Think of your price paid for gas as a combination of costs and taxes. Whether the tax is charged to the supplier or to the consumer ultimately the consumer pays the tax.

Now as a businessman I figure tax as part of my cost. So if you add a dollar to my costs I will add a dollar and a half to my price. Then you'll pay the sales tax on the inflated price. That is a triple whammy. So go ahead and sock it to those evil oil companies.

Does anybody have a handy picture of a 16th century monk practicing self-flagellation? After beating themselves to a pulp they proceeded to practice the fine art of inquisition. You have to watch out for lunatics. Or maybe I'm going a little too easy on the concept here.

Youre concepts of business would do well in Russia...

you're right garden, no spin but it was taken out of context. did you listen to the whole speech to see why he would even say such an absurd thing?

here is another one. the information is there if you want to find it.


AFL-CIO, UAW Back Bill to Raise Fuel Economy Standards
by James Parks, Aug 2, 2007

We reported that the AFL-CIO and several affiliated unions have called on Congress to take quick action to deal with the threat of global warming and to do so in a way that shows economic development and environmental progress can and should go hand-in-hand.

Now the federation and the UAW have joined with the major automakers to support legislation that would increase significantly the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards while protecting American jobs. The bipartisan bill, H.R. 2927, introduced by Reps. Baron Hill (D-Ind.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.), would raise the fuel economy standard for cars and light trucks to 32 to 35 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2022. The bill, which has 144 cosponsors, would make the standards mandatory with no loopholes. This represents a substantial increase from the current standard of 27.5 mpg for passenger cars and 22.5 for light trucks.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says while it improves fuel economy, the bill also would protect American auto jobs and preserve choice for consumers in the automotive marketplace.

Americans want cleaner, greener cars on the road. Consumers also want a choice of appropriate vehicles for their lifestyles and occupations, and we absolutely need to put top priority on preserving good-paying manufacturing jobs in the domestic auto industry. The Hill-Terry bill is the only proposal before Congress that meets all three objectives.

Gettelfinger says H.R. 2927 is “a tough piece of legislation, with no loopholes and no gimmicks.”

If it passes, it will mandate the largest ever increases in CAFE standards—and it’s also a proposal that is technologically and economically feasible. BMW, Toyota, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and other automakers have signed on to support this bill because they know they can meet its requirements and still deliver quality, affordable vehicles to their customers.

Both the UAW and the AFL-CIO strongly oppose a gas emissions bill, H.R. 1506, authored by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.). Gettelfinger describes the Markey bill as “extreme.” In a letter to House members, AFL-CIO Legislation Director William Samuelsays Markey’s bill “would threaten the jobs and benefits of active and retired workers in the auto industry.”

Samuel also says tougher fuel standards should be part of an overall strategy to deal with climate change:

We believe it makes more sense to require all sectors of the economy to come to the table to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a comprehensive, economy-wide…program—one that also generates revenues necessary to finance investment in advanced technologies and their deployment in a way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs for American workers.

Samuel’s comments echo testimony by Bob Baugh, co-chair of the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force, who told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on July 24 the United States needs an energy policy for the 21st century “that will result in a cleaner planet, greater energy efficiency and the revitalization of our manufacturing base.”

To help achieve these goals, the AFL-CIO has endorsed the Low Carbon Economy Act of 2007. Introduced by Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the bill sets a goal of reducing the nation’s carbon emissions by at least 60 percent by 2050.

i'll say it again. the UAW is NOT against greater fuel efficiency.

Kingbreeze then perhaps someone should tell your president.

This is a multi-faceted problem with many factions pushing their own agenda. Every faction wants all the others to make consessions while making none themselves. The energy problem's roots go back 50 years or more. Everybody recognizes there is a problem but all would rather play the blame game and point the finger than work together to solve it. It will take concessions from all sides to find a solution. I guess when we are finally freezing to death in the dark we will attempt a real solution but by then it will be too late. Until then we will be content to continue rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic.

no one needs to tell him garden, he already knows. you are right about people need to work together though. that is exactly what he is saying. if you go through all of the information he is willing to compromise. the union has already made concession to the company so that they could recover from the position they were in a little over a year ago and could possibly make more concessions this year. he has a plan to create greater fuel efficiency without cutting jobs and he has the support of many of the other manufactuers(foreign included) and congressmen.