Pat Oliphant for May 19, 2011

… and as long as we continue our love for gas-guzzling 4×4 suburban cruisers, it shall ever be so.

The Federal Government makes more on a gallon of gasoline than the company refining that gallon.

I wonder if Oliphant would be in favor of doing away with all subsidies for all groups?

Defending corporate welfare really demonstrates the hypocrisy of the Republican’s near-death “budget hawks” conversion.If they were true believers in Ayn Rand’s pagan god, the “magic market”, they’d be opposed to all corporate subsidy.Instead they blather on about having “the highest corporate tax in the world” (which is higher than many, but after loopholes averages out around 25% – par for most of the developed world). And then you have companies like GE, which buy loopholes with their lobbying money so that they don’t pay tax at all.That’s one of the things I liked about the bi-partisan commission plan. Reform the tax code, lower the general rate, shut all the loop holes, and end up with more revenue.

“The Federal Government makes more on a gallon of gasoline than the company refining that gallon.”

The taxes build and maintain the roads that fuel the demand for gas. The tax also is used to fund tax breaks for the oil companies, a portion of which the oil companies use to fund politicians.

no, it’s don’t forget to pick up the canolli….and watch out for the kids when you back out of the driveway

The great majority of Americans would prefer the money be used to help the unemployed and homeless. Too bad – the majority don’t have the big-money lobbyists – and don’t control the corporate media.

I paid more in income tax last year than Exxon. I think they can afford to support the country that does so well for them.

blackash, you are categorically wrong in your statement that “The Federal Government makes more on a gallon of gasoline than the company refining that gallon.” Taxes account for 13 cents on the dollar. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/gas-price1.htm

Or, to take a different cut: http://www.icta.org/doc/Real%20Price%20of%20Gasoline.pdf

An’ youse think you’re gonna shut down our oil-price speculation racket too, huh? Heh, heh! Forget it, kid…we awready got Cantor an’ the rest a’ that tea-party crew bought off!

That $21 billion “tax break” is only a drop in the barrel of total government subsidies and kickbacks they get. The Federal gas tax is $0.18 per gallon and doesn’t impact pump prices even a tad. “big oil” companies are efficient, at picking our cumulative pockets.

What is the bill number that gives the 21 billion tax break, where can you find out about the subsidy legislation, also, the legislation that authorized the kickbacks. I’m not internet savvy enough to find these references.

^one of the problems in tracking the “benefits” is they’r often hard to track down. “Benefits” include NOT having to meet inspection or safety standards like in the regulations (title 31 and 43 among others) to actually assure safe, but “costly” drilling practices. Many, many, such giveaways may actually VIOLATE the “legislation” the regulations are supposed to enforce. Legislation comes from Congress, regulations are written administratively. Many around 2007 greatly reduced “cost burden” on oil companies.

The tax codes very lengthy, and are also very difficult to go through, let alone figure out just how big those tax breaks for “favored” individuals or corporations actually are, OR even who is actually getting those breaks.

Good Oil Party (GOP) members performing as usual.

If you are not in the top 5% and still vote GOP, you are just DUMB.

“If you are not in the top 5% and still vote GOP, you are just DUMB.”

Not necessarily. Voting GOP also makes sense for those who expect to someday be in the top 5%. Of course, for 95% of that segment, it’s never going to happen. That top 5% is pretty choosy about whom they allow to join the club.

There is no leadership nor common sense in Washington.

The guy with the gun is from the Tea Party…..