Slog - Comments on Yesterday vs. Today

Comment by umvue

umvue — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:23:45 -0800

Quelle surprise!

Comment by brett

brett — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:34:54 -0800

yeah, because oil drilling in ANWR would contribute a .50-$2 reduction in gas prices *over the next 30 years.*

meanwhile, oil has gone up $100 a barrel under Bush's, ahem, leadership.

Comment by Cato the Younger Younger

Cato the Younger Younger — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:44:21 -0800

This is EXACTLY what happened with Enron and the "brown-outs" in California. There was never a shortage of electricity but Enron made it seem like there was to increase the price of power.

The oil speculators are going to keep jacking the price of oil up until it can no longer sustain itself. Expect $200.00 by the end of the summer.

Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me

You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:49:53 -0800

I thought "Progressives" were in favor of high oil prices to curb oil use. Or is that only if the price increases are the results of increased taxes?

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:53:11 -0800

@4 - no, we want those higher prices to come from taxes used to pay for the massive debts rung up by the neocons over the last decade, not going to oil barons pockets.

See, it's cause we're fiscally prudent.

You remember what that is, right, YGBKM?

Comment by Bellevue Ave

Bellevue Ave — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:14:13 -0800

I blame dinosaurs for this problem!

Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me

You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:14:26 -0800

@5 Okay, just wanted to be sure I understood... High prices = good. High profits = bad. High taxes = good.

Gross profit per dollar of sales:
Oil Companies = about 8.3 cents per dollar
Electronics = 14.5 cents
Computer Equipment Makers = 13.7 cents
Microsoft = 27.5 cents

So now who's making high profits?....

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:09:09 -0800

The question isn't should gas prices be higher and shift America away from oil as an energy source, it's where that EXTRA money goes.

In the CEO trough of Exxon-Mobil (XOM), or Conoco-Phillips (COP), or Shell (something like RDI), or Texaco - no. And I say that as a former direct shareholder (and through mutual funds a current holder).

WE HAVE A FRICKIN BUDGET DEFICIT, you moron! Thanks to your buds in the White House!

Now go enlist.

Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me

You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:22:06 -0800

But if we are going to go after the oil companies with profit windfall taxes (as the Democrats are advocating) for a 8.3% profit, shouldn't we be going after every industry with a similar or greater profit in the same way?