Republican Lawmakers don't care about you

[Angrist]

Caring too much about politics will drive you crazy.

[Professor S]

Based on the article that was written, I'd have to agree that tax breaks for alternative energy should have continued, and I believe, expanded on... but thats based on the article that was written, dripping with bias. What was with the mention of Meals on Wheels? It has nothing to due with the story they were telling, except to pull at the heart strings. Also, there is no entity known as "Big Oil", no matter how much they capilize the fake name.

I'm glad people can concede that a windfall profits tax would be a complete disaster. Trying to legislate a global commodity with national law makes absoluely no sense and its simly pandering and a continuation of class warfare. The truth is that Exxons executives own less than 1% of the company and over 50% is owned by retirement funds and pension plans. In hurting their profits we hurt ourselves.

Plus, such a tax shows a complete misunderstanding of how oil companies make money. Oil is a volatile commodity, and like any company that deals in volatile commodities, they base their profits on a fixed profit margin and I believe Exxon's is between 8-10%. The money that Exxon is making is based on increased demand and sales volume, not gouging.

I will agree that we need to eliminate tax breaks for oil companies, but not because of their profits, but because those breaks are intended to spur research and development... and our congress won't allow them to do so. They are essentially banned from drilling in the continental shelf or pretty much anywhere in the US due to governmental restrictions. This is absurd and self-destructive, but a reality, and if they can'r R&D then they don't need the breaks.

As for tax breaks for alternative energy, I'm all for it, but I'd like to see a little more analysis of the bill that the republicans blocked. Something tells me there were a few earmarks and riders attached to that bill that caused it's rejection, because otherwise it makes no sense politically for them to vote against it. If there are no riders, well I'll unregister as a republican and return as a conservative independent (I was planning on doing so after this election anyway).

And calm down about the planet destruction thing. I agree that we need to be better conservationists, such hysteria only alienates people from the message.

[Dyne]

Originally Posted by Angrist

Caring too much about politics will drive you crazy.

This is true.

[Professor S]

For anyone who cares, I found out why the Republicans blocked the bill: They wanted to attach a rider that would open the continental shelf and other areas to drilling.

While I agree we should be drilling and exploiting every avenue we have to bridge the energy gap between current energy and the future of energy, this is NOT the way to go about it. We need to stop trying to barter legislation. This is not about quid fucking pro quo. This is about doing whats right and not continuing the cycle of doing NOTHING because every bill becomes a PISSING CONTEST on both sides of the isle.

Investing in alternative energy should be discussed and passed on its own merits, just as sensible and responsible drilling and coal gassification should be discussed and passed on its own merits.