quote:Originally posted by EdEKit:Labor Unions. It is time American working people put the Fat Cats on a diet for the good of the country, and the health of the Fat Cats.quote:Originally posted by Pogo142:
Sowell is certainly right about one thing, "political rhetoric is rising." But as usual, it's coming from the apologists for the oil corporations who leave out facts and mislead the public. And I would say Armrey sure knows about demagoguery, he and his fellow demigods Delay and Gingrich, as well as with help from others in the corporate media like Sowell, have made an art of it as the right wing smears their political opposition and pushed their right wing politics and corporate agenda down the throats of the American people.
Price gouging does have a meaning and it's when forces help manipulate profit to rise sharply due to unexpected or out of the ordinary events and hardships. Like during a drought water companies raising the price of water, or doctors and pharmacies rasing their prices of during flu or cold seasons, etc. There are certain commodities that are necessities.
The price of oil is rising due to the wars in the region and Bush's threats against Iran. China's needs are expanding but are well below our consumption and not a serious threat at this time. I don't want to misquote the exact number of barrels China consumes but it's no where near our consumption) They are already securing other sources in the world like Africa and Venezuela. They also buy from Iran and Russia I believe too.
We can debate the effectiveness of price controls but New York and San Francisco have price controls because rents were out of control and it all had to due with profits. When we are dealing with a product like oil, which there is no alternative market it is like a monopoly and we do need some type regulations. The governments are "instituted" by the governed to secure all our rights, not just the profits of a few.
The building of new oil refineries are not due to acts of congress or environmentalists. Just where they can be built. You can't build one where it endangers people or the environment. It's the oil corporations decision not to build any new refineries which shortened up ready supplies and pushed the prices to fluctuate on the spot market.
Shows you how decadent our society really is, not only is middle America sacrificing their children and their dollars to a war for oil profits in the Mideast the corporations are then turning around and soaking them at the pumps, putting even more strain on our lives.
When is congress going to be concerned about protecting the wages and lives of the average America as they push their protecting Corporate profits and Globalization and anti union agenda?
Bottom line is Oil Corporations are having record profits.
Eveyone should take a short course in the history of colonial Spain, boring as all get out until the comparison with the USA is made. We are making the same mistake Spain made in the 16th and 17th Centuries. We are using up our wealth by having others do the hard work. While we sit around enjoying Our Steak and lobster, all the capital in the country is being squandered on cheap goods from outside our borders. It is a formula for collapse, and we have been doing it for about 65 years now.
FINALLY, some GREAT thinking going on!!!!! I am getting nauseous at the other way of thinking KNOWING it is wrong...
Thanks to both of you!!!!