.00 + 9.0% sales tax = $34.88 per 24 case
regular gas $3.55 gallon premium $3.85
Diesel $4.23
This is what happens when you are surrounded and governed by dimocrats! Welcome to Washington state.
Five years ago, we had no toll roads. Starting next week, we get to pay a toll to use the car pool lanes.
DanS, you shouldn't have posted prices. Envy is a sin and I'm sinning right now.
(If forced to sin, I would rather it involve women)
Denny,
God damn effing right. Every single damn word. I couldn't of said it any better.
I hope you don't mind, but I linked to this post via my own blog.
Posted by: Braden on April 11, 2008 01:58 PMPatrick - Because we don't have enough refinery capacity, we have to import some of our diesel. Thank a Dimocrat.
Posted by: Denny on April 11, 2008 02:06 PMDenny said in one sentence what it took me to say in three fucking paragraphs! This is why I don't blog and leave it to the pros like Denny.
Posted by: Paul on April 11, 2008 02:09 PMSupply & demand cannot explain everything. You should read carefully DanS when he talks about speculation. Otherwise, how could you explain the large fluctuations we must face?
For the record, Diesel Fuel costs 7$/gal today in France.
Now I drive slowly my family car (a huge one) to increase its fuel efficiency : 30mpg.
Excellent post, Denny. I just wish it didn't have to be said. Here in Iowa ethanol plants are not only the new churches, it's as if they're the new national guard armories that will protect us from our enemies. I'm wondering how much further we'll have to go down this road before we can no longer avoid choosing whether to put that corn in our stomachs or our gas tanks.
Posted by: Dadgum on April 11, 2008 03:35 PMProsper - You are correct that some of the price run up is due to speculation on the futures market and that will self correct, but the main component is supply versus demand. With India and China demanding more oil for their growing economies, supply cannot keep up with demand and the price of oil is going up. Another component is oil is priced in dollars and as the value of the dollar declines, the price of oil rises.
All that being said, the US has not addressed our domestic supply and the asshole ecotards (Dimocrats and RINOs) in Congress will not allow us to drill in ANWR and off our coast. And we have to import some of our diesel fuel because we do not have the refinery capacity. A large portion of our gas price problem has been caused by our gummint and now we're expecting that same gummint to fix the problem.
Posted by: Denny on April 11, 2008 03:50 PMI like this place. Reminds me of a Chiefs' mess on a small cruiser. Few things vivify my brittle cardiovascular bits more than curmudgeons laying their egos out on the table for people to take potshots at and then defending them in reductio ad absurdum.
Excelsior! Y'all. Fortunately so far I've been tres astute in identifying and avoiding the presentation and measuring of gender paraphernalia on the mess table. I'll lurk and smirk, thanx. Reminds me of the old party-line fones when I was a kid.
Posted by: ET on April 11, 2008 04:38 PMStarting next week, we get to pay a toll to use the car pool lanes.
What?! How? Where? How did I miss this?
Posted by: Peggy U on April 12, 2008 03:43 AMET-I'm not sure of what you are speaking. But I think that like what you said about the GOCers being seated closer to the Chief's table than the kiddie card table. Keep on smirking me bruthah!
I have a collection of funny Chief jokes if you want me to send them :)
LisaKay -- Sure. Most of the guys on my list are ex-Navy, many of 'em retired CPOs, and my son is about to retire as Chief. When I retired, my permanent enlisted rank was MCPO, but I chose to go with my CWO rank for pay purposes . . . mucho higher. Always glad to hear a new joke, even if it is about Navy chiefs.
What I was saying (above) is that many of the regular posters here remind me of grumpy old smartasses of the type I sailed with and ran with in the 60s and 70s. Generally the discussion began with someone reminding everyone else how his specialty or his old ship or his division or whatever was better than somebody else's. Always reminded me of measuring to see whose dick was the biggest. Learned a long time ago which discussions to get into and which to avoid.
Still say those growling old farts with the cigarette-stained fingers and permanently stained coffee mugs and lube-oil-stained khakis were what kept the Navy going between Pearl Harbor and the Fall of Saigon. Proud to know 'em and be one of 'em, but even more glad I knew when to butt out. Same thing around here.
Posted by: ET on April 12, 2008 10:08 AMET - I'm ex-Navy but I only made it to ETN3. When I got out to the fleet, my leading ET, an Ex-Bos'ns Mate who after 14 years was still only an E-5 would not let me take the E-4 test immediately. As such, after I finally sewed on my Crow, to make E-5 I would have had to extend my enlistment by two months. No way that was happening, as I hated the military life. Yep. I was an asshole even then and you'd be surprised with all the shit I got away with when I was transferred to an LST and in the last 14 months I was the only ET who could fix anything.
Since ET was a critical rate, they offered me $12K to ship over. This was a lot of money in 1969. I turned it down.
Posted by: Denny on April 12, 2008 11:39 AMYeah, Denny . . . you and I have had this discussion before. I, too, was ETN3 (1961) and got pretty good at fixin quite a few things, such as KW-26s, 37s, KG-14s, KG-22s, KY-8s, KW-7s, TEDs, GRCs, SPS-10s, SPA-4s, SPA-50s, URR-35s, R-1051s, URC-32s, and lotsa other stuff in those old 19" racks. Never actually did any time on a gator, tho.
They gave me a gold chinstrap, and in 75 I was Director of ET"A" in GLakes. Finally hung it up when I ran into an ex-enlisted LCDR who was a liar, a bully, a petty thief, and a piss-poor manager. He particularly liked thinking he had told his div-offs to do something but hadn't, then bring it up in the weekly dog-and-pony show to embarrass and ridicule some poor guy who didn't know what the hell the boss was talking about.
Finally got to the point that we told him one day he'd have to put everything in writing or we wouldn't be responsible for carrying out his directives. He called it mutiny and took it up with the CO. Captain called us together and got our side of the story, then told our boss he thought written orders would be a fine idea for the good of the command.
The guy was turning me into somebody I wouldn't particularly like to be around, so I told my detailer to get me out of there. He said I HAD to go to a friggin carrier, and I told him he was nuts. He insisted I was too senior for anything smaller and would be a troublemaker in the wardroom. Said my only other option was to come to DC and be HIS relief.
I reminded him of a third option, which was transfer to the retired list. He thought it was a bluff and called me on it, so I submitted the letter and got out before I became part of the problem instead of a factor in its solution. Same reason I quit teaching at the university -- got tired of kids not coming to class or coming in without having read the assignments and not really giving a damn if they failed or not. Knowing that sooner or later it'd turn out to be an instructor going through the motions for a bunch of people who didn't want to be there either, a lose-lose situation, I quit after 15 years of that and have done a particularly fine job of absolutely nothing since.
Always hated those old ex-enlisted officers who knew they were already promoted as high as they'd ever get and just sat around telling everybody how things USED to be, and magically getting more heroic and superhuman each time they told the story. Same with professors who kept teaching their own doctoral dissertation for 20 years, fatally boring young minds who'd really like to explore something more relevant and modern. Didn't want to see myself in a few years just like those tired, bitter, old anachronisms.
Posted by: ET on April 12, 2008 12:18 PMPeggy U
Hwy 167 between Auburn and Renton.
Chuck, the Highway 167 toll is a fucking outrage. Washington DOT is nothing but a bunch of losers. Man, that toll topic is one hot button with me.
Posted by: Paul on April 12, 2008 04:20 PMProsper.....
Actually you should read more carefully what people like Denny & other knowledgeable posters here with regard to anything concerning explanations for reality. I have gained a great deal of knowledge from many of the posters here. I consider most of those here to be quite intelligent, concerned & willing to share their views with any of a mind to read.
As for me, I post from a position of what I know/understand or willing to take the time to research. In order to post with & be accepted by the fraternity of posters here, it was required. . I am most grateful for the friendship & comraderie which I am privileged to have shared with so many.
As for the wingnuts, asshats, moonbats, wackoloons & trolls who periodically wander to this site.....comic relief is always welcome & allows for pointed verbal abuse to those sorely
in need.
ET, we all know that Cheifs run the Navy. For a funny-google tube daze it's cute as hell.
Posted by: LisaKay on April 13, 2008 07:58 AMLisaKay - Chiefs run the Navy but all the work is done by E4's and below. E5's and E6's spend a lot of time in the Acey-Deucy Lounge.
Posted by: Denny on April 13, 2008 04:05 PMChuck: Who goes to Renton?
Posted by: Peggy U on April 14, 2008 12:18 AMFrom Prosper to Dudley : ????
Posted by: Prosper on April 14, 2008 01:55 AMProsper.......
My comment was in English.......since you did not comprehend, the intent was for caution as to who from America you pay attention for understanding.
You are not normally among those in the last paragraph.
Posted by: dudley1 on April 14, 2008 08:04 AMYep, but why should I read more carefully to understand reality? Denny explained a theory, I commented it, and he replied I was partially correct. Period.
We call that an exhange of views...
Posted by: Prosper on April 14, 2008 11:18 AMProsper....
You missed the point again, my comment was not about Denny`s post or your response to Denny .....It was in reference to your post to read carefully what Dans posted, he is not for the most part a credible source for information as he has some strange positions & disappears when challenged with reality. It does not much matter how carefully you read DanS as his point is usually out in left field or circling the moon.
Posted by: Dudley1 on April 14, 2008 01:40 PMSomethin' don't add up here.
If the oil companies aren't building new refineries, as you say, and aren't really changing anything about the gas they do make, that means they're not spending a ton on research & development.
I don't think your assessment of their profit margin is accurate and I think your assertion that ecotards are the only thing impeding any change as far as exploring new avenues for energy production is very misleading -- you don't think Big Oil lobbies the hell out of the "guvmint", or plays a hand in suppressing "energy independence"?
You come off like a real-know-it-all, but, you're bit naive.
Posted by: Wyomia on April 21, 2008 10:49 AMWyomia - "Somethin' don't add up here."
Yes. You're right. It's your knowledge of basic economics. May I suggest you take a course in economics so you could learn the difference between profits and profit margins. Or maybe just check a book on economics out of the library. Don't just parrot the liberal line. Learn sumpin' about how capitalism works.
Yes, oil companies lobby Congress as does all big business. Do you know what the oil companies want? They want to drill for more oil. That's what they do. That's how they make money. Now who is not letting them drill for more oil? It certainly isn't conservatives like me.
Do you know why the price of diesel fuel has gone up more than the price of gas? It's not a plot by the eeee-vil oil companies. We do not have the refinery capacity. Remember, we haven't built any new refineries in over 30 years. We have to import some of our diesel fuel.
Do you know anyone who actually works for an oil company? I have a friend who works for the eeeeevil Exxon Mobile. They're sinking a ton into R&D, because eventually we will run out of oil (prolly not for 100 years). One of the things they are looking at is an economical way to extract oil from the tar sands in Wyoming. Of course the ecotards will be against that as well.
I regret to say that I'm not the one who is naive. I actually know sumpin' about economics. I took it in college and I have since read many books on it. We have a worldwide demand for oil. As China's and India's economies grow, their demand for oil increases. If the supply remains the same, the price increases. It is that old supply and demand thing. Congress is not letting us increase our supply by letting the eeee-vil oil companies drill in ANWR or off the coast.
Now I bet you and your liberal friends (professors if you're in school) advocate price controls on gas because the eeee-vil oil companies are charging too much and their profits are obscene. We did that in the 70's it didn't work. It resulted in long lines at gas stations.
"You come off like a real-know-it-all, but, you're bit naive."
I'm not a real know-it-all, but it is obvious to the most casual observer that I know a lot more than you do. When you know what you're actually talking about c'mon back and we can have a serious discussion. Start with the law of supply and demand and how the market sets prices. Think with your brain rather than feeling with your heart and parroting the liberal line.
Posted by: Denny on April 21, 2008 01:16 PM