Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Democrats Defeated In Attempt
To Increase Gasoline Prices
Senate Republicans blocked a proposal Tuesday to tax the windfall profits of the largest oil companies, despite pleas by Democratic leaders to use the measure to address America's anger over $4 a gallon gasoline.
The Democratic energy package would have imposed a tax on any "unreasonable" profits of the five largest U.S. oil companies and given the federal government more power to address oil market speculation that the bill's supporters argue has added to the crude oil price surge.
"Americans are furious about what's going on," declared Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and want Congress to do something about oil company profits and "an orgy of speculation" on oil markets. [Byron doesn't get it, or perhaps he does but has to play his party's political football. Increasing taxes on oil companies only contributes to an increased speed to higher prices. Americans DO want Congress to do something, mainly DRILL FOR OIL IN ANWR, OFF THE COASTS AND TAP OUR NATURAL GAS RESERVOIRS. But doing this doesn't fit well with the Democrats wanting to use the price of gasoline as a political tool. - Drake]
But Republicans argued the Democratic proposal focusing on new oil industry taxes is not the answer to the country's energy problems.
"The American people are clamoring for relief at the pump," said Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., but if taxes are increased on the oil companies "they will get exactly what they don't want. The bill will raise taxes, increase imports."[Only simpletons and rank, biased Democrats don't understand this and they don't want to understand this. - Drake]
The Democrats failed, 51-43, to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster and bring the energy package up for consideration.
Separately, Democrats also failed to get Republican support for a proposal to extend tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy development, and for the promotion of energy efficiency and conservation. The tax breaks have either expired or are scheduled to end this year.
Drill for oil. Tap our huge, vast reserves of natural gas. This is where our starting point should be. Then, and only then, should we be looking at alternative forms of energy that are not based on ethanol, solar or wind.
According to the New York Times, six Republicans voted WITH THE DEMOCRATS:
Six Republicans voted “yes” on the oil-tax bill. They were Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, John W. Warner of Virginia, Gordon Smith of Oregon and Susan M. Collins and Olympia J. Snowe, both of Maine. Only two Democrats voted “no,” Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Harry Reid of Nevada. Mr. Reid, the majority leader, may have voted “no” in a parliamentary move to preserve his right to bring up the proposal again.
Energy industry experts are saying that we can look forward to $5.00 per gallon of gasoline by July 4th. Isn't that comforting?
China, France, Italy, Mexico, Russia and virtually every other country on the face of the earth are doing some combination of the following: drilling for oil, building nuclear power plants, building more refineries, building more electrical plants and exploring all other means of energy independence.
Increasing the tax rate and heaping more onerous regulations on energy companies is the only reaction we're getting from the Democrats in the 110th Congress. Increasing taxes and more layers of regulations on any business results in higher prices for the consumer. The Democrats have to know this, but instead of working on increasing our own energy independence the Dems use this as a political tool, a wedge issue, for their own political advantage.
Meanwhile, the Democrats tie the hands of our energy companies, refusing to authorize drilling in ANWR and off our coasts. Mexico and China are drilling for oil in our back yard - in the Gulf of Mexico - while the Democrats force us to sit on our hands, doing nothing, sitting and watching.
Big Oil has become the new Big Tobacco. It's an evil industry according to the Dems, they cannot demonize Big Oil enough. Their "evil scale" appears to based on profits and the slightest potential of deracination of wildlife or plant life in any area where an oil rig could be built to tap an oil reserve.
The dismal presidency of Jimmy Carter proved that conservation, alternative fuel and adopting a "make do with less" mentality simply doesn't work. We've heard this awful tune before with Carter, yet this is the Energy Independence policy preached by The Affirmative Action Candidate. What's that old saying...that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and each time expecting a different result? That adage is totally befitting of the anti-energy Liberals and Progressives.
The government estimates that instituting Cap and Trade - one of the onerous regulations that thrills the Left - will add $1.50 to the price of each gallon of gasoline. Private sector estimates say the more realistic increase of Cap and Trade will be an increase of and additional $4.50 per gallon of gasoline. Common sense tells us that the private sector estimate is more accurate and credible. Ask yourself the following question: when has the government accurately predicted the price increase of anything?
If you think the government can build a better mousetrap - let alone a more fuel efficient car - especially a Congress with a Democrat majority then let's see them do it. Don't hold your breath waiting for it.
©2008
However, this is not the only problem created by the democrats and their undying loyalty to the environMental lobby. With no new refineries built since 1976 and the EPA requirement of a seemingly endless list of unique so-called “boutique blends” of gasoline, there is no room for error in production. The smallest of problems causes prices to soar.
Compound the above with the lack of new nuclear plants in the past decade, and we have ourselves a true energy conundrum. And it’s only getting worse. So, what’s the “commonsense plan” promised by the Party of Treasonous Surrender-Monkeys?
Windfall profit taxes.
…or…
Nationalize the energy industry.
Always, always, always be leery of any plan from democrats that they describe as “commonsense”.
Additionally:
“Thank god the tax breaks for wind, solar and other pie-in-the-sky fantasies of alternative fuels was defeated.”
The notion that we should increase taxes on “what is” while simultaneously reducing taxes on “what may or may not be” is beyond dense. Certainly, there are some limited applications for wind and solar power (except when those generating stations interfere with a Kennedy’s boating). However, this approach in indicative of the democrats and their “see no evil” style of legislation – the problem right now is oil and raising taxes on the producers of this commodity does not solve the problem, but rather exacerbates it.
“China, France, Italy, Mexico, Russia and virtually every other country on the face of the earth”
…are already paying a boatload more than we are for gasoline. Why? Taxation. The democrats are simply trying to “catch up with the rest of the world”.
While it is easy enough for democrats to fool Americans into thinking that the faceless, ominous, vile and eee-vil “Big Oil” is out to get them, the real villains in our situation (Big EnvironMental Lobby) are untouchable as far as the media goes. Attacking them is like chopping down a tree.
Hey – that reminds me: there’s a tree in my yard. I’m going to go chop that f**ker down right now. I’m going to burn half of it, belching countless amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. The other half I am going to throw in the garbage. Then, I’m going to drive my Hummer 150 miles to McDonalds (sure there are closer ones, but the ride is worth it) and I’m going to gobble down a big, greasy Big Mac from the old non-biodegradable Styrofoam container and chuck that container right out the window. With my full belly and my loaded shotgun, I’m then going to go hunt me some Spotted Owl. I hear they’re good eating, but my belly is full, so I’ll just kill it then let it rot.
Guess what will happen to Mother Earth if I did all of that: nothing.
<< Home
Alabama Internet
accordance and compliance with Fair Use Section 107 U.S. Copyright Code.
All other images and content © 2005-2009 David Drake.
Not responsible for content contained at linked sites.
Policy on commenting:
- Anonymous comments have little chance of being published.
- Comments made on posts 60 days old or older have little chance of being published.
- Published comments do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog author.
- Discretion of publishing or rejecting submitted comments rests solely with the owner and creator of this blog.
- Comments that egregiously "plug" (i.e. advertise or promote) another site or blog will be rejected. This doesn't mean you cannot include a link to your story, blog or to another site, but don't go overboard.
- Profanity is not a disqualifying factor, but profane rants solely for purposes of profanity are unlikely to be published.
- The owner and creator of this blog is not liable or responsible for the opinions of those who comment.
