Obama shifts, says he may back offshore drilling

[jreeves]

Didn't miss jack. Anti-pollution rules and local resistance didn't stop the group from securing a permit to build the refinery did it? Finding an investment group to build the refinery and securing a long term oil deal did. Besides two articles doesn't prove that the government prohibits anyone from building any more refineries. You tell me, sport, who's going to invest in a refinery when it's a volatile business and the profit-loss margins range from +1 billion to -1 billion a year??? You should go back and read the article I posted, you might learn that oil and gas are two separate industries.

It delayed construction by up to 5 years which diverts funds from the project.
I never said the oil and gas industries are one? If so, please tell me where?

Exactly. Why would big oil assume the high risks of refinement when they are already profitting tenfold from crude extraction and delivery? Alternative energy is right around the corner. 20 years from now, do you still think we'll be consuming the same amount of gas? That's a huge risk for anyone thinking about building a new refinery.



Yes let's give 300 billion to oil companies as an incentive for them to invest in refineries.
Retarded.

What kind of a self-proclaimed conservative argues in favor of government subsidies for big oil? How's about the government not invest in new refineries or bail out irresponsible homeowners.

Where the hell did I say that the US government should give money to big oil as an incentative? You really need to read my words and not restate something that I never uttered. How long has the government been developing alternative energy? Don't you think it's prudent for our government to invest money into increasing our refining capacity? Since we are going to be using fossil fuels into the foreseeable future?

 

[CharlestonChad]

Where the hell did I say that the US government should give money to big oil as an incentative? You really need to read my words and not restate something that I never uttered. How long has the government been developing alternative energy? Don't you think it's prudent for our government to invest money into increasing our refining capacity? Since we are going to be using fossil fuels into the foreseeable future?

"How about this the US government invest in new refineries?" This can be taken two ways. 1) You are suggesting the government give money to big oil. 2) You are suggesting the government nationalize the oil industry

Neither option is remotely conservative.

 

[jreeves]

"How about this the US government invest in new refineries?" This can be taken two ways. 1) You are suggesting the government give money to big oil. 2) You are suggesting the government nationalize the oil industry

Neither option is remotely conservative.

Whether I am labeled as conservative or not, isn't a concern. What is a concern is high gas prices.
I am suggesting that the government allow oil companies to borrow money for the sole purpose of building refineries. Which would have to be paid back with interest. In addition, lift all the fees associated with the bureaucracy in building a new refinery.

 

[CharlestonChad]

Whether I am labeled as conservative or not, isn't a concern. What is a concern is high gas prices.
I am suggesting that the government allow oil companies to borrow money for the sole purpose of building refineries. Which would have to be paid back with interest. In addition, lift all the fees associated with the bureaucracy in building a new refinery.

No one labeled you as anything. Your opinion is socialist in nature.

As for your opinion, I could not agree with you any less. Big Oil already has the funds to build dozens of new refineries. But they will not. Loaning them taxpayer's money and charging interest is equal asking Bill Gates to lease a Toyota.

 

[Chris]

Well, by cutting taxes, they are in a sense investing in it IF the oil companies actually built them.

I'm all for building refineries, and drilling here at home, but I want to be sure that in 15 or so years, we are WELL on our way to something newer and better than fossil fuels.

Man, I saw Back to the Future when I was a kid. We were supposed to have FLYING cars that ran on fusion and almost empty cans of beer by 2015! What happened?

But anyway though, I think the oil companies have some things up their sleeves. Let's just hope it's in our best interest.

The big oil companies have been buying up refineries and closing them down, so they can corner the market. It's working.

 

[dilloduck]

Whether I am labeled as conservative or not, isn't a concern. What is a concern is high gas prices.
I am suggesting that the government allow oil companies to borrow money for the sole purpose of building refineries. Which would have to be paid back with interest. In addition, lift all the fees associated with the bureaucracy in building a new refinery.

I don't think the oil companies need the loan but an offer and a likely rejection would expose where the loyalties of the oil companies lie. American oil-----OUR oil is drilled and sold on the world market.

Consider Alaska--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund

 

[Ravi]

Whether I am labeled as conservative or not, isn't a concern. What is a concern is high gas prices.
I am suggesting that the government allow oil companies to borrow money for the sole purpose of building refineries. Which would have to be paid back with interest. In addition, lift all the fees associated with the bureaucracy in building a new refinery.

Why? The oil companies don't need a special deal from the government. They've been having record breaking profits for years and they already have special deals with the government...you can't be naive enough to think they'd take the money and start charging less for oil, can you?

What about my business...let the government give ME a special loan to expand it. I promise I'll give all the yahoos that employ me a discount.

Damn, JR, I never realized that you were a socialist.

 

[Dirt McGirt]

Don't you think it's prudent for our government to invest money into increasing our refining capacity?

No. It should be up to the refineries to decide whether to increase their own refining capacity. I mean hell, is the government going to bail out refineries when they post losses if the demand decreases as well?

 

[Annie]

Why? The oil companies don't need a special deal from the government. They've been having record breaking profits for years and they already have special deals with the government...you can't be naive enough to think they'd take the money and start charging less for oil, can you?

What about my business...let the government give ME a special loan to expand it. I promise I'll give all the yahoos that employ me a discount.

Damn, JR, I never realized that you were a socialist.

Exxon made the most, right? They paid $3 in taxes world wide for every dollar in profit. Would you do the same? I'd quit my job, which I love. Better to be a volunteer than a victim of extortion.

 

[Ravi]

Exxon made the most, right? They paid $3 in taxes world wide for every dollar in profit. Would you do the same? I'd quit my job, which I love. Better to be a volunteer than a victim of extortion.

Why, if you were still making a killing...which they are...you don't think they are in it for altruistic reasons, do you?

 

[Annie]

Why, if you were still making a killing...which they are...you don't think they are in it for altruistic reasons, do you?

Sorry, but 3:1 is extortion.

 

[CharlestonChad]

Sorry, but 3:1 is extortion.

Wait? Extortion as in how we are being charged insane prices based on artificially created demand? Or Extortion on how they are losing 75% of their potential profit to taxes?

 

[Annie]

Wait? Extortion as in how we are being charged insane prices based on artificially created demand? Or Extortion on how they are losing 75% of their potential profit to taxes?

Cool, link please.

 

[CharlestonChad]

Cool, link please.

huh?

I think Kirk already provided a link showing the artificial demand. Didn't you provide a link showing 3:1 taxation?

 

[Annie]

huh?

I think Kirk already provided a link showing the artificial demand. Didn't you provide a link showing 3:1 taxation?

I can, but the interesting thing is you going after the fact.

 

[CharlestonChad]

I can, but the interesting thing is you going after the fact.

I guess I can't read internet intent well enough to understand that comment.

 

[jreeves]

Why? The oil companies don't need a special deal from the government. They've been having record breaking profits for years and they already have special deals with the government...you can't be naive enough to think they'd take the money and start charging less for oil, can you?
What about my business...let the government give ME a special loan to expand it. I promise I'll give all the yahoos that employ me a discount.

Damn, JR, I never realized that you were a socialist.

American oil companies have very little to do with world oil price, considering their size in the world market. Where did I say it was a special loan? The benefit is getting to build new refineries without the bureaucratic BS....

I am not a socialist by any means, I just have an open mind.

 

[jreeves]

No. It should be up to the refineries to decide whether to increase their own refining capacity. I mean hell, is the government going to bail out refineries when they post losses if the demand decreases as well?

Alright do you think the government has invested money into building more refineries in the past, under both Democratic and Republican adminstrations?

 

[Ravi]

Sorry, but 3:1 is extortion.

Could you please link to this three to one taxation you keep talking about?

Even if true, which I'm starting to doubt, how is it extortion? Is someone FORCING them to be in business? Are they staying in business and taking a loss? If my business was too burdened by taxes, I'd just go out of business. And, my business doesn't get any special tax break from the federal government like the oil companies do...maybe it is ME that is being extorted...

 

[Ravi]

American oil companies have very little to do with world oil price, considering their size in the world market. Where did I say it was a special loan? The benefit is getting to build new refineries without the bureaucratic BS....

I am not a socialist by any means, I just have an open mind.

JR, you said the Fed should lend the oil companies the money to build refineries...why should we?