Corporations influencing energy policy?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
How long have we been listening to the politicians talk about our need to reduce our dependence on Middle East oil?
Well, the House actually passed an energy bill last week that would mandate the first major increase in fuel economy standards in more than 30 years. It would require automakers to raise their "corporate average fuel economy" or CAFE standard by 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. That bill is now pending in the Senate.
Supporters say it would save the U.S. 1.1 million barrels of oil a day... that's about half the oil that we import from the Persian Gulf region.
Enter the lobbyists for big oil and car companies. They are working overtime to kill the bill. The White House is threatening to veto it. The New York Times says President Bush is echoing a position taken by the auto manufacturers and a coalition of industry groups including the oil companies. They say they're concerned about who would regulate the new 35 mile per gallon standard.
How hollow does that sound? The government can create massive, ineffective bureaucracies at the drop of a hat…ever heard of the Department of Homeland Security? But they're threatening to veto the first meaningful energy bill in 30 years because they don't know who will enforce the standards?
Our dependence on Middle East oil is at the heart of so many of our current problems. But, like everything else, the big corporations have a stranglehold on the federal government
Here’s my question to you:How much influence should corporations have over energy legislation?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Ken writes:
Corporations should have zero influence. Nothing in Washington will change until we use tax dollars to finance election campaigns. It sound expensive at first, but it will save us billions in corporate welfare to the energy, pharmaceutical and insurance industries alone.
Pete from Ohio writes:
The bill in question is useless. 35mpg by 2020 is laughable. That should be a 5 year goal, at minimum. Corporations should be leading the way in energy research. If there is any legislation at all, it should be significant tax incentives to any company or individual who is devoting time and money to finding clean, renewable sources of fuel and energy. The free market will find a solution much quicker than lethargic, ineffectual bills such as the one in question.
Dawn from Kansas writes:
Energy companies should have SOME influence. They are authorities in the field, after all. But there must be sturdy boundaries between policy and profit.
James Leon from Kansas:
Corporations should have almost no influence over our government period. Most of our problems in America and our government were caused by large corporations lobbying our elected officials and putting them in the pockets of these corporations, instead of working for the people who elected them.
Bob writes:
How much influence should the foxes have over the henhouse policies?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
None.
The point of a corporation is to make money. That has nothing to do with energy policy. The reasons corporations have a hand in this is because our politicians are for sale. They do not care about America, they care about the American dollar that is given to them to do the bidding of the "donor". This will not change until we get politicians in office who care more for the American people than they do about how rich they can become. It is up to us to vote them out. I guess a little revolution now and again is not a bad thing.
Jack, The energy companies run our energy policy now. The corporate vice president defined our energy poicy in secret but never told us what it was. I guess Iraq and $100.00 a barrel for oil, Haliburton making billions, Enron, and all of the other reasons gas and heating oil are at all time highs are the current energy policy.
Let poor people set the energy policy and let the corporations CEO's live on a normal wage. Keep the faith, It is getting ugly out there, but keeping the heat on can make it less so.
None. Corporations are not citizens.
Jack...
They already have 100% influence on energy legislation
John
Pampa, TX
Jack,If the corporate powers that be were responsible citizens they should have some say,along with scientists,scholars,unions,consumer groups and others who would give input for a responsible energy policy good for everyone and our Mother Earth. As long as corporations ony motive is profit and the hell with everything and everyone else,then the corporations must be left out.
Absolutely none they are part of the downfall of this great nation and are full of self intrest corporate theives look at our crooked corperation called the government.
Jack, corporations should have as much influence on energy policy as they do on foreign policy...oh, wait – that's right, they do! Oil, Iraq, the Iraq war, drilling in Anwar...all these things are benefitting those who have that kind of influence. Too bad policy isn't dictated by those of us who vote.
I am afraid to answer this question and think of that proverb, “be careful of what you wish for.” Look at the choices. In one corner you have the melting iceberg crowd, in another the go-nuclear folks, then farmers selling corn and sugar cane, techies telling us the Jetsons are real and lastly and probably the worst, the deep thinker we have in the Whitehouse or the two dozen or so aspiring to that job.
Corporations already influence energy policy. If Congress had the guts to outlaw corporate donations to our elected officials, we could solve a myriad of problems. Also, another problem is the influence that lobbyists have in Congress. They, too, should be banned. But, hell no, Congress doesn't have the guts to cut off the hand that feeds them. In the end it is we, the people, who get screwed!
None. They should have input, but they have got the whole camel into the government tent, and there's no room for anyone else. The real problem is that there is no one except John Edwards who seems to understand that the problem is not the corporations; it is the politicians, who let themselves be bought while passing the costs onto our descendants – and maybe Mother Earth is about to to instruct us very painfuily what happens when you just look at corporate profits instead of what you are doing to the planet, and you think you are escaping paying the costs.
Corporations should have as much control over energy policy as they have over the rest of the gov't, "Total Control."
None. It's like asking how much influence should Dick Cheney have in no-bid contracts for Halliburton. If you let the bear run the bee hive, then there is no honey.
Corporation tend to get things done, the government, well, they tend to screw things up.
Leave it to the government and there will be no energy at any price.
Well Jack this is an easy one. They should have the exact same amount of influence over our energy legislation or policys, as we have in setting their profit margins. Im sure you were as gleeful as I was to find out the oil companies made millons, excuse me, billions in profits this year. But dont tell the vice president I said this ...ok.
They need a say just like the people do, unfortunately the impression is they have more of a say than the people. It's important for our politicians to listen to the people that elect them. Isn't it time to do something about corporations contributing to political campaigns? What ever happened to campaign finance reform?
If only we could trust them! The corporations have too much input into our energy problems already. As you know our respect in this world has seriously deteriorated in the last 7 or 8 years and our energy policies are one of the reasons. Is it too much to ask that our government and its policies are operated honestly and efficiently rather than with corporate greed? Apparently it is.
Corporations should not have the right to influence anything other then their own business, and not through politicians. Corporations are destroying America and nobody in the Government seems to care aside from Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich.
Governor and U.S. Senator Huey Long had an answer for that – Nationalize them, then they have to listen. What happens when the kids of the Robber Barons set policy? 45 U.S. cities had their electric mass transit systems dismantled by GM, Standard Oil, and Firestone and a grand jury found them GUILTY in 1949 for which they paid – $5000 (the LA transit alone was valued at $100,000,000). This IS a corporate dictatorship. Remember what happened to Huey Long-he was shot – dead, dead, dead.
Jack,
Jim Inhofe is my answer to that, the man is paid by the oil companies and he is in a majority of the committees that set standards for the environment, and it's obvious that we need to rid Washington of that before change can happen with environmental standards.
Let's face it, if we took the money we are spending on the war and spent it on alternate energy means... we would have cars that run on air, homes would be heated by solar power... What's that saying ' If we can send a man to the moon ....."
... about as much as their hot air will spin the wind turbines.
The corporate influence on energy policy has grown steadily for the last 20 years, but then the Bush Administration came in and out sourced it all. The corporations were even allowed to keep the policy a secret from us tax payers. I wonder what President Bush and the Republicans got in exchange for this sweet deal. We will never know, because the email and documents that would unlock the truth were surely destroyed a long time ago. Say what you want against the Bush Administration, but you have to admit that they are the best at covering their tracks.
They have none. In a perfect world where a company produces Widgets they can compete against any other company that makes widgets. Unfortunately the Government, through politicians have their hands in most American companies pockets because they can pass a law either favorable or unfavorable to that company depending on how much the company is willing to do for that politician or politicians.
Why do you think green energy for vehicles has not come about in this country? Politicians will not allow it. Most green vehicles are made outside of this country and the politicians have no control over Toyota Honda or BMW who make them. The longer politicians can put off green energy efficient vehicles the more money they stand to make.
Don't let politicians fool you. We have all known for years that Global warming was real and that oil was being used at a rate that it can not be replenished fast enough. In 10 to 15 years the oil in the Middle East will be gone. Then what the hell are we going to do? The people in the Middle East know this already that is why they are so Anti American. When their oil is gone they will have nothing to trade but sand and the world just doesn't need that much glass.
We need to get out of the Middle East and fast, and start protecting our own borders instead of someone else's that really won't mater in another 10 years.
think a better question would be "How much influence should OIL COMPANIES have over energy legislation? the answer to that is obvious, NONE. would you let the fox run a henhouse?
these "oil patch trash" have used the every excuse to jackscrew the price since Bush-Cheney came to office. all the instability in the world that the administration has created was to pay off their oil patch political supporters like T Boone Pickens with higher energy prices at the expense of consumers and the economy. I lived through the first "oil shock" in the early 1970's and the resultant cost-push inflation that followed. when the transportation companies have THE major cost to operate triple, then EVERYTHING they haul, from food to consumer goods will increase in price.
I fear the coming inflation is going to make the 1970's look stable.
Having the Energy Industrial Complex in charge of energy policy is akin to the fox guarding the hen house. We had a policy in the 1970's that THEY KILLED! We probably WOULD NOT BE were we are NOW...but anyway....
We need independent development of renewable resources...otherwise..like ethanol...we will be tied to an antiquated delivery system at the mercy of geopolitical forces.
Geothermal, wind, solar, and other renewal sources will allow us to get out of IRAQ, IRAN, and SAUDI ARABIA. Then all of those countries that are milking the West, which they disdain, can sit in the desert with no major oil exports and count grains of sand instead of dollars!
i have yet to hear any presidential canditate rep or dem share there energy plan they might have to get us out of the energy companies destroying our ecomony this is a everyday problem that affects eveyone yet all fail to address it so when are they going to stop talking aobut things that happen on 9-11 its over with let it go nothing can be done to change that lets focus on the future and all americans are they really all aobut what best for the american public????
Jack:
We need to implement a new law that would bar lobbyists of any kind from entering Washington, DC. This law if broken would carry the penalty of death. This may not be the solution, but it would be a step in the right direction.
Respectfully GDS
As a citizen I deserve as much political influence as the next citizen. Therefore I vote for representatives who ignore my wishes. Energy corporations believe that they are entitled to as much political influence as they can buy. Therefore they purchase the votes of the representatives I elect. I wind up paying both the representative's salary and the lobbyist fees and graft that the energy companies add to my monthly bill. If we shorten the campaign season, will the cost of gasoline go down?
It should be somewhere between 100% control that created Dick Cheney's secret to everyone but them energy policy and zero. If it were possible, I make it as close to zero as possible.
jack, if the oil companies were forced to give up their shelved patents on gas carberators and make the automotive industry put these carbs. on all new cars this would stop,the oil glut. they have had carberators for years that would run cars off gasoline vapors.
none
haven't the tax payer been soaked enough?? when will the people be repaid?
they get tax dollars to exsplore for energy, when they locate it are design it,
they get tax payers dollars to refine it and prepare it for distrubution, we buy it,
they keep every cent. they being they stock holders.i don't have a problem with that,
but gosh darn it don't you think it would be only fair that the tax payer get there
investment in tax dollars back?
personally i believe when tax payers money is used, we should get 25% of the revenue for ever. a return on our tax dollar investment.
Corporations should not have ANY "undisclosed" influence over energy legislation, which has been the paradigm of the present administration. In some instances I could see it neccesary for our elected officials to consult with energy companies in regards to infrastructure, production limits, environmental issues (like they've ever discussed that one) But with this administrations policy of closed door meetings with big oil, we don't have a clue as to what's being discussed. For all I know they could be sipping on martinis and watching those missing "waterboarding" tapes!!!!
it's all a function of supply and demand. We have a seemingly unlimited supply of willingly compliant politicians in office, responding to a high demand for corporate tax breaks and incentives, no-bid contracts, and favorable (average Joe be damned) legislation!
It should be illegal for corporations to influence ANY energy legislation. How can this administration still be playing a reverse Robin Hood, by giving to the rich while finding a way to steal from the poor? What a sad state we are in.
none, zip, zilch, nada, verboten, or any other word in any other language (including legalese) describing no influence allowed. Every time there is pending legislation
that actually benefits all Americans , the greedy among us (corp. America) starts throwing their cash around and twisting how the entire conversation / debate
of what to do regarding energy efficiency and independence. It's been 35 years since the oil embargo of 1973 and left up to their devices it'll be another 35 years (if ever)
before concrete policy is established that benefits us all.
Additionally, I personally will volunteer to be the Regulatory Standards Czar
if no one can figure that one out , at say an annual salary of 10% of former Exxon chairman Lee Raymond's cash out retirement figure of $400 million…
oh, alright… 5% but not a penny less and that's my final offer !
Corporations should have NO influence over public policy. Elected officials should represent the people. Instead, elected officials represent the corporations. These are the same corporations that bankroll the campaigns of candidates like Hillary Clinton, Rudy Guiliani, and Mitt Romney.
At some point, the American people are going to have to stand with candidates who refuse to accept support from corporate lobbyist. These candidates like John McCain, Barack Obama, and John Edwards represent a growing chorus of elected officials who serve the people.
We face huge challenges in controlling energy costs and our use of energy. We have many initiatives that will protect our world and aid in controlling consumer costs. A comprehensive energy policy will create new jobs. We need leadership to build a better America and create a better way to use our energy.
Sure. Why don't we let the rooster guard the hen house. Public utilities need to be regulated, not empowered to make their own laws governing their actions – or INACTIONS for that matter. Self-Incrimation and Regulation, (which they need) would not be in their interests -only corporate greed and the almighty dollar paves the road to their enlightenment.
Legislation should be influenced by "We The People" at the polls, not by fat wallets of corporate America whose best interest is there own. Democracy and freedom of speech are routinely exploited all in the name of making a quick buck, whether by politicians or corporations who treat the elected officials to trips, gifts or campaign contributions and call it something else. Let the people decide major issues. Do we want better fuel economy on our vehicles? YES. If for no other reason than to save what little money we have/make for necessities rather than on gas. Saving the environment while we we're at it is multi-tasking and helps us feel we're doing our part.
You are absolutely right that our energy policy (or to be exact the lack of it) is at the hart of many US problems. It has and will have major impact on economy, national security, and environment to name the three. The direct answer to your question would be that letting corporate policy to affect energy legislation is like letting a fox guarding a bird's nest. We cannot, however, exclude corporations from making their proposals. While media and presidential campaigns make so much noise on the issue of illegal immigration, on my opinion, the energy policy should be the # 1 agenda for future president. You, correspondents could make a great service to this country by focusing on resolution of energy policy and demanding specific answers from presidential candidates on short term, mid term, and long-term solutions.
Igor Schneider
Akron, Ohio
Is this a serious question? Are we really debating whether large companies should have influence over the laws designed to regulate them? The very point of regulation is to protect private citizens from large companies making stupid decisions. If you are curious about how companies behave without supervision, study the industrial revolution.
Unless; we the people have another civil war there will be no stopping their Dictatorship of energy policies. After all, its all about the MONEY and we the people have no effect on policies. Our so called representitves only kiss the Butt of special interest groups.
What Corporations?. All the energy policies are influenced by government. Corporations are the just the ones who pay our officials, get them elected and subvert their will on the people. We should stop calling them Senator, Congress person, or President and call them Mr. or Ms. Lobbyist. WAKE UP!
Jack,
You mean should we let them write it , like they did before, so they make massive profits with little or no regulation and little or no taxes on their profits – I don't think so.
How about a unique new idea – like write the energy policy so it protects the national interests and helps most of the citizens of our country, not just the privileged few in charge of the energy cartel.
America's patriotic majority is building up a firestorm against two major groups of people – illegal aliens and corporations. Both are stealing our all American livelihoods from us, and we don't liken to that! Not one bit!
Both those groups, and the anti-American hate groups that support them, can get the hell out of our nation and see how other nation's will welcome them.
None! This is at the core of most of our government problems now. Our elected politicians always ask businesses to write legislation on their related business when there are plenty of experts that are not connected to the corporation. But then, of course, the politicians wouldn't be getting their "kickbacks". Corporation will never write legislation that's fare or in favor of the consumer. It's such an old cliché that I hate to use it again, but it's the only thing that applies; "it asking the fox to guard the hen house".
Jack,
Corporations should have no influence on energy policy, but the reality is that they have all of the influence on energy policy. If politicians turned their backs on these corporations, their income would drop by 90%. No sane, corrupt politician would voluntarily do that. We need to vote these numskulls, and their special interests, out of Washington and start with a clean slate. Only then can we solve the problems that our nation is facing.
Unbelievable! Corporate America's Energy tycoons put two of their own oil barons in office and CNN has the gall to ask such a question as how much influence energy companies should have in energy legislation? Easy, they have all the influence they need, they own the Senate, Congress, the Departments of Energy, Defense and State. Next, they'll totally own Iraq and Iranian oil fields. These two slick oil salesmen, Bush and Cheney called Clinton Slick Willie?
None. We are supposed to have government by and for the people. Not by and for the corporations. Trust me no matter what rules the people come up with, Business will find a way to make a profit. Thats what they do right.
Energy policy? We have an energy policy?
Energy corporation influence on energy policy is the reason why our roads are clogged by hordes of three-ton gasoline hogs getting only 12 miles per gallon. All in the interest of selling as much gasoline as possible, reaping as much profit as possible. It's beyond ridiculous.
How much influence should they have? NONE!
BB
Chandler, AZ
None.They are only functionning because we allow them (charters) to run their business and make money. We the people thru our congress are writing legislations... Ooops,wrong country, forgot we are in the USA
Jack, who cares about the year 2020?It will be all over by then!!
If the Defense Department can team up with private industry and maintain air superiority for our Air Force,why can't the Department of Transportation team up with Detroit and have us running around this time next year in our electric cars!!! Put the auto industry back to work,revive our country. We don't need to send our troops to secure our oil supply when we already have our electric cars. Let the huge Federal Fleet be the first customer.Jack,will you please tell people about GM's EV-1.Please talk about the Film "Who killed the Electric car".Please.
Tell the oil companies that we don't require their services any longer. If the Presidential candidates talked about the electric car,the price of oil would drop dramatically.If the future of oil is even questioned,the sale of oil futures would be immediately less attractive.Go Jack
Let's make Lobbying illegal and anyone who takes a bribe from them, gets 10 years in prison, mandatory. Politicians get 2x the sentence.
The Big 3 U.S. automakers all produce cars for markets overseas that have MUCH higher fuel efficiency standards, why can't they do it for the domestic U.S. market? There is no excuse, the technology is there but the will is not. As for the lobbyists having undue influence over legislation - wake up, it's been happening for decades.
No more than I do!
Corporations should have ZERO influence on policy. Their main concern is the bottom line...not what is best for the rest of us!
When you look up and see Signs at filling stations in CO2 emissions instead of price per Gallon then you will have your answer.
None, none and NONE.
None.
Maybe the better question is this: how much influence should energy legislation have over corporations? Have you heard of letting the markets work?
NONE!
the legislative process is supposed to be the representative voice of the PEOPLE of this country, not the power elite. does it matter to the administration or to the majority of the representatives? no. it never has and never will. the politicians are too buys worrying about reelection and fund raising to stand up to the lobbyist and the special interest that dominate the country.
two cents worth of influence
None. Letting corporations have any influence over energy legislation would be like letting the White House be able to handle investigations on infractions of Constitutional laws by the President. Oooopppps.... we already seem to be O.K.with that. So I guess it would be O.K. after all. (sarcasm)
How much influence should the foxes have over the hen house policies?
I don't think that corporations should have any influence whatsoever on energy legislation because it is a tremendous conflict of interest. Every time I go to the pump to put gas in my car, I get sick to my stomach when the little man on the screen at the gas station says "Hello, welcome to ***** its good to see you!" And I wish I could tell him where to stick it. I am completely disgusted at the power they have over us and that we have no say. It is time for our government to actually serve the people and put them in their place.
corporations are only concerned about their bottom line not what is best for the american people. They should not be allowed to strongarm, buy-off, or otherwise influence any of our legislators on energy or any other subject of vital interest to this country.
Jack,
Wasn't there something about a fox and a henhouse that we all grew up on. Seemed kind of a no brainer, yet here we are again. I find it amazing, and terribly depressing, that we continue to "talk the talk" but haven't the courage to "walk the walk" when confronting the corporate monolith.
Corporations should have zero influence. Nothing in Washington will change until we use tax dollars to finance election campaigns. It sound expensive at first, but it will save us billions in corporate welfare to the energy, pharmaceutical and insurance industries alone.
Until this happens, politicians will continue to ignore voters and our democracy will continue to erode.
ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so fed up with this administration and it's cohorts blatantly commiting treason and selling out the American people in the name of self-service & greed. It's time to impeach, and WHEN they're found guilty, not IF, they should be PUBLICLY executed in order to send the message NEVER AGAIN!!
The fault is not in regultion but in ourselves. Americans already have the power to drive more fuel efficient cars, but we fail to regulate ourselves. This problem should not require government intervention, but our own oil-addicted habits prevent real change.
With corporations shaping our energy policy, their new CAFE standards will put us on the road to energy independence. Too bad we'll run out of gas before we get there!
Invest in alternative energy companies as much as you can. I have and my portfolio is up over 30% this year. Those are the corporations I support. Forget the government, all they do is drag their feet, we need to drag their feet over the coals. Then they will see the light of day. If we stand up for progressive candidates then we might see a change in direction. Ask questions that force the candidates to show they are verse in the facts. Make sure the corporations stop getting the subsidies especially if not really needed to show a profit. Make the energy playing field level.
Exactly the same as other lobbyists should have. None.
It's disgraceful that in this country almost everything of any importance is influenced, determined and controlled by lobbyists. Imagine what we could do if this weren't true!
Well Jack, you finally got me. Your question "How much influence should corporations have on energy policy" is correctly answered "None." The Bush administration has magnified corporate influence on policy to unprecedented levels. It is NO ACCIDENT that the kinds of democratic expression and national accomplishment Americans used to pride themselves on are now fading into nostalgic memory.
Clearly, there is room for national and state gov't to mandate changes that will influence the peoples' mandate to improve envirnomental friendly energy needs of our country. If corporate America has its' way. they will put profits ahead of global warming and not take the bold steps necessary to bring about cleaner and safer energy resources. Tim- Henderson,NV
The diesel engine was introduced at a world’s fair toward the end of the 1800’s as an engine that would run on peanut oil. So what happened?
Corporations should not have influence on this country's energy policies. It's an obvious conflict of interest. If the House and Senate can't pass legislation this time requiring that auto companies manufacture all vehicles to get 35 mpg before 2020, then we should all revolt against politicians who have corporations in their back pockets. If we had stayed on the course of increasing mileage requirements from Jimmy Carter's days in the 1970s we'd be energy independent from big oil today. Even 35 mgp by today's standards is too low. It's time to move and move in leaps not baby steps.
Corporations should have next to ZERO influence over energy legislation.
A corporation is not a small business and it is not an individual. Although some hazy legislation in the past and slippery lawsuits since then have wrongly granted corporations the rights of person-hood. This, folks, means they have the same constitutional rights as you or your neighbor, even though the corporation is not a living person.
Energy legislation should definitely keep economics in mind, but its ultimate and rightful purpose is to benefit the environment and the consumer by reduction in pollution and also eventual gas costs of low MPG. We all know that these corporations have little interest in environmental or civil well-being past the point of their own profits. The purpose of a corporation is simply to profit and expand, when this is not sustainable for our environmental or individual well-being, we must reduce the giant footprint of such, already government-coddled, entities.
Jack, the question you ask illustrates exactly the problem with this country. big business are the true governing body in this country, and the Bush administration lets them. everyone knows that the technology all ready exists to get much more than 35 mpg. by 2020 i would hope that a). we would not be dependant on foreign oil at all and b). if we are, i would hope that american cars are getting at least 50-60 mpg. thanks Jack i needed to get that off my chest. DM
The corporations have been running thus country for 7 years making the laws etc.When globel warming effects take over the world they won't have to worry about their money, just running to save their hide.
Hi Jack! I've heard all this before and the year was 1973 and the Arab Oil Embargo. The same complaining by the corporate car and energy whiners said WE couldn't afford mandated higher energy standards but Congress acted in our best interests and passed them anyway. That led to the only time we have ever significantly increased fuel milage and the technology push also led to the greatest improvement in vehicle safety.
There is not one candidate, Democrat or GOP that is NOT owned by the lobbyists. It makes me sick to hear comments like "The lobbyists are working overtime to defeat this bill". They shouldn't have a voice at all, other than as a supplemental voice for a group.
I heard a statistic a while back. In 1965 there were 60 lobbyists in D.C. In 2007, there are 13,500 registered lobbyists!!!! The staff that is bailing out of Bush, jr.'s cabinet and staff right now are starting their new career the VERY next day as a lobbyist!! Lobbying their former STAFF and co-workers from the day before!!!!
Our country has been sold down the river when we weren't looking. While we were working hard every day to pay our taxes!! If they weren't in government service, they would be indicted under RICO statutes!
None, zilch, zero,
None at all.
The government should be serving the people more, and big business less. Big business has enough money.
Mike from up-state NY
Jack,
This is unbelievable! What type of a country are we living in anyhow? For God Sakes, what do we have to do to change our way of thinking in this nation so that the good of the whole comes before the greed of a few! 2020? Why not 2015? After all, there is an issue called Global Warming that also could be impacted here. Let's see, kill two birds with one stone. No, I guess not, it makes way too much sense and would only benefit the entire world!
Thanks for listening Jack. It is wonderful to listen to someone who thinks like the American people for a change.
Jon Brown
I think that all lobbying should have to be done in the open before congress and live national TV. We can not control the under handed dealing when it is so easy to hide it from us behind closed doors, some lobbyist do good deeds, others are no better than terrorist.
Jack,
Do you really believe that our elected officials still run this country? Corporations have been running this country for many years. This is a really sad time in our nation's history, I do not believe my father fought in WW II for Exxon. It now looks like more and more that he did.
What we are seeing now is not only influence but control. It's obvious nothing is getting done until we are free of this administration and have someone in office who will not buckle under corporate pressure. Ron Paul 2008!!
wasn't there a guy in the 50's who invented a 100 m.p.g. carb.? the big "3" bought him out along with the oil companies around at that time(yea they are still w/us), & that was that, "WE GET SCREWED"! So it goes for the lil guy! How many corps. shareholder's actually really work for a living anyway? They don't have to work, the're "PAID LIARS FOR A LIVING"......I wasn't there, but ye-ole Boston Tea Party is looking better & better to the 95% of the have-not's....so what do ya think the "HAVES" would think about that?
What has happened to the Dems in congress? If there is a reason to make the public aware of the Bush oil corporations and the lobbyist that control US policies, THIS IS IT. Let Bush veto the bill to raise the standard to 35 mpg using the laughable reason of the inability to enforce regulations and then point out all the standards that are in place. If they do not have the ability to enforce regulations then there are a lot of standards and regulations that should be eliminated including oil and tax regulations.
Jack,
The auto corporations should have no input on the elimination of our dependency on foreign oil. Let's face it, if the congress had one ounce of sense, they would pass a law that no car that could not get 50+ miles to the gallon by 2014, can't be sold. At that rate, it would still take twenty five years to get the old auto's off the road and realize the full benefits. Let's face it, the only way to end our foreign energy reliance, is to force the corporations fix the problem. They know how too, force them to do it.
The only person in either party I would vote for is Al Gore. I have quite a few friends both Rep. and Dem., who agree with me.
I think Gore has not taken himself out of the race.
Why doen't CNN or some other polling group, poll the American people and check out his electability versus the other "nothings" running for President
None!
And I make sure they have as little as possible in my life.
I drive a Prius, get 47 mpg even on bad days, more when conditions
are right. But corporations who advise and help add content for
CNN still put out false information about hybrid cars, saying they
take years of driving to recoup the investment...bull...saying they
average 32 miles per gallon realistically...bull. So viewers, keep
listening to media content which must, as far as I can figure, be financed
by sellers of gas hogs, while I drive along, saving enough on gas to
make half my car payment each month, on a car with a base price of
less than 21,000.
They should have no control. We need to get more hybrids out there and concentrate on Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology. Electric Cars are all fine and dandy until you realize that they use electric which is still mainly generated by coal. If we in the short run start using more Hybrids we can lower out dependence and then once they are further developed we can switch to Hydrogen Fuel Cells. But the oil companies don't want that. They have their claws in everything!! We need to do something about this. We the voters need to do something. Make our wants known. Big companies should have no say in energy policies or any other policy for that matter!!
Absolutely not, that's one of the things that's wrong with this country. corporations have way too much power & influence on legislation so all of the Bills that are good for the Nation are pushed aside for the sake of the Corporations Income. For example, the energy bill but it's not the first thing they've influence nor do I believe it will be the last not with the morals of the President. Hopefully the next President acts in a way that is morally justified. If not Lord help this Nation & our Troops.
Let them have all of the influence they want over the fuel standards. Then your network can start to educate this country on how to quickly and efficiently counteract this influence while getting their undivided attention in Detroit and Washington. Here is your headline free of charge. STOP BUYIING AMERICAN MADE CARS THAT DON'T GET GREAT GAS MILEAGE OR RUN ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS! Jees Louise this country's consumers can be so thick headed sometimes! The Japanese, Germans and Koreans are waiting to sell you a car that can meet these standards. Give them a call.
Jack –
On our way home from work we were discussing the solutions. (That was before your question but we have the perfect answer). As a take off of Bob Barker –
Help control the destruction of America – Have your politician or lobbyist spade or Neutered.
We love you Jack – Keep picking away
we just need to start an anti-lobbiest lobby of our own dammit!
2 1/2 of the last 3 years I have been deployed to Iraq with the Ohio Army National Guard and have seen first hand the corporate control over the military the government in general. One example was a civilian employee who made $80,000 tax free to sit at a desk and organize ping pong tournaments. Surely, with the emphasis on forward recovery of combat stress, this job would be better filled by a recovering soldier and her salary could pay for 2-3 additional soldiers. From closed door energy policy meetings with energy company executives to corporate sponsored scientists replacing acedemic scientist on review panels, corporate america is destroying this country I have bled for. When a company like Exxon makes 36 billion in profits, do they really need government subsidies and tax breaks? The idea is that money will create new jobs and strengthen the economy. If you live in China or the middle east maybe, but not for tax paying Americans. Our government needs to start subsidising the american people, not the corporations. On that note, what good soes it do to freeze the foriegn assets of terrorist networks, when your own county is giving them billions? From Saudis to the billions of dollars missing in Iraq our tax dollars are being used to kill our own soldiers due to corporate greed, lack of accountability and modern day carpetbaggers.
I am a proud American. I was born in Queens New York, but my parents were born in India (am i an Arab as people like to call me). I got hospitalized after 911 twice for being jumped for "taking down our towers" by both blacks and whites (Americans like me). I mention this because I believe much of the resentment that people now feel (after 9/11 towards their fellow "brown" countrymen) is due in large part because of high oil prices (the 9/11 attacks I believe are far enough removed to be a factor for most people) are a factor in me being called a "sand-nigger" too many times to count. Why is this even a debate? I saw today's Republican debate and was appalled when a candidate said (I believe it was Mike Huckabee), "Anyone that is in Iowa today would have a hard time making the argument for "Global Warming". What??? Global Warming is term used by scientist's to DESCRIBE the phenomenons of the major fluctuations in our weather system we have had increasngly after theindustrial revolution (whether it is hotter or colder or Hurricane Katrina it does not matter - Global arming does not mean getting hotter). If that were the definition, it was 80 degrees today in Atlanta (it's mid-December) – I can't believe how uneducated the GOP candidates always are to science. But of course, God is on "their" side – not ours. Liberal is not a bad word. Jesus had long hair and preached LOVE. When he comes back (according to Christianity) I guarantee he will be most mad at Fundamentalist Christians. The goal is not to follow me , he will say, but to be The Christ for yourself.
Anand
Jack, When are the American public going to wake up and stop pretending or denying that this country is the largest CORPORATION in America, also known as U.S.A Inc., which is the real reason why the citizens of the district of colombia do not have voting rights.They do not have board seats, nor do they have access to the the board members who are suppose to represent them.Lou, any business 101 student knows that a corporations only real allegiance is to the stockholders(investors)of the Corporation, which means all the large corporate campaign donors and good-ole boy lobbying network.Our tax dollars don't count.The tax dollars we send to Washington only represent overhead for running the Corporation.
The special-interests should have zero input into designing energy policy. It should be done by a learned body of scienticss, engineers and economists.
It is not just mileage standards that the corporate- interests oppose; it is also the Carbon-Tax. They would prefer a Cap & Trade System. Check your favorite
candidates position on this one! If a contendors energy policy does not include a carbon-tax: ask if they have accepted mpney fron the Energy and car lobbies.
The Energy Corporations have been running the energy policy via a rubber stamp congress because the Oil companies keep making exorbitant profit at the expense of the Citizens who have no alternative. What a shame anytime there is increase in gas price, the energy companies keep passing the buck to the ordinary consumers who have no choice.
Congress should rise up to their responsibility and George Bush and his fellow Energy business men should have mercy on the average citizen and reduce their profit mark up.
It is simply alarming and disgusting for the rich to turn their back on the American people.
Giving Big Oil and other corporations a major voice in America's energy policy is like giving pedophiles control of all Internet teen chat rooms. It's easy to say " we care" but it's what they actually care about that matters.
When gasoline is back to 50 cents a gallon and solar power costs $50 a kilowatt, who do you think Big Oil will support? It's all about show me the money.
Easy....none.
Isn't it a legal term called "a conflict of interest"?
It's about time someone asked the question as to how much influence corporations should have in Washington. I only wish it was one of the current candidates doing the asking!
The best interest of the American people is not the priority of corporate America and our elected officials should be ashamed at the rate in which they feed at the lobbyist trough, becoming pawns to big business and not representing their constituents.
The voting public would be surprised at the amount of influence big business and their lobby's have on decision making in Washington. I would vote for the candidate ,either party, that I think will finally stand up and address this issue.
ABSOLUTELY NONE! Isn't that a rather redundant statement, Why do we elect
all these so called politicians to run the country and then let the corporations
run it or rather ruin it! I'm sick of it and so is everybody in the country. the reason
everybody goes to Washington is "That's where the money Is".
Oh please! It is the same type of influence your boses have on you. The non bias Corp. media is the same type of cancer that is spreading in this country. Example: That intervue with Ron Paul and wolf after the debate. If that was pushing AN AGENDA for somebody i would not know what is, unbias reporting or intervue give me a brake. Friend told me to watch it happen and it did. What a shame.
Corporations should be asked what they can do for the us. They should not be able to tell the us what to do. Take money out of politics and we willl get true americans for representives.
the german gov. has an exellent program that has already made a huge diffIrance where thee gov. pay 50% (I belive that is correct)of the cost, for any homeowner to go "solar" with other benifits too....why hasn't our gov. done the exact same thing "SINCE IT'S WORKING!"....oh yea & creating high tech good paying jobs.
None
Hallibuton stock up 300%
Chevron is up 200%, since March 2003, our great nation is under attack from a collection of torture-loving, Habeas Corpus shredding, illegal wire tapping, political operative who put corporate $$$ first.
The America people are being taken by this corrupt bunch of slim, There so-called "War on terror" has always been an excuse for foreign imperialism and suppression of dissent, we our living in1984.
Jack, they should have about as much influence as Bush and Cheney: zero, zip, nada, null, nichts, nyet. Since Bush and Cheney have completely emasculated the legislative branch, turned the judiciary branch into a subsidiary of the "unitary executive," their philosophy of government is pretty clear: "a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control ." And, we all know what that's a definition of.
Civil War seems to be the only answer. However, the only U.S. citizens that care about saving the U.S. are only good at talking about it. Not doing anything about it (I include myself in that group). We are all too ensconced in our safe little world to actually take a chance on losing that short term. Even though we are moving closer to the edge of the cliff each day!! Some day in the future, we will all have to pay the price for NOT taking our country back from the politicians and big business lobbyists. I say get a rope and let's make an example of a few of the most arrogant, obvious crooks in D.C.!! Maybe we can then get their attention. However, I need to make the requirement that somebody else start the process!!! I am too busy with my own little local issues to take the chance to be the first to charge the hill and look back to find no one else behind me!!! LOL! I have too much to lose in my own little cushy world.
We don't have to worry about this, Jack. After our Congress & the White House finish their job elimination programs, we won't be needing much gas.
On a more serious note, it should be the news media's responsibility to list every senator who votes against the energy policy on the air and give them hell. Give them some time to respond and, If they don"t have a reasonable response, we will know how to pull the levers next year.
As one who has worked with oil and the auto industries both domestically and overseas.
I have heard too much market BS out of both industries.
As well as out of our nations leaders!
It is what it is BS a way to both spread the Bull and Back Stab the consumer to fill the pocket of lots of brokers for which I was one as well as create only wealth for those on top because I was one of them I know it to be true!
This is an age old way of the world market systems and the big commodity is as always in transportation and energy. Well I suppose we could throw in health-care and housing and food too? What do we do about it? Well here in Texas they use shoot horse thieves!
In the old they said Socialism failed due to over spending with a State owned communistic system of economics. Don't look like were doing much better with capitalism today which is multi0State owned government where as owned by the industries of nation rather than by all the people. So whats the difference between our free enterprise system and the old Russia?
Oh yea I can if I can afford it buy a big industry?
hmmm 400 of the world's wealthiest have more wealth than 8 billion of the world's poorest. Somehow this math just doesn't work for me! But it is a fact of life always has been and always will be!
Jack Thanks for letting me ventalatge even if wrong or right!
None The lobby system is ruining our democratic process through it's inordinate quantities of money. We are no longer seen as voters but as consumers. The ownership of all the major media outlets by 5(?) global corporations means that due to conflict of interest, we no longer get fully reported news (no disrespect intended), thus furthering the secrecy of our government officials. A transparent lobbying system or some other system is needed to insure the constitution is followed and protected.
Such regulation standards as CAFE are reminiscent of cap-and-trade programs for polluting oil companies. Just because a corporation meets such a standard of 35 MPG fleet-wide by 2020 doesn't necessarily mean that vehicles on our roads will reflect that general statistic. I highly doubt vehicle purchases will translate equally or above that 35 MPG general standard.
Oh yeah, not to mention the fact that such a standard is already a RIDICULOUS compromise. We've had nothing but short-sighted and insulting compromises between the environment/the people and voracious corporate interests. To address the global warming and energy crises with any semblance of humility and reason would be to shoot for zero emission solar cars by 2020. But we all know that won't happen, even if it's absolutely possible, because of our collective cynicism, apathy, and acquiescence to the wealthy and powerful minority.
I want corporate influence OUT of our citizen-based democratic process.
Good Evening Jack!
Why worry about corporate influence at one level or another when greedy multinational corporations own our government?
The real worry should be about those in charge on Wall Street where the 15% of Americans who constitute 'the market' dictate interest rates, profitability, wages and inflation.
The Bush administration has kowtowed to every one of Wall Street's demands; they've even been given their very own specially tailored tax plan provided just for hedge fund operators!
Still, what the Village Idiot of Crawford Texas fails to realize (among thousands of other items no doubt) is that, with every cut in interest rates, the US economy becomes less and less desirable to foreign investors.
China is already starting to divest itself of US Treasuries and OPEC members like Iran and Libya are lobbying to drop the US dollar while opting for Euros instead; when you witness these things happen you will see world leadership and political power shift to China and the Pacific basin.
We are very close to having the same thing happen to us as it did to the United Kingdom after WWII when they were victorious and broke; we're just broke!
For The Republic!
John George
yes, discussion is wonderful & thank god we have this way to do just that. But the main question here is how do "WE THE PEOPLE" stop it, it's plain insanity in D.C.
None; the last six years has been a disaster; the world can’t take anymore of this administrations energy policy. Why should we trust the corporate community to care about our well-being when past practices have demonstrated that corporate business community cares more about profits and their bonuses? These individuals can not be trusted with the people’s business. The Energy Policy is too important to leave to a bunch of greedy individuals. The world has lost faith with our current political leaders who have delegated the energy policy to the board room.
Jack,
ZERO! Corporations have far too much influence on our so-called elected representatives now.
I won't say none, because I think that the people in the corporations should vote for a candidate that best represents their interests, just the same as the rest of us have to do.
Corporations as entities should have absolute zero influence on energy policy. Energy is a necessity of life, and is one of the most vital pieces of the American survival puzzle. Energy policy should not be treated as some product on a shelf that is for sale to the highest bidder. This having been said–individuals within any corporation should have a voice with regards to any public policy in the same manner as any legal, law-abiding American citizen. No more. No less. JMHO.
A revolt what a great Idea!!, someone start it and I will follow!
None
Corporations should never have influence in legislation but, sadly, they have become live the United States' fourth branch of government. Our politicians have let us down by taking money from large corporations and, in return, handing out tax breaks and considering their opinions over proposed legislation.
None...at all... ever
I think the real reason corporations and the W.H. are fighting this legislation is to avoid having to answer the next obviuos question which is why they havent continued improving gas milage without having to be told to do it. After all they have had 30 years to do it. As far as the oil companies are concerned, they just want to sell as much gas as they possibly can, for as much as they can, or as Bush would say, mission accomplished.
None. Zip. Zilch.
NONE!! It's ridiculous that you should even have to ask the question!
Jack I go to my local Toyota Dealer and all the SUVs are made in the USA and their Hybrids are made 100% in Japan. We can no longer wait for standards to be adopted they need to be immediate. we should wait till 2020 ? NO we need every vehicle made in our country next year getting 30 mpg. And they need to cut out the loopholes where car makers offset their SUVs that are as big as a house with a handful of small cars.
If a truck needs to run on diesel to get 30mpg then all trucks made in 2008 need to be diesel or diesel and electric hybrids.
We have been waiting 30 years for the GM Hydrogen Car and they just cant make them. If they could be made then Toyota wouldnt have made a Gasoline Electric car.
Picture This!
Corporations like the oil companies are putting on a puppet show for the american people by using congressman, lobbyists, and especially President Bush who is front and center in the act! Maybe if someone would cut the strings and the puppets fell and hit their heads hard enough, maybe an energy bill would finally mean something. It's called NO STRINGS ATTACHED POLITICS!
Andy
Dear Mr Cafferty,
I love this new blog format! What a great idea, and what an opportunity for the people to be heard! Keep up the good work! The CNN team is the best in the business!
Jack,
Leave it to Washington to get this all back ass wards again, I've been recommending the separation of Corporation and State, not church and state. Like the both, neither should have any influence in our government when it comes to our country's best interest and the best interest of the People, not the quarterly profit of the Corporate Sponsors of their puppets.
Corporate oil and automotive industries should exert zero influence on energy policy if we as a nation are to survive. Same for the pharmaceutical industry and the AMA regarding medical insurance issues. And for the 'law industry' regarding anything at all.
Corporations should continue to be given total control over our energy policy. I understand that some of the janitorial staff has not been given country club memberships lately. They need that perk and we should pay.
Jack, Look at the auto and oil company's track record, they will continue to pillage the public as long as we let them, they have no shame.
Jack, the corporations run the country economically. Therefore, they should have some say in policy. Change takes time, and these corporations will have to re-outfit all of their plants. The government should make changes to policy with this in mind. Any sudden change will put breaks on what economic progress we have made. Also, the U.S of A has to lead by example. We need up-to-date regulations that will make change as quickly as possible without further slowing our economy; in fact, policy should allow for economic growth and change at the same time.
None! Corporate Greed, Political Gain, and naive voters have us where we are today. I live in western Colorado in a county with a land mass greater than the state of Rhode Island but with a population of under 150,000 folks. In our county and the county east of us, a huge Natural Gas exploration and drilling process is happening at a phenomenal pace. Our natural resources are being pumped as fast as it can be done. The landscape has changed dramatically with little or no worries about the environmental consequences. The State and County coffers are filling with millions of dollars, but at what price? What will the air quality be like in our community? The BLM has even granted leases to drilling companies, in our community's water source areas. This gas will be eventually be piped as far away as Pennsylvania.
The next process is Oil Shale development, with several companies already leasing areas and working on processes to find viable and cost effective production methods. All of this in the exact same locations. We locals call our area the "National Sacrifice." It seems to us that no one cares, just get it out of the ground and fast! This surely cannot be the answer.
This country needs a national progam to develop an alternative to fossil fuel, similar in intensity to the "Manhaten" project of the 40's to develop nuclear wepons and the 60's program to put men on the moon. When this country has a aim or target it can not be beaten, but alas we have lost our way and I worry about our future. Come on America, stop talking and get your focus on what's really important, lets do something about it.
Thanks for raising this question Jack.
As we approach the tipping point it is sad to see the sway corporate greed has over politics (specifically the energy bill).
How bad are things and why should you do more stories on the environment ?
From AP:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jCYJx0roNyeIgXtvTqHL0POi-jwwD8TFI4N81
From Reuters:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N10178654.htm
So what is the most important ? Debating who is the most religious or trying to prevent our coastal cities from going under a generation from now ?
Howard Hoyt
Blounts Creek, NC
Jack,
It is a shame that we are even having such a conversation. I am a chemical engineer and I know that the technology is out there for the average to be done not but 2020 but now or in the next 3 years. The companies just do not want to pay to license technology that they should have developed. Did you know that the first cars were actually electric, before gas became cheap that they abandoned it. Toyota and Honda already exceed the required mileage that is why they are eating away at the American market share. I wish the old hags at GM, FORD, and CHRYSLER would stop putting out terrible cars and actually make cars worth driving. Honda will begin making hydrogen fuel cell cars in the next few years at an affordable price. BMW already has production going on the BMW hydrogen 7 and our car companies are still years behind. If the big three are not ready to play with the ones from abroad then maybe it is time for them to go. Toyota and Honda would gladly replace them including building factories here in the US. It is just sad that lobbying is legal. We need more engineers to come out and speak in public, this is the future of America here we have to stand up now if we want a secured and safe country.
Teddy
Energy companies and our politicians are so greedy, what is going to be funning is when they try to spend the American money that is worthless...haha the laugh will be on them....
It is time Senators from Automotive States and Oil States vote not as Republicans or Democrats-but do whats best as an American.Oil has gone from $40 a barrell to approaching $100 and neither the Administration or Congress has addressed the issue with a plan the last 7 years.In fact they have through subsidies and tax credits encouraged the purchase of heavy SUV,s and light trucks with poor fuel economy.
Doesnt anyone realize that we are at a Security and Economic risk by being oil dependent on the middle east and Venezula for oil..Everytime oil goes up Iran becomes stronger and less vulneraable to internal changes..Russia has been more distant from the US since their oil is fueling there econony.Combine this with our large balance pf payments debt and the doubling of our National Debt and our security gets weakened and we have foreign countries buying US assets.
Senators its about time you put America ahead of the Lobbyists and your Re-election.Pass step one-increasinfgFuel standards.
None, nada, zilch, zero. No company that might profit should have any imput in this discussion.
Get rid of advisors who want you to look slick. be honest and let your hair down, or better yet cut it short shot so you don't have to even think about it. Stop talking so much and listen. go back to the small townhall meetings or coffees. use video, but use it for more than a sound bite. I really don't know where you are coming from, tell me, tell the American people. Talk to us about your abiity to live with a man who continues to betray you. show some of your sadness and regret. go to some of your enemies in the feminist news agencies and make peace.
You are your own worst enemy. make yourself your own best friend.
gee, I remember having a "GO SOLAR" bumper sticker during the last oil crisis 30 years ago, Jack SSDD!
We need to wake up to the fact that when corporations are dictating laws and life in America instead of the people, it's called fascism, not democracy.
Dear Jack:
You are the man when it comes to bringing out the truth. I received this e-mail today and I wanted to share it with you and the world. It has a LOT of truth in it. Enjoy:
This message comes via CDR C.David Hamilton.
The Truth Hurts
If you agree or not, there are a lot of truths in this:
President Bush did make a bad mistake in the war on terrorism. But the mistake was not his decision to go to war in Iraq
Bush's mistake came in his belief that this country is the same one his father fought for in WW II. It is not.
Back then, they had just come out of a vicious depression. The country was steeled by the hardship of that depression, but they still believed fervently in this country. They knew that the people had elected their leaders, so it was the people's duty to back thos e leaders.
Therefore, when the war broke out the people came together, rallied behind, and stuck with their leaders, whether they had voted for them or not or whether the war was going badly or not.
And war was just as distasteful and the anguish just as great then as it is today. Often there were more casualties in one day in WW II than we have had in the entire Iraq war. But that did not matter. The people stuck with the President because it was their patriotic duty. Americans put aside their differences in WW II and worked together to win that war.
Everyone from every strata of society, from young to old pitched in. Small children pulled little wagons around to gather scrap metal for the war effort. Grade school students saved their pennies to buy stamps for war bonds to help the effort.
Men who were too old or medically 4F lied about their age or condition trying their best to join the military. Women doubled their work to keep things going at home. Harsh rationing of everything from gasoline to soap, to butter was imposed, yet there was very little complaining.
You never heard prominent people on the radio belittling the President. Interestingly enough in those days there were no fat cat actors and entertainers who ran off to visit and fawn over dictators of hostile countries and complain to them about our President. Instead, they made upbeat films and entertained our troops to help the troops' morale. And a bunch even enlisted.
And imagine this: Teachers in schools actually started the day off with a Pledge of Allegiance, and with prayers for our country and our troops!
Back then, no newspaper would have dared point out certain weak spots in our cities where bombs could be set off to cause the maximum damage. No newspaper would have dared complain about what we were doing to catch spies .
A newspaper would have been laughed out of existence if it had complained that German or Japanese soldiers were being "tortured" by being forced to wear women's underwear, or subjected to interrogation by a woman, or being scared by a dog or did not have air conditioning.
There were a lot of things different back then. We were not subjected to a constant bombardment of pornography, perversion and promiscuity in movies or on radio. We did not have legions of crackheads, dope pushers and armed gangs roaming our streets.
No, President Bush did not make a mistake in his handling of terrorism. He made the mistake of believing that we still had the courage and fortitude of our fathers. He believed that this was still the country that our fathers fought so dearly to preserve.
It is not the same country. It is now a cross between Sodom and Gomorra and the land of Oz. We did unite for a short while after 911, but our attitude changed when we found out that defending our country would require some sacrifices.
We are in great danger. The terrorists are fanatic Muslims. They believe that it is okay, even their duty, to kill anyone who will not convert to Islam. It has been estimated that about one third or over three hundred million Muslims are sympathetic to the terrorists cause...Hitler and Tojo combined did not have nearly that many potential recruits.
So...we either win it – or lose it – and you ain't gonna like losing.
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall.
JACK, I f I remember right back when I was in highschool, way before your time, there was a car invented by someone that got 50 miles to a gal. But the man could not produce them fast enough and General Moters offered him a huge amount of money for the patent. He sold it to them with the promise to start producing them on a large scale. But General Motors reneged because they would not make enough money from it. The car would last too long and they wouldn't make very many of them. The man later commited suicide.
Can you research this and see if there is any info out there on this.
Helen
Warren Oh
Jack,
OK so the real question here is: Why are we wasting our time even asking this question? The logical answer is the fact that they should have no influence on energy lesgislation but, the reality is the opposite. Because they have the big bucks they spend it on the right people, places etc.. to insure their greedy objectives are met. It comes down to investments. Where can I make the most money the fastest? As a corporation if I invest my money into making sure my future company is safe and secure making more money, I have won. When did we ever get so narrow minded to think that only money is the answer to our problems? Why not make a logical long term investment in the future of those after us in regards to energy? After all, the freedoms we are enjoying now are the result of others before us who cared enough to sacrifice for our good. The corporations will never sacrifice for our good even when we continue to buy their products and have them pay our mortgages.
They should have none, it is like having a con take care of the bank. These people have went too far already, they have turned there back and sold out there own country. I think these insects would sell there mother for a small price, Shame on them!!!
They should have none. But, since these Politicians love that old Mighty Dollar that these big Corporations put into their pockets, the American People comes second.
None whatsoever! They should be specificaly excluded.
Haliburton, ENRON, Bush Jr., the guy that shoots people in the face. Yea, they have really made some great decisions for our country. Why don't we let kindergarden kids around the country vote on it, at least it would be a nonbias vote unless Hersey Chocolate gets to them first.
Jack my wife & I recently took a road trip from our home in the houston area to new mexico .while traveling out in west texas we saw what appeared to be hundreds of very large windmills making lots electric energy as I looked this made since to me . solar power and other things with the proper equipment realy could save this country lots of money . but as long as dumb and dumber are in the white house . the american people dont have a chance .
None – that's an easy answer. But as illustrated for the last 7 years under the current administration, big business has the President and Congress in their pockets via enormous lobbies. The Supreme Court is right there too. So, what can "Joe or Jane Citizen" do to get anything done, changed, corrected? NOTHING!Corporations have no "business" having their noses in the "business of energy".. or the environment which is so negatively impacted by the "output" of energy corporations. Heaven help our country if someone with some intelligence isn't elected to take the seat of President and the seats of Congress. The one success of the current administration is been to illustrate why there MUST be a "balance of power"
Am I missing something or is your question rhetorical. In the '70s gas crunch, government mandated 55 MPH speed limit because it saved fuel. I the techno-gadget on my dash is right I get 26+MPG at 55MPH and 19+ at 70MPH . I can't believe there is no one in government today bright enough to champion a return to 55 MPH and really have to assume that they’ve been influenced.
If a 55 MPH mandate immediately reduced our consumption by 15-20%, it's only fair that the price of gas should drop as well. After all, we live in a time where an oil pipeline in Canada can spring a leak for a few hrs. and drive prices up or, our John Wayne-esque President can mention WWIII and delight Exxon, OPEC and gang with near $100 per barrel price. How about tropical storms that are 3000 miles away from Texas refineries. Next, it will be migrating whales being spotted within 10 miles of a super oil tanker that dictates price!
Am I missing something or is it time we put some reverse spin on this ball!
CNN's treatment of Pablo Fajardo (your own proclaimed hero for standing up to Chevron to hold the global conglomerant accountable for poisoning the water of 30,000 Indians) is an excellent case-in-point as to why energy companies should be denied ALL opportunites to influence energy policy. Your own company caved to their objects to letting CNN link their website to Pablo Fajardo's so he can can direct access to contributions and comments for his efforts to sue Chevron.
CNN would not put the hotlink for FoxNews ANYWHERE on your website , Jack!Why should Pablo Fajardo have to suffer the indignity of having the "Chevron News" hotlink superimosed on HIS picture? Your corporate lawyers did not even have the "grace" to put it in the margin of your website's graphics where it could be preceived as YOUR editorial support and pandering to Chevron; rather you make it look like Pablio's news effort an, JACK, YOU KNOW THAT IS WRONG!
The oil companies comments should be tested by the "GREED" Meter before they are given any influence.
I don't think big corporations should have an influence on anything in this country. We the working people of this country need to stand up and influence what happens. The corporations are getting rich off of us and we barely managed to get by. The Federal Reserve bank is already in the hands of private bankers we don't need the energy of this company being in private hands!
Let's see, George is a Fascist, Dick is a Fascist, Fascist think government should be subservience to business and the wealthy who have demonstarted their superiority by having power and money! George and Dick have instituted the 14 principals of fascism including politicizing each government office, gutted the regulatory agencies and placed lobbiest in charge of what's left, converted the Treasury department into ATMs for Corporate America and cut taxes on the wealthy and powerful while ensuring middle class America (people who actually do work!) are taxed at income rates, Banks now routinly charge 20-40% interest on Credit, and bankruptcy laws will soon have most of use in chain gangs I'm sure. Congress is essentially owned top to bottom by the Lobbyists that feed them...employees of those same corporations, George has salted the Judiciary with Fellow-travelers, set up and independt judiciary for those he lables as enemies with none of thos fancy things like rights! Further, George has mastered the art of propaganda with the able assistance of the Corporate owners of the media, claimed all govrnmental powers are his by right of getting 50.5% of those who voted in most of the states, created a mercenary force answerable to only the Decider, bankrupted the nation for generations, refuses to let something like Global extinction get in the way of the wealthy and the powerful having as many zeros as possible in their portfolios when they die...and you want to know if Energ Companies (You mean Oil companies) should have veto power over anything that might cost them a dime....does it really make any difference now?
The Decider has decided that he will spend 90 Billion borrowed dollars over 6 months for his pet war that is used to justify his destruction of America, but won't spend 65 Million over 5 years to take care of sick kids! Now that man really does have his priorities and those good "Right to Lifers" are saying right on! And we sure don't want to tax any of those wealthy and famous for taking care of anything but themselves! Ah, America, I hardly knew Yah!
Corporations are not people and are only given the status of incorporating by assuming a pseudo identity of a person. They should have no say in emergency sessions and energy or any other decisions that will affect the individual rights of the people. These companies should be placed in the basement where they belong and not on the balcony.
None
Corporations do not care about anything but money and big business
Is the high gas prices a spin off of cheneys secret energy meetings ??
A deceitful government at best.
I was busy trying to figure out how to pay my utility bills. What was the question?
Zero. Period. Power to the people. The energy people that have bought and paid for our government, Our Government, should be dragged out of their mansions, off of golf courses, and out of there fancy restaraunts, and be made to pay for the problems THEIR bought and paid for government has created. These greedy people are disgrace to everything good about humanity.
Could we be further disappointed by a President than what we are experiencing with George Bush? Private interests, greediness, double standards--the law of the land nowadays.....and we are meekily accepting this? Bill Clinton is looking better and better as the years pass!!!
Could we be further disappointed by a President than what we are experiencing right now with this White House? the law of the land seems to be private interests and double standards. Bill Clinton is looking better and better as time passes....
let us blame our big autoindustries first, not to produce fuel efficiency cars...if they do, i am the first person to buy....what a shame we still in 21st century in a democratic land, have lobbiests, greedy people....we need to stop oil dependancy...first...dollar needs to go up....euro is hurting us....health care insurances are robbing....god bless, the usa..
The short answer is obvious - they have almost EXCLUSIVE influence over BOTH parties comparet to WE THE PEOPLE who rarely speak up, but it's worse than that...
The Republicans are so mad (as opposed to angry) that they lost the last election that they've decided to find any excuse they can to filibuster every issue in the Senate that the Democrats put on the table to improve ANYthing in the U.S. - after all, the Republicans never put anything useful on the table during their majority period so they can't let the Democrats appear to succeed.
So whether it's SCHIP, ending the Iraq occupation, controlling Bush's illegal wiretaps, CAFE standards, regulation of food and toy safety, the Republicans invent excuse after excuse to filibuster, unless the issue gets so hot that they can't stonewall and they HAVE to let the Senate vote and not filibuster to stay in the way of voting. This "filibuster all" tactic is more to satisfy the Republican delusions of grandeur they have than even to satisfy corrupting corporate influences.
Don’t let politicians fool you. We have all known for years that Global warming was real and that oil was being used at a rate that it can not be replenished fast enough.
BushyBoy must have missed that memo. either that or he is the best actor we've ever had as President. Dumb like a fox!
Just heard on radio that the head of Goldman Sachs received a $70Million bonus today....Isn't that company part of the current mortgage problem/scandel?
Someone should find a way to tap his bank account and pay off all those poor people's mortgages!
Walter Allen writes: "The diesel engine was introduced at a world’s fair toward the end of the 1800’s as an engine that would run on peanut oil. So what happened?"
answer: the steam coal companies, the "big oil" of their time, had Rudolf Diesel MURDERED!!!
Any politician who allows greed to steamroll over the rights, health or quality of life of our citizens should be indicted, tried, convicted & executed for treason. Any organization or person adversely affecting our nation for greed, power or any other reason makes them an enemy. Any civil servant or soldier is sworn to protect the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Furthermore, any corporation found to be involved in political corruption should be forfeit and Nationalized.
Corporate America should have zero influence in our government. One of the pillars in our form of government is separation between church and state. It is time to add another. Separation between corporation, and state.
A few corrections of the posters above:
A corporation IS a judicial person: According to the Supreme Court decision in Santa Clara v. Southern Pacific Railroad, corporations were redefined as "para-citizens" and it is under this case that paved the way for corporate personhood. This right, bought (see Everyman's Constitution by Jay Graham, the preeminent scholar of the 13th Amendment from the 1930s-1950s from Stanford) by the railroads is used as the rationale for corporations financing campaigns and directing lobbying interests into the nation's policy. This is based in a fraudulent diary produced by Roscoe Conkling, a railroad lobbyist who was on the Congressional committee that drafted the 13th Amendment, the one that prohibits slavery.
Corporations are not created to "make money." That was codified into law later. Corporations originally are created to defray legal accountability of investors from the actions of the entity. This is a necessary legal definition for corporations, such as whaling vessels (see Melville's Moby Dick), municipal water projects or other joint, collective ventures meant to redistribute resources. Corporations are given a corporate charter... or were, until corporations divorced themselves from the legal parent of the nation state.
As to the question? Absolutely none. Corporations have mutated beyond their original purpose in the distribution of resources, instead, they accumulate wealth and subvert legitimate power (democracy) to illegitimate power (plutocracy). Corporatism is the disease that will destroy the United States' super power status and has eroded our democracy for too long. To support corporatism is not to support democracy, but rather, tyranny.
-Silvanus
Jimmy Carter told us in the early seventies to reduce our use of foreign oil.
We responded by developing SUVs. Gas mileage of vehicles sold since then dropped, not rose.
In my opinion, nobody can nor should take seriously any pronouncement by anyone in the Federal Government about much of anything. Government at all levels has become dysfunctional, and is much more of a problem for most Americans than Osama ever dreamed of being.
Duh! And who is going to do anything about it? Anyone in a position to take on those powers is too busy trying to please and appease them at the same time. Never bite the hands that keep you in power. It's a disgrace!
Silly question. The Congress, the Media, the Administraion all ARE corporations. They are well protected from scrutiny with the media, congress. and government officials waging a war of disinformation on the American people. (I am constrantly amazed at the media OMMISSIONS and well as the garbage they try and pass off as real news). Our government is owned by foreign and domestic interests NOT the interests of the AMERICAN people.
I would look forward to them getting voted OUT of office, legislating for independant HONEST media sources, and repairing our country, however, I fear the diebold and other voting machines OWNED by Republicans wil program software, use invalid data to remove democratic votes, to steal yet ANOTHER ELECTION!!
Regarding your question about how much influence should the energy companies have on energy policy.
Under our system of gov't we all gather together and brainstorm ideas and work out the best solution for the best interest of the country. We compromise and debate and work to find solutions that do the least harm to all parties but we do what is right for the future of humanity. This is how we should address the energy situation.
BUT, since the energy corporations have dictated for the last 100 years what our energy policy should be, I think they have no rights to be part of this coalition. They excluded the rest of the parties for the last 35 years and only let themselves dictate policy. Therefore I think they have no rights to sit at the table that will develop our energy policy.
2020? 2020?? you have got to be kidding, by then all the people who voted for it will be dead, or we will have designed a newer type car. why didn't they just say sooner or later, means the same thing. If these auto manufacturers can build a new car from year to year they can improve the engine to meet that goal in two years, Geeeze, how stupid do they really think we are? and the government actually voted on it, they are dumber then I thought. I thought rocks were dumb!!!
One of the first things they need to do is ban all lobbists from washington, any senator or congressmen caught talking to a lobbist will be asked to resign his post, Next, open all oil company books to the scrutiny of the american people, lets see if they are truely losing money. do these things and we as a country will be on the road to recovery.
Jack, the answer is that they should have NONE. If large corporations feel strongly bout an issue, they should sell it to the public through public meetings, disclosures and public discourse. There should be no more free pass to the white house to circumvent the US Citizens. Remember the part about "We the people....."? It didn't say "We the Congress" or "Me, the King".
Not long ago I was looking forward to your political wit or your serious comments.
Now, you have become the same type of moron and know-it-all as Lou Dobbs , you were the advocate of truth in government, yet you insulted Al Gore for telling the truth about the Bush Administration on global warming.
Today (Friday 12/14), you blasted the Congress – like you always do – for not stopping the war in Iraq, don't you know , stupid, that Congress needs two thirds of the votes in order to pass any law or override any Veto from the President?, you fill your mouth with "the Democratas majority" in Congress when you know perfectly well that that majority is so small, that needs Republicans to pass anything. Is very easy to critizise, why don't you run for office and see how easy it is to accomplish something . I know that this is not going to reach your eyes, there are too many "yes,sir "filters" around you, but if it does, maybe you will wake-up and return to be the decent human being that you were once.
People have a really strange set of priorities in this country. I just finished reading the article "Food Prices Soar in America" by Aaron Smith on CNN Money.
Aaron interviews Mr John Norris, a "food price expert" from Oakforth Capital Bank, who says he is buying less milk for his kids but not cutting back on driving.
"That's the reason I cut down on milk consumption – so I can drive my car," said Norris.
With this kind of absurdly backward set of priorities, how are we to develop a sound energy policy in America ?