If we pay them, don't they work for us? I mean, is it really UNFAIR to make them pay back some of those subsidies? Is it UNFAIR to regulate them, when we pay them? Is it UNFAIR to force them to put money into alternative energy? If so, why are we still paying them?
2007-06-19 07:58:05 · 14 answers · asked by hichefheidi 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Can'tkeep... this education is free...we subsidize the oil companies with tax dollars, thus they are not like regular companies.
2007-06-19 08:06:04 · update #1
ssracing, lol, yes I do! I pay taxes...
2007-06-19 08:08:41 · update #2
sociald, since they don;t have to pay those taxes, who do you think pays them? That's right, US. They should be taxed as any other company is. Otherwise, they owe me and every other tax payer, some money.
2007-06-19 08:09:52 · update #3
funny, 100% of people felt in my last question that we should not pay tax subsidies to oil companies...and now (i am guessing because a democrat named CLinton said it) that it is OK for them to take your money. Incredible...your brains have been hijacked by the two party system! Up is down and down is up! Nothing is what it seems! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! And you think the biggest problems facing us are whether or not English should be the official language?
2007-06-19 08:13:35 · update #4
There is a difference between Capitalism and Corporatism. Capitalism does not involve government sponsorship, while Corporatism aka Globalism involves heavy government sponsorship.
It's not just oil companies - there are other companies that the government subsidizes. But the oil company profits are more visible. One way the government 'subsidizes' companies is by giving them contracts without competition from other companies. If we allow the government to continue this 'politics as usual' practice, the government will continue to take money from your pocket to pay the subsidized companies.
Some big industries that are subsidized:
Oil & Gas
Utility (Electricity generating companies)
Banking (Mortgage & Credit Card companies)
Defense
Agriculture
Housing
Airlines & Transportation
Drug & Healthcare
2007-06-19 08:21:59 · answer #1 · answered by Think Richly™ 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
If the government finds out an individual did not need the welfare that he/she had been receiving, that person has to pay it back or face jail time for fraud.
What makes an oil company any different.
Stop the subsidies and make these companies pay back the subsidies to the taxpayer.
They do not need them and are just a few hundred million more in profits that they split with their stock holders.
Why are our tax dollars going in the pockets of the oil executives?
2007-06-20 08:11:43 · answer #2 · answered by sprcpt 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually, the profits from the oil companies do get divided-up among the taxpayers -- taxpayers that hold mutual funds, buy insurance, or are retired, anyway. The largest “institutional” investors own most of the lucrative stocks. The single largest holding of the Minnesota Teacher’s Union, for example, is Exxon-Mobil. Other groups like union pension funds and insurance companies are also the biggest beneficiaries of corporate profit, this all “trickles” down to us though larger pensions or lower insurance premiums.
2007-06-19 15:06:09 · answer #3 · answered by CMIKS 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Why dosn't Microsoft divide up it's profits among the Tax Payers? Gosh their software is more expensive. Bill Clinton tried to put them out of business.
Because they are publicly traded companies. We live in a free market economy.
Why don't we divide your paycheck up and give it to tax payers who make less that you.......
WE ARE NOT SOCIALISTS.
A few years back, when Oil Companies were losing money, shoud the tax payers have "given" them money?
Please take an Econ or Accounting class...
What Subsidies???? Do you realize 1/2 the price of a gallon of gas IS TAX???
2007-06-19 15:06:31 · answer #4 · answered by Ken C 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
The big lie of the "free" market.They can't do what you propose because that would be communism.
If you force business to do anything beneficial or at least less damaging to the country you would intervene in the free market.
This touches on a subject I've been trying to make for a long time now.Economy is always man made even in a free market.It doesn't grow on trees.You decide the rules and in America the leaders have decided it's OK to give obscene amounts of subsidies but that it's not OK to expect anything back.
Time to look for politicians who aren't in the pocket of big oil.
2007-06-19 15:11:06 · answer #5 · answered by justgoodfolk 7 · 2⤊ 4⤋
I am not sure but I think heidi is referring to subsidies of somesort? im not really sure.
There is of course a federal gasoline tax but that is at the retail level and that goes to the government.
There are tax incentives given to oil companies but this is not tax money given it is a tax break. So its not money the taxpayer gives them, its money they are released from having to pay.
So im not really sure what the question is really about for certain.. maybe you could clarify.
2007-06-19 15:05:41 · answer #6 · answered by sociald 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Do you think all companies should be relegated to this then we can be a socialist country. Why don't you look at the cost of oil exploration and also the percentage of profits compared to other big companies before you complain.
2007-06-19 15:28:57 · answer #7 · answered by ALASPADA 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I'm fortunate that I had enough money to invest in "Big Oil" when Bush became President. I knew their profits would soar.
Most people don't have the money to absorb higher oil and healthcare costs. Call me a socialist. I'm all for nationalizing our out-of-control petroleum and healthcare industries.
2007-06-19 15:11:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Should be but then it wouldn't be profits. Oil company monopolistic methods are totally ignored by our representatives. Vote them out! And the media bias, don't get me started on that one.
2007-06-19 15:07:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
What right do you have to take money away from a private business? That's communism your talking about and God does not like communists which is why He sent Ronald Reagan to destroy the Soviet Union.
2007-06-19 15:05:12 · answer #10 · answered by Sister Aimee 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋