Comments on: Clueless hate http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2006/09/25/clueless-hate/ African-American culture, news commentary, politics Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:08:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: DMG http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2006/09/25/clueless-hate/#comment-3055 DMG Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:55:06 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2006/09/25/clueless-hate/#comment-3055 No, not being dramatic, just paraphrasing quotes from an article I read last summer about how gas prices are effecting peoples daily lives. I personally don't drive much for other reasons. I prefer to ride my bike, walk or take public transportation, as my way of leaving a smaller footprint on the world and staying healthier. Gas prices have not noticeably affected my family. I'm sure if we analyzed our grocery bill for example, there might be a bump. I know the oil business is highly profitable, especially in today's environment. I'm just saying, I understand if the average consumer gets a bit pissed off at huge retirement packages, while paying through the nose to fill up his car. I'm not saying it's justified, just that I understand the sentiment. I don't think folks hate capitalism. But in todays environment with record profits, then record severance packages...it appears to be a bit much. Whether there is actually something untoward going on, I don't know, hopefully not. But you have to take a look at the backdrop in which this is presented. Corruption scandals at Enron, Halliburton seemingly war profiteering (I'm not making a charge, but on the surface it could appear fishy to the occasional newsreader). All of this sets the stage for people believing that somebody is taking advantage. If there is an appearance of impropriety, then the oil companies might want to do something about their image. You don't want your customers looking for alternative products... No, not being dramatic, just paraphrasing quotes from an article I read last summer about how gas prices are effecting peoples daily lives. I personally don’t drive much for other reasons. I prefer to ride my bike, walk or take public transportation, as my way of leaving a smaller footprint on the world and staying healthier. Gas prices have not noticeably affected my family. I’m sure if we analyzed our grocery bill for example, there might be a bump. I know the oil business is highly profitable, especially in today’s environment. I’m just saying, I understand if the average consumer gets a bit pissed off at huge retirement packages, while paying through the nose to fill up his car. I’m not saying it’s justified, just that I understand the sentiment. I don’t think folks hate capitalism. But in todays environment with record profits, then record severance packages…it appears to be a bit much. Whether there is actually something untoward going on, I don’t know, hopefully not. But you have to take a look at the backdrop in which this is presented. Corruption scandals at Enron, Halliburton seemingly war profiteering (I’m not making a charge, but on the surface it could appear fishy to the occasional newsreader). All of this sets the stage for people believing that somebody is taking advantage. If there is an appearance of impropriety, then the oil companies might want to do something about their image. You don’t want your customers looking for alternative products…

]]> By: Duane http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2006/09/25/clueless-hate/#comment-3054 Duane Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:01:07 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2006/09/25/clueless-hate/#comment-3054 <i>While the average person is skimping on necessities to fill their tank so they can go to their crappy job everyday</i> I think you are being just a liiiiitle dramatic here, don't you think? Nobody resorted to 1970's actions by siphoning gas out of cars. People still ate and lived well (and I live in CA--considered having the highest living expenses in the nation). The oil busness is naturally a highly profitable sector because its product is always in demand. Nobody is asking for any applause here--this is just capitalism in action and for whatever reason folks hate it. While the average person is skimping on necessities to fill their tank so they can go to their crappy job everyday

I think you are being just a liiiiitle dramatic here, don’t you think? Nobody resorted to 1970’s actions by siphoning gas out of cars. People still ate and lived well (and I live in CA–considered having the highest living expenses in the nation).

The oil busness is naturally a highly profitable sector because its product is always in demand. Nobody is asking for any applause here–this is just capitalism in action and for whatever reason folks hate it.

]]> By: DMG http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2006/09/25/clueless-hate/#comment-3053 DMG Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:53:26 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2006/09/25/clueless-hate/#comment-3053 I think maybe the record profits while the price of gasoline almost doubled from Spring 2005 also probably had something to do with it. The huge retirement packages just pushed folks over the edge. Can you blame them? While the average person is skimping on necessities to fill their tank so they can go to their crappy job everyday, someone in the oil industry who is already by most standards filthy rich is getting richer. No mystery there. Does that prove corruption, or price gouging? No of course not. Is it bad PR, yeah. I think you are asking too much for the average person to applaud such a huge retirement package. People are pissed off, and it APPEARS as though oil companies are rubbing it in. I think maybe the record profits while the price of gasoline almost doubled from Spring 2005 also probably had something to do with it. The huge retirement packages just pushed folks over the edge. Can you blame them? While the average person is skimping on necessities to fill their tank so they can go to their crappy job everyday, someone in the oil industry who is already by most standards filthy rich is getting richer. No mystery there. Does that prove corruption, or price gouging? No of course not. Is it bad PR, yeah. I think you are asking too much for the average person to applaud such a huge retirement package. People are pissed off, and it APPEARS as though oil companies are rubbing it in.

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