Separation Of Oil And State...

[bridgit]

Oil industry donations in this election cycle show the most pronounced GOP bias on record

'As gas prices continue to decline, it’s only natural to wonder about the apparent coincidence between this trend and Republican interests in the election. Indeed, a recent poll found that 42 percent of Americans believe that gas prices have been “deliberately manipulated” in advance of the election. Countless articles have been written on blogs and in the mainstream press speculating on the possibility of a gas price conspiracy, either supporting the supposition or shooting it down.

The trouble with conspiracies is that they're wickedly difficult to prove, particularly without a smoking gun. There may be a conspiracy, or there may not be. However, there doesn’t have to be a specific conspiracy on gas prices in the run-up to the election—there just has to be a collective recognition of self-interest among the Bush administration, oil industry executives, investment fund managers and oil traders.

What we’re seeing in the oil markets right now is a chilling demonstration of the mutual and constantly converging interests of oil and state in the U.S. In other words, it's not a conspiracy—it’s the gasoline market, which is an oligopoly, recognizing that its collective self-interest lies in more Republican rule. In the current election cycle, the Center for Responsive Politics reports that donations from the oil industry and its employees are running 83 percent in favor of Republicans, which is the most pronounced slant by the oil industry—and possibly the most pronounced in any industry—ever. Clearly, they know which side their bread is buttered on, and can take actions to protect those interests.' http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/10/20/separation_of_oil_and_state.php

[eppur_se_muova]

1. It's the Petrocracy, Stupid! nt

(I realize that should be oleocracy, but I think more people will understand petrocracy -- even if it means, literally, "rule by rocks".):)

[bridgit]

2. there it is...

x(

[EVDebs]

3. Your flair for the obvious shames our M$M nt

[bridgit]

4. cheers...

:toast:

[applegrove]

5. It is the Wahabi money growing radical Islam in the Middle East, Africa

and Asia. Likewise...USA oil money growing fundies and wedge issues in the USA.

Keep the little people busy with tribalism and the elites can rule the world.

[Greyhound]

6. There you go again, exposing the plans that are laying right out in

plain sight for anyone to see that cares to look.

[applegrove]

8. If they are in plain sight..then I'm not exposing them are I? People have

been talking this way since the invasion of IRaq at least.

[Greyhound]

16. A lot of us have been trying to break through the wall since

the 80's & 90's. We tried to get the automaton (raygun) to hear us, we tried to get the sheeple to hear us.

Just as now, we are trying to get them to hear that the ME, China, India, Malaysia, etc. are not our friends! We are giving them the tools they need to destroy us, and never doubt that they will not hesitate to use them once they are strong enough to stand on their own.

[applegrove]

17. Oh boy - I disagree with you there. China may become a bully one day..

(just as the USA has done so surpisingly to the world these last 6 years) but India? No way. And India has had the weapons (nukes) for 20 years. Why is Malaysia on your list? What have they ever done?

[Greyhound]

19. India is not our friend and I'm not talking about nuclear weapons.

I am talking about the fact that none of these countries can sustain their export economies (and that's all they have) without the U.S. as a dumping ground for their manufactured, subsidized, crap and their surplus people.

I mention Malaysia because, like so many others that we are subsidizing at the expense of our own people, they are a totalitarian fascist state with no loyalty, nor sympathy to us. We are just the place they send their crap to make money.

BTW, we've been the biggest bully for a lot longer than the last six years, more like the last hundred and six.

[applegrove]

20. I'll agree that USA has done bad stuff in South America. But they have

also been at the peace & soft power table for a long time too. You don't notice the difference between then and right now? Pre-emptive war?

[Greyhound]

21. I can see how you feel that way. I feel differently.

We have played the role of peacemaker or peacekeeper when it suits our real agenda, that being the continued subjugation of more and more of the world to appease the corporations. We have just as often been the instigators or even operatives on the other side of the spectrum as well, engaging in the destabilization of Democratically elected governments that refused to do what we tell them, assassination, intimidation, economic terrorism, etc.

We back the dictators far more often than we back the forces of freedom.

[bridgit]

12. i think that's right, and the poor & hungry go without everywhere...

not good

[applegrove]

18. Poor require great elites. You either grow and nuture your poor (by fillin

them full of religeon so they don't start asking questions about equality and a chance kick at the can) or your middle class. You cannot grow both. Western countries have long tried to grow their middle class. Bush WH tries to shrink it down a few sizes..so that they can grow the elites. Minority rule in Saudi Arabia and this version of the USA.

[Greyhound]

7. We ignore or deny conspiracies even when there is no problem at all

proving them. Two quick examples;
The military coup that Gen. Butler stopped by refusing to participate and exposed the plotters, none of whom faced any consequences whatsoever for trying to violently overthrow the US Government.
Jekyll Island that gave us the Federal Reserve system, eliminating Article 1, Section 8, clause 5; "To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures".

[bridgit]

11. some of this stuff is not grand conspiracy i think i hear you saying...

some of it is dirt simple x(

[Greyhound]

15. Yes, although those two examples were, IMO, pretty grand in that

they involved many people, most of them very powerful and all of them in very important positions, and the goals they set changed (in the case of Jekyll Island), or would have changed (the coup), the nation and the world.

But, we could also include the unspoken conspiracy by our national "leaders" that there would be no consequences paid nor demanded, for engaging in these plots.

[Subdivisions]

9. So, if the Oil Wars have begun, what does that say about

Peak Oil and the dwindling reserves? Are we in bigger trouble than we ever suspect with respect to supply, or is this simply an early move by the BFEE faction to secure ar larger share of reserves for future profits?

[bridgit]

10. i think it trends toward confirming the notion...

x(

[Raster]

13. Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm the Texas Petroleum Mafia...

and I control this country. My handpicked puppets reside in the White House and Blair House. My money touches just about EVERY person in Congress. As to my controlling gasoline prices? Well, I have had RECORD quarters for years now while you've paid record prices at the pump. I'm backing off this quarter, it is an election, you know. We'll make it up later.

[Toots]

14. Exxon made last quarter over seventy five thousand dollars a minute PROFIT

They are down to making ONLY Forty thousand dollars a minute I am so sad for them.....