A little prespective on the price of gas

Ok folks, here it is. Everybody today is pissing and moaning on the price of gas, saying that the federal government needs to investigate the oil companies. The fact of the matter is that the ones who should be investigated is actually the federal government. Oil companies make on average about $0.07/gallon sold. That's seven cents per gallon. The government on the other hand, between state and federal taxes makes about $0.70/gallon. That's seventy cents per gallon, or ten times what the oil companies make. How much work does the federal government do to make that gasoline for you? Oh yeah, NONE!!! In fact, they go out of their to make it harder for the oil companies to do so. Why isn't anyone calling for an investigation into the federal government gouging us on taxes? The gasoline is taxed at the pump, the oil company is taxed on it's profits, and then the CEO whose retirement package is complaining about will be taxed at 50%. That's right, half. You want to know why the government isn't forcing any alternative energy bills? Because they're making too much money off the oil companies, but not the way you think. They're just as bent over the table as we are. Then you have OPEC, a foriegn comany that sets the price of petroleum world wide, the enviro-nuts who won't let us build any more refineries, thus pushing up the price of gas. Consider this, the dollar general makes more per dollar than the average oil company. The freakin' dollar general man!! Take a look at Europe where they are paying upwards of $6 bucks/gallon. The problem isn't that the oil companies need to be regulated, it's that they are regulated too much. This is what happens my friends when the federal government begins putting its' hands into business. This is why socialism is doomed to failure (see France). Consider this: You pay about $3.49 for a gallon of milk (at least I do, your market may be different). Does it really cost more to make milk than gasoline? I seriously doubt it. Another point to consider before I go, the price of gas has actually gone up less over the last decade than other consumer goods.

The price of gas world wide:

Netherlands Amsterdam $6.48
Norway Oslo $6.27
Italy Milan $5.96
Denmark Copenhagen $5.93
Belgium Brussels $5.91
Sweden Stockholm $5.80
United Kingdom London $5.79
Germany Frankfurt $5.57
France Paris $5.54
Portugal Lisbon $5.35
Hungary Budapest $4.94
Luxembourg $4.82
Croatia Zagreb $4.81
Ireland Dublin $4.78
Switzerland Geneva $4.74
Spain Madrid $4.55
Japan Tokyo $4.24
Czech Republic Prague $4.19
Romania Bucharest $4.09
Andorra $4.08
Estonia Tallinn $3.62
Bulgaria Sofia $3.52
Brazil Brasilia $3.12
Cuba Havana $3.03
Taiwan Taipei $2.84
Lebanon Beirut $2.63
South Africa Johannesburg $2.62
Nicaragua Managua $2.61
Panama Panama City $2.19
Russia Moscow $2.10
Puerto Rico San Juan $1.74
Saudi Arabia Riyadh $0.91
Kuwait Kuwait City $0.78
Egypt Cairo $0.65
Nigeria Lagos $0.38
Venezuela Caracas $0.12

I've got some more data I'll post it as I refind the links (my son turned off the PC when I walked away for a break)

Israel to launch "eye in the sky"

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is set to launch on Tuesday a highly accurate imaging satellite which will enhance its ability to spy on Iran, a report in the mass circulation daily Yedioth Ahronoth said.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said this week that the nuclear program being pursued by arch-foe Iran was the most serious threat faced by Jews since the Nazi Holocaust.

"The capabilities of the satellite speak for themselves. I do not need to say anything about what the purpose of its use might be," Shimon Eckhaus, the chief executive of manufacturer ImageSat International told Reuters.

More to the story via first paragraph link. It's nice to see someone has the balls to say what's on everbody's mind. Iran is dangerous, and the U.S. apparently isn't willing to do anything about it. Sorry, Israel. You're on your own it seems.

Freshman forced to take "diversity-training"

Wow, just wow. So this is why college tuition is so high.

***snip***

With last week's stunning revelations that the entire faculty of a Midwestern university campus voted without dissent to investigate a Christian librarian for "sexual harassment" simply because he recommended the bestselling book "The Marketing of Evil," many are asking why not a single faculty member stood up for the librarian.

The question is especially compelling in light of the decision reported Wednesday that the entire faculty had essentially overstepped their own written policies and had wrongly accused the librarian.

The lock-step faculty support for the two openly homosexual professors who led the charge against the librarian might have something to do with the fact that freshmen at the small Mansfield campus of Ohio State University are required, during their first quarter, to undergo what the university calls a "diversity seminar." But critics say the type of "tolerance re-education" OSU mandates uses tactics reminiscent of those of Chinese communist revolutionary leader Mao Tse-Tung.

***snip***

Spork alert!!!!

AAAAHHHHHRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! MY EYES!!!!

Are you better off now?

"Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" I really hate that phrase. Yes, it was asked by one of the greatest presidents of our generation. And yes, in it's context it was appropriate. But it has become a staple now of how a given administration is doing. Democrats like to ask if we are better off under George Bush than we were under Bill Clinton. To be frank, the answer to that is yes. At least for me anyway. It may be a completely different scenario for you. The point is, my being better off now than I was four years ago has absolutely nothing with GWB, JWC or any other president for that matter. My life got steadily better during the Clinton years. It had nothing to do with Clinton. My life at the end of the Clinton years/beginning of the Bush years wasn't so great. It had nothing to do with Clinton or Bush. People who rely on the government to make their lives better are waiting on a train that will never come. If a person wants to make their life better it is up to one person; themselves. Those who are waiting on government to interven on their behalf to make their lives better are giving too much credit to the powers that be, and not enough to themselves.


As a side note, I would like to add that for me personally nothing would be possible without the help of God Almighty guiding my way.

WTF???

Who are you and what exactly in the blue hell were you looking for?

Wierd...

And you, you're just creepy...

Rules for Comments and Emails

Since I've just returned from an extended hiatus, I figured I'd rehash the commenting rules for noobs and my regulars (if I still have any that is:-P).

**No blaspheme. I welcome anyone who wants to honestly debate religion, Christianity, and the existence of God/Jesus. Blasphemers will have thier posts removed.

**No racial slurs. Posts will be removed.

**I do not censor profanity. You'll notice I drop the F-bomb myself on occasion. I just ask that folks are adult about it and not act like pre-teen using curse words for the first time.

**Folks who post senseless crap repeatedly will eventually find thier posts chaning for my amusement and the amusement of others. Mostly my own.

**If you want to argue a point, use links to back it up. This is just commen sense.

**All emails sent to me, once they reach my inbox, are the property of me. As such, they are subject to posting, discussion, and possible ridicule. I will honor any request to not publish and email, you must specifically state this in your email. Otherwise all bets are off.

**Remember, the only free speach protected here is mine. Thus, I reserve the right to change these at any time, for any reason, and without notice.

Where's the firing squad?

In tearful testimony during the final sentencing phase of his court-martial trial Thursday, Pvt. Nicholas Mikel said he regretted shooting at fellow troops on Oct. 13.

"I'd like to begin by saying how sorry I am for my actions," Mikel said, having to pause a couple of times to regroup as he read a statement.

"I realize I brought great stress and hardship on everyone in my unit. I realize I made a terrible mistake. It's difficult to know that it was my own conduct that caused this."

Call me hardcore, but I have a hard time understanding why this jackass wasn't charged with treason.

Am I alone in this?

Am I the only one who thinks that the FCC should just be done away with once and for all?

FCC probe

The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday launched formal investigations into pay-for-play practices at four of the nation's largest radio corporations, the biggest federal inquiry into radio bribery since the congressional payola hearings of 1960.

Two FCC officials with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed that the agency had requested documents from Clear Channel Communications Inc., CBS Radio Inc., Entercom Communications Corp. and Citadel Broadcasting Corp. over allegations that radio programmers had received cash, checks, clothing and other gifts in exchange for playing certain songs without revealing the deals to listeners, a violation of federal rules

Yeah, what they said...

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- If the government doesn't build security fencing along the Mexico border, Minuteman border watch leader Chris Simcox says he and his supporters will.

Illegal immigrants are a slap in the face to everyone who came to this country legally and obtained resident/citizinshep status legally.

The Overlord's plan:

A double concrete wall, 30 ft high and 50 ft between running the entire length of the border. A "no man's land" if you will, riddled with land mines. Razor wire at the top of the walls. Guard towers every few hundred yards with two gaurds stationed at all times. One sniper, and one manning a .50cal machine gun. Also, K9 accompanied patrols along all critical points of the border. Harsh? Yes. Effective? Abso-freakin'-lutely.

On edit: My point exactly.

Reason #23,217 not to run from the police

I bet this hurt really, really badly...

P.S.-You'll need to click the link to the video from the website I linked. If I posted the link directly that would be stealing bandwidth and is wrong

I'm ALIVE!!!!!!

Yes yes, The Overlord is back folks. And ready for action I must say. Yes, I've been away for several months, but what the hell can I say; I've got a life ya know. Ok maybe I don't, but a guy can dream, no? Anyways, off to hunt material. Toodles!

BTW, if you're wondering what brought me back, it was this little diddy:

here

and more specifically, here