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Random Ramblings by T. Owen Stark
In addition to our budgets getting tighter and tighter as we pay more, are we considering what this is doing to small businesses across the country such as moving companies, package delivery services, fleet services such as electricians, appliance repair companies, plumbing companies that come to your home? They raise their prices to cover the gas, thereby taking more money out of YOUR budget again. Pretty soon, the price for getting that washer fixed will be more than getting a new washer, and service businesses will begin to go under. The smaller ones will go first and unemployment will continue to rise. Going to the grocery store means paying more and more to cover the increased costs of shipping those carrots and Fruity Pebbles. People begin to cut back on the higher priced items and rely on spaghetti more often and less money goes into the economy. Gee, I wonder why we're hearing of a recession. So why in the world are we not doing something about it!? What's happened to us? Have we all become sheep? What will it take for the American consumer to rise up and fight this fleecing!? Do you need numbers to fire you up? Well I'll give you a few: Exxon Sales for 2007: $404.5 Billion (up
from 377.6 billion) Guess what..he was number 3! Occidental Petroleum Corp. CEO Ray Irani pulled down 34.2 Million and Anadarko CEO James Hackett made 26.7 million while Chevron Chairman David O'reilly made a measly 15.7 Million and Conoco Phillips head honcho should look for another job, pulling up the rear with an embarrassing 15.1 million dollars! We are being fleeced America!!! Wake up! Did you know that there was a recent Senate hearing questioning all these companies as to why their prices keep spiraling upward in the face of record profits and why more money isn't being spent on alternate fuel sources. The answers are laughable. I suggest you get a copy and read it. It would make a great skit on SNL. Nothing will be done until WE do it. I'm proposing a 'STAY HOME AMERICA' weekend for mid July. No one go anywhere on the 12th and 13th of July. STAY HOME and enjoy family and neighbors. Put a pool in the backyard instead of hitting the beach! There's a scene from 'Network' some of you may remember. The anchor stands during a broadcast of the Evening News and says; "I'm sick and tired and I'm not going to take it anymore!" He urges the listeners to go to their windows and scream; "I'M SICK AND TIRED AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE." It was great…but not far from reality. I'm sick and tired! I'm working 2 jobs and barely getting by. Is my last raise covering the raise in gas prices? I don't think so. Does anyone deserve to make 34.2 million dollars running a business that is shutting down thousands of other businesses because their greed is out of control? They won't stop themselves, our Government won't stop them. Our American auto manufacturers keep cranking out 8 cylinder gas hogs in the midst of record losses while Toyota hums right along. How do they stay in business? Wonder if they're getting any of that Exxon money…nah! Okay, enough ranting. Remember, July 12th
and 13th, 'STAY HOME AMERICA'. Tom Owens was born in Washington DC. After living in Maryland for many years, he became a single parent and now resides in Virginia with his children who are the first 3 loves of his life. The other three are music, movies and The Washington Redskins. Tom also dabbles in poetry. You can read more of his poetry at http://starkimages.blogspot.com/ Send Tom a message either directly or using the Word Catalyst feedback form. For more from Tom visit the Word Catalyst archives or his online home. |
Cheshire Cat
Songs of
I
don't know about you guys, but I've just about had it. With the
price of gas at $3.39 a gallon and rising, I've already retired
my van (18 mpg) and brought my Toyota Celica out of retirement
(38 mpg) to offset the seemingly endless rise in gas prices.
It did cost me $800.00 plus change to fix her up, but I figure
I'll recoup that revenue in a few months in what I'll save in
gas.
