>>>Clearly unrestrained capitalism is as dangerous and odious form of commerce yet devised mainly because it plays directly into the obsessions of those governed by power and greed.<<<

In principle capitalism is always bad and irrational.  How to change it is the problem.

Clearly unrestrained capitalism is as dangerous and odious form of commerce yet devised mainly because it plays directly into the obsessions of those governed by power and greed. The only reason it survives at all is because enough crumbs fall from “corporate headquarters” to keep the masses from tearing them apart.

I have no idea where the limit on income should be set, but there should be one, at least until every last person has access to the basics… safety, shelter, food, health care. I think I’d start with 1 million dollars per year per person. That includes everything… cash, options, perks, vacations, etc. I’m not aware of anyone on the planet today whose value to humanity is worth more.

Once everyone has the basics, then fine, open the flood gates and let the greedy at the trough.

The only saving grace re the oil barons is that it’s inevitable they’ll put themselves out of business. I can hardly wait.

There is a different between a company making a profit from it’s own good work and a many companies getting together setting prices, lobbying the government for money and tax breaks, setting U.S. energy policy, and making record profits all the while saying that they are not doing any of those things.

And all congress can do is to talk about “windfall profit taxes” which is a joke because it would take money away from the oil companies and put it in congress’ coffers and the oil companies will just find some way to increase prices.

And if congress stops giving the oil companies money and tax breaks the oil companies will just find some way to increase prices.

The outrage over their “excess” profits is not anti-capitalism, per se, but anti-monopoly, anti-gouging, anti-collusion, etc. Everybody can see gas prices go up and down in concert throughout the country each and every day.

If things truly were true capitalism why aren’t some gas stations lowering prices each week which in this market will increase their sales immediately and drastically. Yeah, I know “demand” makes them all raise prices. But there are also many suppliers in the form of thousands of supposed independently owned stations. The market looks and acts as if there is a veritable monopoly.

Large companies that supply our UTILITIES with which we all are dependent upon are not supposed to be allowed to do things like fix prices and monopolize. They are not like your typical business selling non-essential goods or services or in markets that are truly open with many suppliers. Look at the history of business in our country.

Usually there has been an ebb and flow as businesses take too much power and then they get regulated and the people protected, then de-regulation, etc.

But lately, conservativism has been running rampant to decrease regulation back to the point where big-business is starting to rule again.

Rebulicans hate providing social services for people, but love providing subsidies and tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy—because, we are told, that will supply the people with jobs.

Sure it will. Money will “trickle” down. People without pensions and without healthcare and with high interest rates will just love that “trickle” that eventually gets down to them.

Meanwhile, since the government ain’t doing it, and big-business won’t make enough money on it, there will still be no public transporation and no renewable energy and no better CAFE standards, causing still more increased oil consumption.

And then we are back to where we started from.

Geepers wonder what the ceo’s stock options were priced at?  Thats okay the american public will pay for them at the pump!

http://charts3.barchart.com/chart.asp?vol=Y&jav=adv&grid=Y&org=stk&sym=XOM&data=H&code=BSTK&evnt=adv

i find it ironic that people often hail the efficacy of capitalism, but when its operating in a fashion they find distasteful, they criticize. 

corporations are built to make profit.  thats it. when any other company builds record profits, where is the complaining?  i would equate this situation to the crack dealer and his clientel.  who are the clientel to tell the dealerthat he ought to lower prices?

rather than spend our time complaining about how much money the oil industry drags in, we should concern ourselves with finding alternative sources of energy.

These are the same CEO’s who oppose minimum wage, labor unions, social security, and the rest. Corporations are a criminal enterprise designed to siphon wealth created by the labor force.