Why are the profits of a single industry more important than ANYTHING else

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Oil industry profits are a tourniquet that is cutting off the blood flow to the rest of the economy. In our present modern world, oil is a NECESSITY. It is how we function. While oil thrives, every other industry and individuals suffer. We need to commute, we need to transport goods to the marketplace. (Please, I KNOW we need alternative energies and we need to conserve - those are givens. I am talking about the situation right here right now) Even the King of Saudi Arabia says the price of oil is too high.

So, since they are incapable of restraining their implacable, insatiable appetite for profit at the expense of everyone else in the world, they are clearly demonstrating the need for government intervention, whether it comes in the form of price controls, or windfall taxes, or re-regulation, or some trust busting or even nationalization of an industry. Unrestrained greed needs to be controlled.

The welfare of nations and citizens and the world in general trumps the welfare of a small corporate cabal.

Thank god they don't own our access to air and water, yet.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

1. Well said.

They've had a stranglehold on this planet for 125 years. It's incredible.

[electropop]

2. They do control access to clean air and water.

That's what the Brown Skies Initiative - "Clear Skies" I mean is about, and why they are loosening all the rules on mercury in water, aresenic in water, etc. They do think they own the air, the water, the moon, and the stars.

[postulater]

3. RFK Jr discusses this with great authority

[kenny blankenship]

7. In Argentina, Enron gained control of the water supply of Buenos Aires

the common citizens became so angry over the way they were being gouged on this most basic commodity, they began to demonstrate in the streets. Their resistance brought down the government and put an end to the "privatization" of Argentina, in which all the country's assets were being sold off to foreign companies under the auspices of the World Bank and IMF.
Owning the air supply of a country or municipality is only a corporate boardroom dream today, but owning the water HAS happened, and one day if they are not stopped, owning the breathable air supply will happen too.

[rucky]

4. Actually, they have water covered.

google: "Bechtel" and prepare to be shocked.

[SoCalDem]

5. or google Enron+water+Bush

some very ugly stuff there

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. I've heard that, which is why I threw that out there

If anyone EVER hears about plans for their municipal water authority to "privatize" - you need to be on that like a tick and never allow such stupidity to see the light of day. I'm sure this administration would have no qualms whatsoever about making another necessity of life - water- a commodity to be sold off and profiteered by another immoral, rapacious crony cabal.

[NYC]

8. The problem is that you are not likely to hear about it

until it is too late. They keep things like that extremely quiet.

Water privatization is my biggest fear.

[zeemike]

9. It is called free enterprise

And that means in the dictionary of the true believer that enterprise must be free to do whatever they can to make profit, even if it kills us all.
It is more than just a dogma of the right, it is a principle that they adhere to religiously and they truly believe that it must be absolute, and if it is not, then that is the problem with why the world is not working properly.
The are sold on the teachings of there profit Ayn Rand and have a deep belief in the virtues of selfishness. They call it "Objectivism"
In a way this is the religion of Mammon, the god of wealth, and it will be a daunting task to un-convert them from it. Especially when the fundies have embraced it and support it.

[rucky]

10. Funny thing is, it's anything but free

it's anti-competitive, anti consumer, and LOVES government involvement.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

12. I don't believe that everyone will just roll over and allow themselves

to be cannibalized. Other industries will rise up and so will individuals. Even fundies and the adherents of Ayn (crappiest writer in the world) Rand drive and eat and heat their houses and would probably like to continue doing so.

[rememberearth]

11. who said it escapes me but it does hold true.......

"what profiteth the man who gaineth the world and loseth his soul"
that's it in a nutshell. So much emphasis on profit, everything else is discarded and viola! No soul and no heart. Think about it. Half to a majority of the wealthiest men in these companies have heart problems.
That's what I call manifestation.

[zeemike]

13. That would be Jesus

And interestingly he also predicted that in the latter days mens hearts would fail them.

[rememberearth]

14. thank you.

its too true you know.

[iamahaingttta]

15. The agenda since the Reagan/Thatcher days...

...has ALWAYS been to kill off government and privatize EVERYTHING. That's the Free-Market Utopian Dream. Especially water and air.

Of course, they figured out that they have to kill off half the planet to succeed, and that's where Bush comes in. He's just the guy to do it!

[insane_cratic_gal]

16. Like Heberts Dune.. the spice must flow

One corner of the world the dessert exists the most precious commodity (minus the huge worms unless you consider the Ceo's to be worms, which isn't a far stretch.)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

17. And by the way, exactly what WAS that energy policy anyway?

You know, the one Cheney worked out with the oil companies that they won't talk about. Does anyone know the highlights of that policy?