Posted by admin on Jun 1, 2009 in
Energy Rants For those of you who thought that the high oil prices last year were due to “market conditions”, let me enlighten you. It was big oil’s experiment to see exactly how high they could raise the prices before Americans, and the rest of the world, had enough. They got their answer.
This year, oil prices dropped dramatically with gasoline under $2.00 for the first time in a long time. This was due to market conditions because people slowed way down on their oil consumption, switched to hybrid cars, and began to be very frugal in the trips they took.
Now, in response to that, OPEC is looking to cut production to push the prices back up. They and big oil are not satisfied anymore with $40 - $50 per barrel prices. They think that $80 per barrel is the best price to shoot for. They seem to think that is the best price to keep their profits rolling in while not hurting the consumer… too much.
So, how does it feel to be part of the experiment, my fellow lab rats?
Used by permission from author: www.muskogeeusa.net
Tags: Gas, oil
Posted by admin on Apr 20, 2009 in
Uncategorized Apparently when I upgraded my blog last week, the upgrade broke one of the plugins I use. It is irritating when software ‘upgrades’ break the existing software without warning. Of course, I didn’t go back and check the site after upgrading - that would have been the smart thing to do.
Oh, well. It is back online now and I will soon be rambling again.
Posted by admin on Apr 13, 2009 in
News Rants,
Travel Rants I applaud the US use of force to rescue the captain of the hijacked Maersk Alabama. Finally, our president did something I approve of.
We cannot and should not negotiate with pirates or terrorists, which in my opinion, are the same thing. We tried peaceful means of rescuing the captain, but the pirates would not have any of it. If they had cooperated, the captain would still be safe and the pirates would be alive. They had a choice and they chose poorly.
Of course, the liberal media is now questioning the wisdom of killing three pirates to rescue an American, saying that it will probably escalate the situation. That will most likely happen, but it should not deter us from protecting American citizens engaged in legal business activities anywhere in the world.
Perhaps we should randomly sequester US Military aboard US-flagged vessels to repel pirates seeking to line their pockets with ransom. Then, they would begin to ask themselves if the next vessel is so armed or not and if it is really worth taking the chance.
Once upon a time, people would see the American flag and know it was unwise to cross us. We need to return to that time. Maybe if we keep up the heat, pirates will see American-flagged vessels as taboo, not to be touched.
Please support the men and women of our military. Once again - Way to Go USN! USA - USA - USA!
Tags: alabama, hijacking, maersk, navy, piracy, pirate, ransom, seals, somalia
Posted by admin on Feb 9, 2009 in
Medical Rants What does a single mother with 6 children, who is unemployed and receiving disability payments really need? Well, if you are her doctor, you would agree she needs 8 more babies.
Nadya Suleman already had 6 children, reportedly by in-vitro fertilization. What would ever possess any ethical medical professional to implant 8 more embryos to a person in her position? Who is going to end up footing the bill for this fiasco? If you say the taxpayers, I think you are correct.
I believe the state medical board needs to take a close look at the doctor’s practice and bring sanctions if possible, as I think this is tantamount to malpractice.
Related story at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/06/earlyshow/health/main4779589.shtml
Tags: malpractice, medical, octuplets
Posted by admin on Feb 6, 2009 in
Corporate Welfare,
Financial Rants I didn’t vote for President Obama, not because of ethnicity or party affiliation, but because I didn’t believe he was the best choice for America. On the other hand, I wasn’t entirely convinced McCain was any better. In any case, he is our president, and because he is, I will pray for him and hope for his success.
The president has a huge job in front of him in cleaning up the economic mess. I’m not sure I agree with the government establishing salary caps for CEOs of private corporations, but I do think that corporations receiving welfare cannot continue business as usual.
Companies that are on the dole are no longer responsible just unto themselves, but also to the American taxpayers. I think that a cap of $500,000 is quite fair for welfare recipients. Once they pay back the bailout, then they can once again rake in lavish salaries.
Tags: Bailout, Corporate Welfare, Salary
Posted by admin on Feb 2, 2009 in
Corporate Welfare,
Financial Rants Recent news reports are filled with corporations on welfare still spending money hand-over-fist. These companies begged the Congress and the American people for money to just stay in business. They blame the current economy for their problems and refuse to take any responsibility for their problems.
American families have always been advised by financial experts to save money and invest wisely during good times in order to survive the bad. Apparently, corporate America didn’t think that advice applied to them. They squandered their profits during good times and then beg for money during the bad times. Not only that, but they still continue their self-destructive habits, some citing tradition.
According to Good Morning America, Bank of America may have spent upwards of $10 million on Superbowl ads and related activities, citing tradition. How many American families had a tradition of taking a vacation every year and can now no longer keep that tradition alive? B of A allegedly refused to disclose any information related to their spending habits.
Well, I say enough is enough. They are on welfare. No matter how you look at it, they are no different than any family on welfare. Full disclosure should be required in order for them to receive any taxpayer funds. If they refuse full disclosure at any time, then the ‘loan’ becomes immediately due and payable and they are no longer eligible for any further assistance.
If American Families are being asked, nay, required to downsize their spending to only the essentials, so must corporate welfare recipients. American families are forfieting their summer vacations, dinners out, movies and other entertainment to the failing economy. Corporate welfare recipients and their management must be required to do the same - no more golf junkets, no more retreats to exotic destinations, and definitely no Superbowl.
It is time for Congress to wake up and require accountability from those we are bailing out. It’s time to require them to be responsible and run their businesses responsibly. It is time for corporate greed to end.
Tags: accountability, Corporate Greed, Corporate Welfare, disclosure
Posted by admin on Nov 20, 2008 in
Corporate Welfare The Big 3 execs showed the nation over the past couple of days their arrogance and disregard for the American people, specifically those employed in the auto industry. They show up with their hands out after arriving in private jets and are dismayed at the lack of congressional support. As one lawmaker put it, it is like showing up at a soup kitchen in top hat and tails. I’ll add to that and say they also arrived in a chauffer-driven limousine. That is a slap in the face to the American people.
I say No, No, NO to bailing them out. By them I mean the CEOs and other top executives. Unfortunately, any failure of GM, Ford or Chrysler will NOT have much effect on the company execs making millions of dollars a year, but will devastate the men and women who actually do the work. I think I would be OK if I ost my job went this year If I brought in 28 million dollars last year.
In fact, they will probably lay off thousands of workers and garner a bonus for themselves. Even if they get ‘fired’, they still leave with huge severence packages. That’s the gig to have. Be a CEO for a major company and screw up. You still walk away with more than most people make in a lifetime.
So, in order for about 3 million people to remain employed, my bailout plan would stipulate the companies adhere to strict policies before getting any help:
1. Reducing the salaries of the CEO and Executives to no more than twice the highest salary of any non-executive employee. Including stock options and any other benefits.
2. Require the liquidation of any assets not directly used in the manufacturing and shipping of the product. This means selling off the fleet of airplanes and any other extra perk. Even flying first class would have saved about $19,000 on the round trip to Washington.
3. Require a top-level restructuring plan be approved by Congress. Cut redundant executive positions first.
4. Require a detailed accounting of how any bailout money would be spent.
5. Require a payback term of no more than 10 years.
There are a lot of sanctions we could and should put upon any company requesting public funds to save their ass. It was mis-management that got them into this in the first place. I don’t hear American-based foreign automakers whining.
Post your ideas to comments.
Tags: Automaker, Bailout, Big 3, Corporate Greed, Corruption, Waste
Posted by admin on Nov 19, 2008 in
Corporate Welfare With AIG already swimming in billions of taxpayer dollars, the big 3 American automakers showed up with their hands out to Congress wanting a mere $25B. When I say showed up, I really mean that they flew in in private jets from a fleet of several. According to Good Morning America, the cost for them to fly in from Detroit to DC in $36 million planes was an estimated $20,000 roundtrip as opposed to Northwest Airlines $288 for coach and $837 first-class.
Middle-class Americans are having financial problems, too, but there is no bailout for us. We are being told to tighten our purse strings, eliminate extras, review our budgets, etc. If a family has 4 cars, well sell two. If we have satellite or cable TV, well maybe we should cancel those for a while. Cut back on cell phone plans. If you want government assistance, you must first liquidate any extras you have.
We need to hold the corporations who are coming to Congress with their hands out to the same standards. Companies should be forced to liquidate all non-essential perks, like a fleet of jet airplanes, cut administrative salaries and do all they can to trim up the top fat before coming with their hands out. Start cutting at the top. Ford CEO’s salary of $28 million can be cut drastically and he would still live better than most of us. Sell off the fleet of airplanes. That will recoup a couple hundred million dollars, as well as losing the insurance, maintenance, etc. that goes along with owning airplanes.
The foreign automakers in America are not asking for money. If they can do it, then why can’t we Americans do it better?
The time for corporate greed and waste is over. If your corporation is going to come begging for money, you better damn well have used up what you have and trimmed where you can.
Tags: Automakers, Bailout, Corporate Greed, Corruption, Waste
Posted by admin on Nov 18, 2008 in
Energy Rants,
Uncategorized Big oil seems surprised that oil prices have fallen so fast after such a huge surge. But they shouldn’t be. I was only a young pup during the energy crisis of the 70s, but I understood enough to know that the crisis was a sham. It was a big put-on by big oil for their own interests. And the American people and government bought it. Then, people started buying smaller, foreign cars that used less gas. Foreign cars were popular because American automakers thought that Americans were stupid enough to keep buying the crap they were building.
But, Americans aren’t so dumb after all. We started buying foreign fuel-efficient jobs because they lasted longer and cost less to run. THEN, the automakers decided they had better put some good old American quality back into their cars. Americans started buying more American cars again. Oil companies, aghast that people weren’t buying as much gasoline as before, brought the ‘crisis’ to an end.
Enter the 2000’s, and again another energy crisis. No gasoline rationing this time by the government, but at over $4.00/gallon after a meteoric rise caused the consumer to ration their own fuel. Oil companies were reaping record profits from these artificially inflated prices. Higher fuel means higher goods, higher goods mean less disposable income, hell, it meant families were having to choose to drive or eat. Eating won.
People started looking, again, for more fuel-efficient alternatives and they found them. Now, oil prices are hitting the basement again and oil companies just can’t seem to understand why. They don’t understand why people still aren’t driving like they used to, whey they are not buying as much fuel as they used to, why prices are dropping like a rock. It is because they raped us and we are fighting back.
Americans aren’t stupid. We are strong and we will find a way to survive. If we can’t burn petroleum products, we will burn something - even water.
I do think some good comes out of all this, we are finding greener fuels and using them more efficiently, but the way it happened ruined a lot of good people. It did need to happen, but not as fast as it did. And it was all done artificially. The cost of obtaining the oil did not go up, the cost of refining did not go up, the paychecks of the blue-collar workers did not go up. Only the obscene profits of big oil went up like a gusher.
So, I don’t cry for big oil. They should have saved their sunshine for a rainy day.
Want more info on green energy, check it out at Earth4Energy.
Tags: Crisis, Energy Rants, Green, oil, Profits