[thethirddiaz]

Originally Posted by Saith

Three words that would immediately lower the price of gas at least $0.30

gas tax holiday

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

[Stonebreaker]

Originally Posted by bacon

There's something you'll never hear a crackhead say.

"I got a little left over crack."

True story:

A friend of mine's younger brother is a fireman out in Kansas City. Stocky, hairy little man, continually told by his fellow firefighters that if he keels over in a burning building, then he's all done, because none of the rest of them are strong enough to haul him out. We'll call him Matt.

Anyhow, one fine afternoon last summer, he and his fellow firefighters are lounging around in front of the station, waiting for someone to have a heart attack, or something to catch on fire, when they are approached by an apparently homeless man, gesticulating wildly and talking to himself. Matt, as the least-senior of the firefighters present, is selected to go find out what he wants.

Matt: "Umm... good afternoon, sir. Are you all right?"

Homeless guy: "You got to call an ambulance. I'm crazy!"

Matt: "An ambulance? Are you sick? In any pain?"

Homeless guy: "Naw, I'm just crazy. I'm feeling real crazy. You got to call 'em quick, 'fore I do something crazy!"

Matt: "Uh, okay. Yeah. I think I can call an ambulance for you. Hang on."

After a brief conference, it is decided that an ambulance really should be called, because this guy is obviously going to turn into somebody's problem for the day, and the firefighters really don't want him to be theirs. Matt makes the call and takes the radio with him as he returns to the guy, still standing out on the sidewalk, now yelling at nothing.

Matt: "Sir? Okay, the ambulance is on it's way. I just need to ask you a few questions to save the EMTs some time when they get here. Are you on any medication?"

Homeless guy: "Naw, I don't take nothing like that."

Matt: "Have you taken any drugs or alcohol today?"

*Homeless guy gets a very suspicious look on his face*

Matt: "It's okay, man. We're not the cops. I don't care what you took, I just need to know so that I can tell the EMTs."

Homeless guy: "Uh... yeah. I smoked a blunt this morning." Long pause. "Had most of a 40, too"

Matt, talking into radio: "Subject reports that he is not taking any medication, but has been drinking, and has smoked marijuana earlier..."

Homeless guy breaks in yelling: "OH YEAH, AND SOME CRACK!"

I suppose that I'm not an expert on illegal drugs, but I had somehow thought that if I were telling someone if I'd been drinking or doing drugs that day, the crack would have been the first thing I remembered, and not the last.....

[hunto]

I realize posted earnings may state one number, but I've worked in them off and on for 16 years. I've seen the waste, the appropriations money wasted, the excesses in the plants, to know better. A company with single-digit profits doesn't waste money like these guys- huge outdoor dinners, shutdowns on units that don't need it just so they don't lose appropriation money, bonuses, equipment bought for no good reason, etc. Too many instances of excess money to believe a single-digit profit margin. A company that tight would be cutting heads, not blowing money the way they do.

[liquid!]

Originally Posted by thethirddiaz

The biggest oil companies have had their biggest profits EVER the previous two years when the prices are the highest they have ever been. I'm not ok with that.

werd. That mobil/exxon restaurant turned 40 billion in profit last year

[ratman201]

Originally Posted by thethirddiaz

The biggest oil companies have had their biggest profits EVER the previous two years when the prices are the highest they have ever been. I'm not ok with that.

Record profit $ does not mean record profit margins. One, these aren't adjusted for inflation. Two, they haven't been adjusted for the huge increase in consumer base. Three, a sucessful company should have a record profit every year, because of the first two reasons.

[liquid!]

Originally Posted by Saith

Three words
gas tax holiday

how about windfall profit tax

[hunto]

Originally Posted by ratman201

Record profit $ does not mean record profit margins. One, these aren't adjusted for inflation. Two, they haven't been adjusted for the huge increase in consumer base. Three, a sucessful company should have a record profit every year, because of the first two reasons.

Profit margins are reflected in stock gains and dividends, and my dad has oil stocks, and is getting filthy rich the fucker. Making more money than ever off them.

[thethirddiaz]

Originally Posted by ratman201

Record profit $ does not mean record profit margins. One, these aren't adjusted for inflation. Two, they haven't been adjusted for the huge increase in consumer base. Three, a sucessful company should have a record profit every year, because of the first two reasons.

What huge increase? I'm not trying to be a dick, but don't Exxon/Mobil for example only deal with the US?

[kaboom187]

wow my knee feels like fucking trash today. so god damn loose. i blame the doctor and his need to tug on it in every damn direction.

[Donut62]

Originally Posted by Saith

Three words that would immediately lower the price of gas at least $0.30

gas tax holiday

That's just a political party trick. The gas tax is already spoken for, and unless you are going to find a way to make up for the lost money you're just going to create debt. The sharp decrease in price would just spike demand which make gas even more expensive when the tax came back on. People need to quit looking at dumb fuck short term solutions which got us to this point in the first place.