why?

it's not that complex

1/30/2009 10:49:41 AM

I stared at it for a sec and saw words I didn't know

I back away slowly.

Now that I have re-read it, I get it, but my head hurts.

1/30/2009 10:50:49 AM

I own Exxon Mobil stock. I'm glad I held on to it until now.

1/30/2009 10:51:54 AM

I too, own XOM stock. Unfortunately it's still $15 lower than the record highs from last year.

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 AM. Reason : ]

1/30/2009 10:54:14 AM

^^^ That's a huge part of the problem, too. Most of the root causes of our economic problems are buried so far away from any entities that are relevant to the general public that it all seems like made up gibberish.

Exxon has a brand name that everyone is familiar with. When they make a ton of money, they become an easy, obvious target. But when it comes down to it, they have very little influence on the price of a gallon of gas. They are somewhat lucky to reap some benefits of what is ultimately market manipulation by someone else.

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 AM. Reason : asdf]

1/30/2009 10:54:16 AM

i mean if one wants to pick a fight here, the just fight isnt with exxon's profits but rather the 18b in bonuses from financials for last year

1/30/2009 10:55:54 AM

I am getting called out a lot.

I got an A in economics though!!!

1/30/2009 10:56:40 AM

Quote :

"^^^ That's a huge part of the problem, too. Most of the root causes of our economic problems are buried so far away from any entities that are relevant to the general public that it all seems like made up gibberish."

Why can't there be some way to distribute money differently? I guess survival of the fittest comes to play here and knowing these kinds of things help but I do wish there was a better way of making things less lopsided. And I do think if things did not seem so technical and out of reach that we, as the consumer whores that we are, would be more inclined to figure out better situations for ourselves so that we too could possible reap some kind of reward during this economic failure.

1/30/2009 11:03:24 AM

Probably because the only people who could come up with such a system are the ones taking advantage of the current system. It would be like asking a crack addict for advice in improving the rehab system.

1/30/2009 11:06:25 AM

Quote :

"there is a diffrence btw making money via free market capitalism and getting hooked up with "favorable" gov't policy by an oil friendly president."

not at all

FWIW, i was being sarcastic...on a good day, i'm a socio-capitalist...on a bad, a blatant socialist

fuck capitalism...it's an economic system that is impossible to maintain for very long and as such, fails at a much faster rate than most other economic systems...we're nearing the end of its (arguably) pure use in this country...i'm sincerely hoping obama will be the start of our turn toward socialism

as usual, the US is behind the curve in terms of progression...it's embarrassing

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 11:58 AM. Reason : the US rides the short bus to school]

1/30/2009 11:55:58 AM

if socialism is so good, then why has it NEVER worked?

1/30/2009 1:02:59 PM

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 1:04 PM. Reason : ^^]

1/30/2009 1:03:48 PM

So who supplies oil to Costco?

1/30/2009 1:24:57 PM

I can't believe this thread made it to two pages without some dumbass piping up about how they work on profit margins and it's not their fault they made so much money; completely ignoring the fact that profit margins do not have to be static.

Exxon is one of the few companies that I boycott whenever possible. Their handling of Exxon Valdez and the 15 years of litigation to weasel out of punitive damages disgusts me. They're just a shitty company. I'll gladly drive a little further and pay a little more to shop at Hess.

^ Costco buys from several suppliers. You never know what you're getting.

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 1:42 PM. Reason : l]

1/30/2009 1:37:50 PM

i prefer BP...their environmental programs are much less in the way of a complete crock than the others

1/30/2009 2:39:18 PM

Tr00. I hit the BPs and Amocos fairly often.

1/30/2009 2:51:11 PM

Quote :

"fuck capitalism...it's an economic system that is impossible to maintain for very long and as such, fails at a much faster rate than most other economic systems...we're nearing the end of its (arguably) pure use in this country...i'm sincerely hoping obama will be the start of our turn toward socialism"

don't be delusional, no socialist system of economics has even functioned half as long as the US alone. England seems to be doing quite well on the capitalist system for how long again?

obama won't be doing a bit to turn the economy socialist, again you're dreaming, i just hope you change.

everytime the economy goes through a rough period all of you nitwits come crawling out from under the baseboards to 'decry capitalism' and 'tout socialism' as if it were a panacea for all the worlds problems.

Quote :

"the US rides the short bus to school]"

yet the US owns the school and all the buses

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 3:18 PM. Reason : s]

1/30/2009 3:17:00 PM

Oil executives run their cars off your tears.

It's true.

1/30/2009 3:48:37 PM

Quote :

"don't be delusional, no socialist system of economics has even functioned half as long as the US alone."

uh...you do realize that socialism comes AFTER capitalism, right? i am, of course, referring to marx, so there may be an argument as to whether or not he was "right"...so of course socialism hasn't functioned half as long as capitalism in the US

i made a mistake in making a blanket statement regarding how fast capitalism fails...it fails faster than the PREVIOUS economic systems...it's yet to be time tested against socialism and communism (the latter of which is impossible for human beings who have a notion of self-worth)

Quote :

"England seems to be doing quite well on the capitalist system for how long again?"

england is tiny compared to the US (about 20% the size)...you can make almost any economic system work if the target is small enough (though i agree that "small" is subjective)

also, there's so much more than goes into the analysis than "look at them, we're doing the same thing!"...location, social attitude, etc all play roles...it's silly to just point at them and claim that because they have done it so far, it must OBVIOUSLY be perfect (same goes those touting socialism, but i think you get the point)

Quote :

"obama won't be doing a bit to turn the economy socialist, again you're dreaming, i just hope you change."

really? not a bit? can i quote you on your assertion that under obama, NO ASPECT of our economy will change, in ANY way, towards socialist ideals? really?

Quote :

"everytime the economy goes through a rough period all of you nitwits come crawling out from under the baseboards to 'decry capitalism' and 'tout socialism' as if it were a panacea for all the worlds problems."

while i'm quite sure there are nitwits that do indeed tout socialism as the most perfect model out there, i am not one of them...no more than you are one who thinks capitalism is perfect in every way...or do you really think so? because, if you do, i suggest you STFU, as your opinion means jack shit due to stupidity...but, let me say that i DON'T actually think you're that naive or ignorant, so you and i are probably more alike in our opinions (in that, i don't think pure socialism the greatest thing since sliced bread, and i sure hope you don't think capitalism is, either)

*shrug*

Quote :

"yet the US owns the school and all the buses"

that makes no sense...the schools and buses are owned by the counties

or did i miss something (which i may have...it's late and i'm going home)?

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 4:16 PM. Reason : .]

1/30/2009 4:15:30 PM

So these people that voted to give hundreds of billions of taxpayer money to wall street... you want to give them more of our money and power?

got it.

1/30/2009 4:22:53 PM

you know, i bet FroshKiller would have had fun in this thread.

1/30/2009 4:57:08 PM

god, you people take one economics class and think you can justify the world around you. the reason we're in this fucking mess of an economic climate is because people made bad assumptions, wrongly valued assets and over extended themselves. the market isn't always right, thats why shit happens.


and athletes are overpaid. they're overpaid because sports nuts are idiots that allow them to be.

1/30/2009 4:57:43 PM