Hhhmmmm....... America makes cars that run on Human Blood! Keep your dead, give us your living!!!!

I guess it depends on what you believe is the responsiblity and role of government. A socialist like myself believes that the role of government is to insure and secure the welfare of its citizens first and foremost..the capitalist market should have free reign (for some reason people always think socialism is anti-capitalism, its not) since it does stimulate the economy and creates jobs for people...however, NOT at the expense of the welfare of the people. When corporate profit becomes more important than the well being of the common person, then the State MUST step in and curb corporate greed....
When this doesnt happen, you end up paying 4.00 a gallon of gas in your country while in other countries they pay 4.00 to fill up their tanks.
This isnt happening in Argentina, because right now the politicians here are more interested in self gain rather than serving their constituents and are busy pimping out my country...still, its cheaper to live here, than the US..health care and education are free....

State colleges are aguable, as well as social security. Although i have been really impressed with the VA to be honest with you. Medicare i heard is causing hospitals to go broke (supposedly). But anyway, i agree and disagree with most of what you said.

But i still stand behind our country's purpose. The purpose is to allow you to take care of yourself. When a government controls your food and fuel, you are starting to cross a line my friend. Look, the government has it's purpose. But it's not to make everyone happy. Believing this to be true is walking down a path that will eventually lead to tyranny. Soon you will be trying to convince us we all should turn in our firearms so the police can protect us.

How do you figure?

i agree the government is for the welfare of the people not to protect the power of corperations

Well....

Bush has placed the largest most powerful military right in the middle of the ME. His policies of aggression and meddling in the affairs show a potential to spread even further into more countries.
These countries are the heart of OPEC. They control the production and thus the price of the oil we are so dependent on!
What better way to fight back against such a powerful and aggressive country than to attack its economy! What better way to attack its economy than through the one product it depends on most and they control!

During the years following the first Gulf war we placed sanctions on the country with the third largest oil reserves in the world. Pretty much stopping the flow of that oil and drying up its economy.
No longer self sufficient they began borrowing from their neighbors (OPEC Nations). The built up huge debts to these neighbors.
Bush invades, labels two of them axis of evil, (threats) and then tries to negotiate for these neighbors to forgive the debt!
Then begins negotiations for a permanent military presence right square in the middle of the region!
Are people so naive that they can not connect the dots?
Really man we aren't the only market for the oil.
Just by getting rid of Bush and replacing him with a president (Obama) who is willing to treat them fairly and with respect while systematically withdrawing our military presence.
IMO, will immediately increase friendlier relations with OPEC, and thus they will increase production levels and drop the price of crude oil!

Nationaliz oil and hundreds of billion tax dollars are wiped out of income revenues of the US Treasury......

Remember Exxon Mobile contributed 27 billion in 2007.

When that happens social spending programs will have to take a huge cut.

U R right Fanta that the price of gas will probably drop a dollar but it won't be because of Obama. Cut backs on use will be the reason as supply increases because the $4 gallon makes people conserve. I'm going to say it - one day soon oil is going to drop $20 a barrel. If it doesn't then there will really be a supply issue and yes it will reach $7 a gallon.

If exxon were nationailized would not the additional income help the over all budget and with lower gas prices you would have increased consumer spending etc etc? not sure your post is logical but not being any way about it

Are American taxpayers going to pay these oil companies for their assets or are we just going to steal them? And what about the long term debt they owe. I suggest you read:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/80647-nationalizing-oil-well-intentioned-but-wrong

First of all, let’s look at the financial consequences. Let’s say that the taxpayers would pay market prices for the top oil companies and pay off their debts - for XOM, CVX, and COP - that would be about $900 billion to $1 trillion to nationalize. If this means that oil prices and those pesky “excessive windfall profits” would decline, then the US taxpayer would be overpaying for assets and cash flows at their peak for an industry that the socialists want to put entirely out of business. HMMM?

What a waste of money not to mention what would happen to the loss of our entire ability to have confidence in ever investing in any US business. And let’s remember that the US oil industry is just a part of the global energy industry. That means we’d have to renege on commitments to foreign companies who have drilling rights in US territory or compensate them for taking those as well.

Please remember that much of the “obscene windfall profits” of the 5 oil companies interrogated by Congress came from outside the US. So does much of the exploration and production of those companies. If their businesses were nationalized, the new US national oil company would be restricted to current US production and revenues and we’d have to get rid of the non-US operations just as we would have to kick out the non-US companies operating here. As a result, we would almost certainly end up in a serious shortage situation. That should do a number on foreign investment in the US. And what about all the other companies.

I know Congress only wants to blame the biggest 3 US oil companies. But how about the drillers and other oil service companies or the independent refiners or the pipelines? What would we do to nationalize the retail network which also includes a bunch of small businesses that operate the local gas station? Financially, we are now in the trillions for this nationalizing program. And if you say, we shouldn’t pay fair market prices then our entire financial system is screwed more than it already is.

In the end, the US dollar - it would be worth less than worthless. Oh and never mind the inflation that would result. Yep inflation - sadly making gas is not free and even if you price it at nationalized prices - we will have shortages and inflation in other products. Just check examples like Venezuela. I know socialist dream worlds suggest that there are no negative consequences for nationalizing industries, but you might want to read this article.

A few more ridiculous points about this ridiculous idea - if the socialist US government would run the oil industry, where would they allow themselves to drill? Do they know precisely where the oil lies? If so, would they just tell us now? If there is no way to drill in an environmentally responsible manner in ANWR or the continental shelf or Florida or wherever else, then what would the socialists do to increase supply? Do Rep. Waters and the other socialists know how to explore, drill, transport, refine, and distribute oil in a sterile manner? If so, could they save the planet and just tell us now? Finally, by what mechanism do they plan to do all the work of the industry without having to raise taxes to pay for it, with or without 10% profit margins they call “obscene” and “excessive”?

Maybe you can watch Rep. Waters and feel comforted that she cares about the effects of high gas prices on her voters and Americans in general. I do not doubt that her feelings are genuine and well intentioned. They just happen to be wrong and dangerous. Like many socialist ideals - these good intentions are ignorant of all the complexities and interdependent relationships that would result.

When 250 million americans are starveing homeless and destitute I do not think your servile arguments will hold much weight.

Here's the future madman!!

http://www.justsayhi.com/topic/show/138536

Very true...and it answers the question of why product quality is so poor anymore too. I'm for free enterprize but I don't believe that's what we have when companies can lobby to keep more money in their pockets at the consumer's expense.

That's absurd MM. You didn't answer the question. Are we going to steal the assets of these oil companies, pay off their debts, or what? How is this going to make other corporations feel? Why not the drug companys, the health insurance companys, the auto making companys too. Nationalize all of them and just be a socialist nation. Right......And don't forget the airlines.....

OUCH! Whew!!!! tough talk...but so true.

Some think the hedge funds is also hurting us... but I'm not so sure.

Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Gas prices are high but the oil companies are making huge and record profits too .......!.
.

the way to bring prices down is to reduce consumption

drive only when absolutely needed combine trips

it is better to have aan old junker that gets 40mpg than a late model vehicle that get 12 - 20

by only the food you need to survive on

kinda like sports if the fans would have went on strike after major league baase went on strike maybe you would not have to make 60000 a year to be able to afford to go

if you will pay they will raise

this is more than likely going to give labor union a leg up

cause people need more money so the upward spiral will continue

but hey

what do i know

You make a good point. The consumers control the market. The only problem is people need to actually make a lifestyle change (by not being so wasteful). This requires self responsibility. My big problem is when these dems are trying hard to push for socialization (which nationalization is a big step towards), they are trying to take responsibility away from the people and give it to the government. I guess that's kinda the point i've been trying to make all along. Wouldn't it be cool if communities got together and actually started growing a lot of their own food? Or how about making biofuel or something of that nature. Maybe started car pooling? Uh oh, then people would actually have to get involved!!!

I believe that is already being done!
I know it is here!