Courage To Make Hard Decisions

The recent hearings in Washington where oil executives from the major companies were brought before Congress showed a lot. It showed that, though our elected officials are supposed to be able to do the will of the people, there are often forces more powerful than them or the people that stand in the way. Oil executives were being asked to, in these tough times, give up some of their corporate welfare incentives for the good of the nation. Though it was but a small portion of their profits they were simply unwilling to make any sacrifices for the sake of patriotism – for the sake of America – for the sake of all those that keep them wealthy in hands down the biggest petroleum market on the planet.

The sacrifice asked for was a drop in the bucket when taking into consideration the entirety of the profits they usually incur. CBS News reported Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said at the hearing, "'I find it hard to understand how you can come here before this committee and the American people and say, when you are projected to make $125 billion in profits this year,' he said. 'That somehow the loss of $2 billion a year, which means you only make $123 billion in profits, is somehow so punishing, somehow not part of shared sacrifice, somehow you need to go back at them at the pump to make up for it.'" (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/12/politics/main20062253.shtml?ta...)

What we are talking about is incentives for corporations that make huge profits. It amounts to corporate welfare and welfare should not be given out across the board nor is it. It is merited out on a case by case basis. It goes to those that truly need the help. The same goes for unemployment, disability benefits, subsidies for struggling American family farms and more.

CBS further reported, “With the heads of the five largest private oil companies watching at a hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden played a video of a 2005 hearing in which oil company executives said they did not need generous tax breaks because oil was selling at $55 a barrel. It is now above $100 a barrel. Wyden said he could not understand why oil companies need tax breaks now, when oil is selling for nearly twice as much. Chevron Corp. chairman and chief executive John Watson said the companies do not want special tax benefits -- just the benefits that other industries get.” (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/12/politics/main20062253.shtml?ta...)

What Chevron's CEO fails to mention is that a person that does not meet the criteria for welfare, for example, simply may not say, “well you aught to give me the benefits I ask for because others that I deem to be like me are receiving them too.” That simply is no excuse and proves how out of touch they are with struggling Americans right now.

Welfare itself is being cut. Pensions are being cut. Unemployment is being trimmed. educational programs are dying off in huge numbers as the future of America gets cheaped out on. Medicare and Social Security are on the chopping block as our seniors lose their once sure future.

There are many more products than just gasoline oil companies earn revenues from. From a list of 6000 products here are some: “solvents, diesel fuel, motor oil, bearing grease, ink, floor wax, ballpoint pens, football cleats, upholstery, sweaters, boats, insecticides, bicycle tires, sports car bodies, nail polish, fishing lures, dresses, tires, golf bags, perfumes, cassettes, dishwasher parts, tool boxes, shoe polish, motorcycle helmet, caulking, petroleum jelly, transparent tape, CD player, faucet washers, antiseptics, clothesline, curtains, food preservatives, basketballs, soap, vitamin capsules, antihistamines, purses, shoes, dashboards, cortisone, deodorant, footballs, putty, dyes, panty hose, refrigerant, percolators, life jackets, rubbing alcohol, linings, skis, TV cabinets, shag rugs, electrician's tape, tool racks, car battery cases, epoxy, paint, mops, slacks, insect repellent, oil filters, umbrellas, yarn, fertilizers, hair coloring, roofing, toilet seats, fishing rods, lipstick, denture adhesive, linoleum, ice cube trays, synthetic rubber, speakers, plastic wood, electric blankets, glycerin, tennis rackets, rubber cement, fishing boots, dice, nylon rope, candles, trash bags, house paint, water pipes, hand lotion, roller skates, surf boards, shampoo, wheels, paint rollers, shower curtains, guitar strings, luggage, aspirin, safety glasses, antifreeze, football helmets, awnings, eyeglasses, clothes, toothbrushes, ice chests, footballs, combs, CD's & DVD's, paint brushes, detergents, vaporizers, balloons, sun glasses, tents, heart valves, crayons, parachutes, telephones, enamel, pillows, dishes, cameras, anesthetics, artificial turf, artificial limbs, bandages, dentures, model cars, folding doors, hair curlers, cold cream, movie film, soft contact lenses, drinking cups, fan belts, car enamel, shaving cream, ammonia, refrigerators, golf balls, toothpaste, gasoline.” (http://www.ranken-energy.com/Products%20from%20Petroleum.htm)

That's just a fraction of all the products made from petroleum. Yet as always the oil companies are threatening to hold us hostage by using the price at the pump as the sole place they will raise prices. If they merely spread the costs across all the products petroleum can be found in, they would never have to lose a penny and perhaps never have to raise prices a cent at the pump. But they know that's what scares us most. They say, you might have to cut down on your ability to go to work. Prices on public transportation will go up. Food prices and other goods will go up because of transportation costs. We will make you pay through the teeth on basic necessities.

We need political parties with the fortitude to push past the threats of “no campaign contribution.” If neither of the two are willing to make them sacrifice like the rest of us are, then it's about time we find people that will. Having other parties in the mix in Congress could be the best way to get our money's worth when the two main parties are at an impasse.

While an individual party is siting in the corner with it's hands crossed pouting and angry, business could still get conducted. Throughout much of 2009 and 2010 we got barely anything for our money because one party was upset that they got beat in the previous election, and so they caused us all to pay them in some cases six figure salaries while they sat and did nothing on the job. What would happen to the rest of us if we said we did not like a decision that had been previously made at work and so decided we just were not going to work anymore? That is not the move of the courageous.

We are having our lives cut down and cut back on and instead of taking one for the team, for the sake of the flag and the country that has been so good to them, they would rather make poor struggling everyday Americans suffer so they can keep their platinum gilded hot tubs and their caviar fresh off the plane so their cats don't have to suffer the indignity of having to eat eat meow mix. They want to move to the Middle East – let 'em. They will give us all the excuse we need to withdraw our troops from countries that don't want us there and save more money there. There are plenty of lesser companies domestically that would love to step in and fill their void. Good riddance.

To read about my inspiration for this article go to www.lawsuitagainstuconn.com.