We're Screwed.
Professional
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Topeka Kansas
Absolutely, we can't tax our way out of this mess. The spending must be stopped and entitlements is just one of many places, actually nothing should be off limits. If we had serious people willing to make difficult decisions, without consideration to their own benefits, there could be a 10% cut across the board evenly, in every agency and department. I have lots of experience at the state government level, I know the waste and complete lack of serious spending cuts. The tactics used when told to cut is offer up something that will hurt people and keep the "pet projects" that aren't needed or could be delayed. That way, they will be a scared public and such an outcry, funds are restored. With career politicians, they can't make these difficult decisions and don't force staff to cut and maintain services at acceptable level. We need to stop thinking government has to solve all problems and let states handle more. Have term limits, that makes decisions that are tough easier, do away with lobbyist, they aren't needed anymore. These thought are nothing new, no one in government wants to cut off the gravy train. It is sad we have a government we can't trust, we could fix our problems. It is amazing how a tiny few affect so much. Just think of the oil we don't go after right here in America because of a small number that believe we will upset a polar bear. Right here in Kansas we have a few oil wells pumping away and the cattle craze around the pumps with no problems.
Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,663
Likes: 8
From: Central Oklahoma
Apple does not provide the most critical of all resources upon which our entire economy is dependent. And lots of people do scream about it. You've just got to visit the same places they do if you want to hear it.
And the oil companies' margins are much greater than what is reported -- it's a handy trick you can pull off as long as people are too stupid to notice that you sell your own raw materials to yourself several times over, and report only the margins on the last sale.
And the oil companies' margins are much greater than what is reported -- it's a handy trick you can pull off as long as people are too stupid to notice that you sell your own raw materials to yourself several times over, and report only the margins on the last sale.
You're still stuck in 1970's thinking. The US economy is not as dependent upon oil as it once was. Have people ceased buying trucks and so-called pony cars due to gas at or over $3/gallon? Nope. Have they severely reduced to cut back their driving? According to AAA, this past Memorial Day Weekend was yet another record breaker.
Oil is priced and traded in US dollars and if you look at the world market you'll see that the dollar has taken an incredible beating over the last decade. It's no Euro (which was assumed to take the place as the World's currency, but that didn't happen) but the fact remains that inflation and the Government's decision to flood the market with money via QE1, QE2, and the now approved QE3 means the value of the dollar will be even lower.
The costs associated with exploration, extraction, and bringing the oil to the market are enormous. Those "obscene" profits are put back into the company to recover all of those related expenses.
Americans have this notion that they're supposed to pay pennies for gasoline and oil. When adjusted for inflation, a gallon of gas was more expensive in 1982 than it is today.
nobody has to buy an apple either. They are not a monopoly like the oil companies are...sure there are several oil companies, but guess what, they all work together to equally f--k the population over by keeping all of their prices the same for barrels of oil. Apple does not have a monopoly. you can get a windows phone or hundreds of different models and flavors of android phones, same with tablets. If you don't like them, don't buy them, and buy from their competitors.
If Apple isn't spending that money, doesn't that qualify as greed under your definition? After all, Apple's profit margin on its most popular products is larger than that of oil and the company is not spending that money.
Last edited by Gary-L; Nov 8, 2012 at 09:46 AM.
Legend
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,914
Likes: 4
From: Fredericksburg, Virginia
You're still stuck in 1970's thinking. The US economy is not as dependent upon oil as it once was. Have people ceased buying trucks and so-called pony cars due to gas at or over $3/gallon? Nope. Have they severely reduced to cut back their driving? According to AAA, this past Memorial Day Weekend was yet another record breaker.
Oil is priced and traded in US dollars and if you look at the world market you'll see that the dollar has taken an incredible beating over the last decade. It's no Euro (which was assumed to take the place as the World's currency, but that didn't happen) but the fact remains that inflation and the Government's decision to flood the market with money via QE1, QE2, and the now approved QE3 means the value of the dollar will be even lower.
The costs associated with exploration, extraction, and bringing the oil to the market are enormous. Those "obscene" profits are put back into the company to recover all of those related expenses.
Americans have this notion that they're supposed to pay pennies for gasoline and oil. When adjusted for inflation, a gallon of gas was more expensive in 1982 than it is today.
Profits are profits, and no, not **everyone** buys gasoline. Your argument has no merit. You do know that Apple is sitting on over $100 BILLION in cash reserves. No "greedy" oil company has anywhere near that amount.
If Apple isn't spending that money, doesn't that qualify as greed under your definition? After all, Apple's profit margin on its most popular products is larger than that of oil and the company is not spending that money.
Oil is priced and traded in US dollars and if you look at the world market you'll see that the dollar has taken an incredible beating over the last decade. It's no Euro (which was assumed to take the place as the World's currency, but that didn't happen) but the fact remains that inflation and the Government's decision to flood the market with money via QE1, QE2, and the now approved QE3 means the value of the dollar will be even lower.
The costs associated with exploration, extraction, and bringing the oil to the market are enormous. Those "obscene" profits are put back into the company to recover all of those related expenses.
Americans have this notion that they're supposed to pay pennies for gasoline and oil. When adjusted for inflation, a gallon of gas was more expensive in 1982 than it is today.
Profits are profits, and no, not **everyone** buys gasoline. Your argument has no merit. You do know that Apple is sitting on over $100 BILLION in cash reserves. No "greedy" oil company has anywhere near that amount.
If Apple isn't spending that money, doesn't that qualify as greed under your definition? After all, Apple's profit margin on its most popular products is larger than that of oil and the company is not spending that money.
There was an article a while back saying that the iPhone Revenue alone is more then all of Microsoft's put together.
"From June 2011 until June 2012, the iPhone generated $74.3 billion in revenue for Apple."
"CNN Money notes that if you take all of the revenue that Apple generates from the iPad, various iPod models, iTunes, the Mac and the 30 percent take of all apps sold, it still doesn't add up to the revenue stream from the iPhone."
http://www.tuaw.com/2012/09/07/iphon...of-microsofts/
Bottom line, the iPhone IS Apple. Just imagine if people started to revolt against the iPhone and buy more Windows/Android Phones. I know that won't ever happen though, too many people like to wait in line for crappy technology. Go buy a Samsung Galaxy S3 already.
Edit: However I'm a bit of a hypocrite because I love iTunes, but I don't buy music from Apple.....
Last edited by stewie01; Nov 8, 2012 at 10:11 AM.
Banned Goober Smoocher
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,916
Likes: 1
Where'd you find one?
They don't even exist anymore!
Legend
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,914
Likes: 4
From: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Yes iTunes IS Apple. My point with the iPhone was that if the iPhone suddenly fell on it's face, Apple would start bleeding lost revenue. And I was merely pointing out that I'm a hypocrite because I'm slamming for iPhone but I use iTunes.....
Last edited by stewie01; Nov 8, 2012 at 11:12 AM.
I've had it for awhile....just found out that they are discontinuing the zone pass service too....crap..
I don't get too crazy into politics. I know that our government can be bought by big business. Doesn't matter if you are republican or democratic. Until that changes and the greed ends, things will not get better. Money is the root of all evil...
All Star
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 901
Likes: 3
From: Dayton, TX.
I don't have a solution.