Posted on 05/05/2008 8:12:37 PM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
RFFM.org Commentary
I have a very close friend who worked in the oil industry for many years. Let's call him Joe. Joe started working in the oil fields of foreboding places like North Dakota as a roughneck where temperatures regularly reached forty degrees below zero or more in the winter. In the summer, the weather was not forgiving either. Frequently, the thermometer topped 100 degrees in the shade, but the derricks never shut down because the oil had to keep flowing.
In later years, Joe worked his way up into management where he learned the ins and outs of the oil industry. Therefore, when I criticized companies like Exxon--which made nearly $10.5 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2008 alone--Joe would become very defensive. Joe explains to me how the oil industry is rewarded for its financial risks with the profits they make. And...
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I’m age 63; I planned for my retirement (no mega vacations, no new cars, sensibly sized house, etc.). Gas at $10 a gallon? No problem. For me.
No drilling in Anwar, no drilling off the coast of Florida, no new refineries, etc. Lefties, you got what you wanted, and all of us are paying for it. I’m fine. Sorry about you.
“Subsequently, I’m told the highest profits in history made by private companies are justified.”
Record profits, yes, but rate of return vs. sunk and ongoing costs is pretty low vs. many other industries. Details, details, eh?
I worked for a large consumer goods company prior to my retirement.
Their operations in Cuba were nationalized by those friendly forces against the baaaad government back in the late ‘50’s.
Since then, the consumers in Cuba cannot buy good soaps, laundry detergents, toothpastes, etc. etc. without paying huge prices, often not even then.
Did leftism help Cuba?
I also worked in Vietnam in the ‘90’s; same story, different locale. Same style of government.
Truth is
The United States of America has enough Natural Resources to get us through the next Century,
but we are not doing what it takes to make ourselves energy independent.
Drill Anwr, The Chinese are drilling 70 miles off of the coast of Miami. Drill the California/Oregon shore like we did in the 70’s. Those beaches have always had sludge, it’s a “Natural occurence” whether we drill or not.
Who knows if the tectonic plates don’t actually shift from underground pressure, thus causing earthquakes?
Nobody knows.
What we do know is that as a country we are killing ourselves and subsequently our Soldiers to preserve our independence as a “people”.
But we give into the whining, neverrite bitches like algore and refuse to protect “the People” for some designated bong hit called GAIA?”
WHATSSUPWITHDAT?
I'm only two years behind you and in similar position and I am not at all worried about me. I'll retire in a few years with a nice nest egg, I live 'small' compared to my income, have no debt, and not a lot of wants or needs from the consumerist point of view. I have been around the world but find myself as happy on my back porch playing with the grandkids and watching the birds at my feeders as I would be on some exotic cruse.
It's my kids and grandkids I am worried about. I don't know about you, but I am not going to sit back quietly and allow their futures to be ruined by these leftist Luddites.
"Perhaps the truth is oil companies are greedy and so are the speculators. On the other hand, the radical environmentalists are hypocrites who care little about the less fortunate in our society. And the politicians? Well, enough said. Anybody have a carbon credit? And can you trade them in for bonus bucks at the BP station down the block?"
IMHO the oil problem is an attempt by OPEC to get American voters to elect a Democrat as POTUS, thus ending the war on terror and handing AQ victory thereby prolongimg this war.
Also, by causing economiç hardships here the left will blame capitalism and gain more control.
Our freedom hangs in the balance and all we have is Juan McCain.
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