House Democrats call for nationalization of refineries

[Socio]

They can't manage Social Security, Welfare, Medicare, our borders, or virtually anything else WTF makes them think they can manage the Oil market?

House Democrats call for nationalization of refineries

House Democrats responded to President's Bush's call for Congress to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling. This was at an on-camera press conference fed back live.

Among other things, the Democrats called for the government to own refineries so it could better control the flow of the oil supply.

They also reasserted that the reason the Appropriations Committee markup (where the vote on the amendment to lift the ban) was cancelled so they could focus on preparing the supplemental Iraq spending bill for tomorrow.

At an off-camera briefing, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said the same. And a senior Republican House Appropriations Committee aide adds that "there were multiple reasons for the postponement" including discussion on the supplemental. But the aide said there was the thought that Democrats may wish to avoid a debate today on energy amendments.

Here are the highlights from briefing

Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), member of the House Appropriations Committee and one of the most-ardent opponents of off-shore drilling

1115

We (the government) should own the refineries. Then we can control how much gets out into the market.

The Federal Goverment already has to much control, the last damn thing we need is them having the ability to control our oil supply!

 

[heyheybooboo]

BigOilCo can build new refineries around the world but they can't build one in the United States in 30 years ....

It would be the best $5 billion the Fed has ever spent.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Sociopath

The Federal Goverment already has to much control, the last damn thing we need is them having the ability to control our oil supply!

How do you feel about them building Nuclear Reactors?

 

[Genx87]

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[Socio]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Sociopath

The Federal Goverment already has to much control, the last damn thing we need is them having the ability to control our oil supply!

How do you feel about them building Nuclear Reactors?

I have no problem with Nuclear Reactors being built because last I checked the Federal Government does not own them they only control the permits to build them; otherwise they are commercially owned and operated.

I believe these Dems see the huge profits the big oil companies are making and just want in on the action thus want to now take over ownership of refineries. I see this is a play for more power, and another way to squeeze more money out of Americans.

If taking ownership of refineries is an honest attempt to help Americans and the economy and done so using taxpayer?s money then it should be 100% non-profit service, the problem is it won?t be!

Not only that it will give the Federal Government to much power, open the door to corruption and manipulation on a scale never seen before and give them huge leverage over States, none of which is good at all.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Reading comprehension FTL, OP! Which in turn makes your title completely inaccurate. But then, you did just steal it from Fox "News" so it really isn't surprising that it is completely full of fail.

Among other things, the Democrats called for the government to own refineries so it could better control the flow of the oil supply.

The statement reads that the .gov should OWN refineries...not take ownership of existing refineries.

Edit: I wanted to respond to this post as well:

Originally posted by: Socio

I believe these Dems see the huge profits the big oil companies are making and just want in on the action thus want to now take over ownership of refineries. I see this is a play for more power, and another way to squeeze more money out of Americans.

If taking ownership of refineries is an honest attempt to help Americans and the economy and done so using taxpayer?s money then it should be 100% non-profit service, the problem is it won?t be!

Not only that it will give the Federal Government to much power, open the door to corruption and manipulation on a scale never seen before and give them huge leverage over States, none of which is good at all.

I would like to think that the (D)s are smart enough to know that the least profitable part of the oil-fuel process is in the refining. That said, I'm not really that confident that they do.

As far as your rant about the gov owning businesses and running at 0% profit, they did an incredible job of managing public works (water, electricity, etc) for decades and costs stayed at a very low and manageable rate. Once they were privatized, then the real ass-raping of the consumer took place.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

Are you laughing at the OP or his deceptive title?

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Socio
They can't manage Social Security, Welfare, Medicare, our borders, or virtually anything else WTF makes them think they can manage the Oil market?

I know, they sure can't! The government fails at absolutely everything, the military is totally incompetent, the post office can't deliver letters, that damned park service keeps misplacing thousands of acres, it's just amazing!

 

[BoomerD]

I have no problem with the US Government nationalizing the US oil industry, EXCEPT that if profit is taken out of the picture, where's the incentive for growth?
It's far past time to take the bazillions of dollars away from the oil companies and either give it back to the American consumers, or stick it in the US treasury.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I have no problem with the US Government nationalizing the US oil industry, EXCEPT that if profit is taken out of the picture, where's the incentive for growth?
It's far past time to take the bazillions of dollars away from the oil companies and either give it back to the American consumers, or stick it in the US treasury.

As we teeter on the brink of recession that would be like putting a bullet in the heart of the stock markets.

 

[nageov3t]

I welcome the actions of my democratic comrades in the house.

 

[Darwin333]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I have no problem with the US Government nationalizing the US oil industry, EXCEPT that if profit is taken out of the picture, where's the incentive for growth?
It's far past time to take the bazillions of dollars away from the oil companies and either give it back to the American consumers, or stick it in the US treasury.

Lol, the Government already makes at least double the amount of money off each gallon of gas sold then the oil companies do.

But I hear what your saying. All the other government agencies perform so well, like FEMA and Homeland Security, that they will do a much better job of producing oil/gas than the private sector.

 

[OrByte]

next thing you now those rotten Ds in congress will go and start an elective war with Venenzuela!!

dirty bastards!!!

 

[palehorse]

more talk of nationalizing the commodities markets... swell.

What shall we (the gubment) take control of next comrades? :evil:

 

[EagleKeeper]

If the goverment would build the refineries then it would be worth considering.

Taking over the existing ones will not accomplish anything.

And we know that if the government controls the refineries, they will jsut hire a contractor to run them.

Just like the existing nuke facilities.

So, the Dems will be responsible for a KBR running the refinery.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: palehorse
more talk of nationalizing the commodities markets... swell.

What shall we (the gubment) take control of next comrades? :evil:

Can no one read? The government is not proposing taking over anything! They are proposing entering the market as a competitor!

Once again:

Among other things, the Democrats called for the government to own refineries so it could better control the flow of the oil supply.

Show me where that statement declares a desire to take ownership of existing refineries against the will of the current owners.

 

[BladeVenom]

The title is a bit misleading. However if they want to spend money, I'd also prefer they built nuclear powerplants.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
The title is a bit misleading. However if they want to spend money, I'd also prefer they built nuclear powerplants.

Agreed and agreed.

Look at the source(s) though. Socio is a proven partisan hack, and Fox is utterly brainless (they were the ones who originated this incredibly misleading title).

Nuclear is FTW, and I think most (R)'s are on board with that, FWIW.

I wouldn't mind both, though. Hell let the US Army Engineers build/manage it, it'd give great training to our servicemen/women, and it would be a big boon to us in our ability to ride out unstable global markets by taking care of our own crap.

 

[palehorse]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong

Originally posted by: palehorse
more talk of nationalizing the commodities markets... swell.

What shall we (the gubment) take control of next comrades? :evil:

Can no one read? The government is not proposing taking over anything! They are proposing entering the market as a competitor!

Once again:

Among other things, the Democrats called for the government to own refineries so it could better control the flow of the oil supply.

Show me where that statement declares a desire to take ownership of existing refineries against the will of the current owners.

I'm not as sure as you that they mean to build their own, or to enter the refinery industry as a "competitor"... after all, that wouldn't really give them the influence necessary to "control the flow of the oil supply," would it? Their actual percentage of influence would be almost zero.

We're interpreting their statements and intentions differently -- I still read it as them taking over existing refineries. Building their own just wouldn't make sense...

 

[Arkaign]

Building our own is the only thing that makes sense. Everyone knows that we have a refinery bottleneck, and even if everything is humming along at 100%, it's still only barely enough to keep inventories from getting low. It's also notoriously sensitive to things like gulf storms, which wreak havoc with the whole situation.

If you're correct, and the plan here is only to take over the refineries from the oil companies, then it's useless and counterproductive. If the plan is to leave the oil companies alone per se, and to build new refineries that are federally managed, then that could be a real legitimate help, and would dramatically strengthen our ability to maintain stability and supply in difficult times.

 

[EagleKeeper]

It is one House member (influential) that is making that statement.

Poiliticans word statements to be vague, when they want deniability.

Why is it that every MSM new source is reporting back to/crediting this to a Fox report.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
It is one House member (influential) that is making that statement.

Poiliticans word statements to be vague, when they want deniability.

Why is it that every MSM new source is reporting back to/crediting this to a Fox report.

Because it is? There is a giant leap between what was allegedly said, and the title of the news report.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I have no problem with the US Government nationalizing the US oil industry, EXCEPT that if profit is taken out of the picture, where's the incentive for growth?
It's far past time to take the bazillions of dollars away from the oil companies and either give it back to the American consumers, or stick it in the US treasury.

Why not nationalize Walmart next?
Or Microsoft?
Or big farm/food suppliers?

What makes oil any different than those companies?

 

[ProfJohn]

oops

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong

Originally posted by: palehorse
more talk of nationalizing the commodities markets... swell.

What shall we (the gubment) take control of next comrades? :evil:

Can no one read? The government is not proposing taking over anything! They are proposing entering the market as a competitor!

Once again:

Among other things, the Democrats called for the government to own refineries so it could better control the flow of the oil supply.

Show me where that statement declares a desire to take ownership of existing refineries against the will of the current owners.

Show me any market in which the government is a 'competitor' and does a decent job?