[coyote]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')il firms' profits too high
Public Policy; Political and Legal News
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has demanded hearings for energy company officials to face questioning. Sen. Byron Dorgan is leading the Democrats' response. The North Dakotan has introduced legislation allowing for three years a 50 percent excise levy on oil companies' profits when the price of crude oil exceeds $40 a barrel. There is provision made in the bill for the companies to avoid the tax by the amount they invest their profits in producing energy by drilling for oil or natural gas, building new oil refineries or producing renewable energy forms. The proceeds would be rebated to consumers under Dorgan's plan.

Bismarck Tribune

[Specop_007]

Thats so damned stupid. Only a Democrat would be against capitalism.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'T')hats so damned stupid. Only a Democrat would be against capitalism.

[fossilnut2]

The energy industry is global. The USA doesn't have the means to control energy prices or energy company profits. All the government of the USA can do is fiddle around the edges and try to handcuff those companies that operate in the USA. Any clouds overhanging future profits will just drive decision making and companies out of the USA.

The American energy industry is incredibly efficient both in securing supply and in delivery. It's very rare the light doesn't go on when a switch if flipped or there's no gasoline at the station or natural gas doesn't reach your furnace.

Success should be praised and not punished.

[Eli]

If oil hits a 100 dollars a barrel I guess the US will turn into a socialist state with free health care. Free Health care that sounds nice.

[MacG]

Well, well, so much for the "free market" then. It's not even a 180 degree turn, it's an immediate instinct.

This "market" thing is nice and cozy as long as there are surpluses sloshing around. And it's good for "nice to have's" like Rolex watches. But "the market" is a mean bitch when it come to necessities, telling everyone "let the poor starve and freeze if they dont have money".

In medieval European history, those conditions brought out crowds, torches and pitchforks, putting effective limits on feudal lords.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MacG', 'W')ell, well, so much for the "free market" then. It's not even a 180 degree turn, it's an immediate instinct.

[Leanan]

Capitalism is not going to survive peak oil. Commerce, certainly, capitalism - no. Capitalism requires constant growth, and that cannot be supported on finite resources.

[fossilnut2]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MacG', '.') But "the market" is a mean bitch when it come to necessities, telling everyone "let the poor starve and freeze if they dont have money".

[MacG]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('fossilnut2', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MacG', '.') But "the market" is a mean bitch when it come to necessities, telling everyone "let the poor starve and freeze if they dont have money".

[pilferage]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'T')hats so damned stupid. Only a Democrat would be against capitalism.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'T')hats so damned stupid. Only a Democrat would be against capitalism.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'T')hats so damned stupid. Only a Democrat would be against capitalism.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', '
')
Re-read that quote. Judd Gregg (R) called for a windfall profits tax, e.g. not a donation.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', '
')Yes, I should have said liberal and conservative instead.

[aahala]

It's great to see the Republicans and Democrats finally coming together.

They've found an issue they both can demagoge and on the same
side even.

[fossilnut2]

[quote="emersonbiggins
If you ask me, the deficit-spending wackos we have now are of the worst kind: their brand of socialism is taking from the taxpayers (well, actually, future taxpayers) and giving it to the corporations. Infuriating.[/quote]

There was an election in 2000 and Americans elected (well sort of) this President. More to the point, there was an election 4 years later and the American people quite voluntarily elected him again (and a Republican Senate & Congress).

George junior wasn't a mystery in 2004. If George had run in my country he'd have rec'd about 10% of the vote and about the same in most other democratic countries in the world. The Americans haven't had anything 'taken' by this regime but twice quite willingly (and shockingly to most of the world) 'given' resources, freedom (and their sanity) up to this regime.

[emersonbiggins]

*pd*

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('fossilnut2', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', '
')If you ask me, the deficit-spending wackos we have now are of the worst kind: their brand of socialism is taking from the taxpayers (well, actually, future taxpayers) and giving it to the corporations. Infuriating.

[coyote]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('fossilnut2', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MacG', '.') But "the market" is a mean bitch when it come to necessities, telling everyone "let the poor starve and freeze if they dont have money".