Just when I was getting used to $3.30 @ gallon....

[speeder]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060807/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_field_shutdown

You would think that with their $7B a quarter in profits they could afford to maintain their f#*king pipelines. Instead, they just keep pumping oil through them when they know that they are corroded to ***** until a huge spill occurs that wipes out a species or three.

This is a prime example of why corporations need to be watched like a hawk when they control your economy. They would bury radioactive waste 6 inches deep in a playground if they could get away w/ it. Or sell the national parks to the Japanese. (Univeral/MCA in the early '90s until it was discovered). And no, I am not commie. They're just as bad if not worse. But anyone who thinks that large multi-national corporations that are loyal to no one can be trusted is a major fool or a fellow crook.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Technically pipelines are regulated/overseen as a form of transportation by the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) - the same guys that investigate airplane crashes and train wrecks.

Clearly gubmint oversight is just as lacking as self-policing by corporations.

In the defense of the pipeline operators though, there are HUNDREDS OF MILES of pipe through some very treacherous wilderness. Many segments can only be reasonably inspected by aircraft (I once had an offer to do this years ago) - obviously a lot can be missed that way.

[RickM]

There's only one answer.....

[sammyg2]

Pipelines are regulated by the DOT.
BP spends a great deal of money on non-destructive testing and sonic thickness testing of pipelines.
So do the other oil companies.
They also send "pigs" through the pipeline periodically that can sense and transmit conditions of the line. Look it up, amazing technology.

Just exactly how much personal knowledge do you have on this particular subject to base your claims of wrong-doing and criminal acts, other than what you read in that news story? Did it come to you in a vision or did you just pull it out of your @ss?

[speeder]

Rick, you crack me up!

I'm just pissed-off because if it wasn't for the influence of the neocons, (a fairly small and normally disregarded group), the ME would not be on fire and gasoline would be spiking from $1.75 to $2.00 right now. I'd like to take a pick-axe to those goons.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally posted by speeder
Rick, you crack me up!

I'm just pissed-off because if it wasn't for the influence of the neocons, (a fairly small and normally disregarded group), the ME would not be on fire and gasoline would be spiking from $1.75 to $2.00 right now. I'd like to take a pick-axe to those goons.

Don't forget Katrina Denis. Oh wait, that was Bush and the neo-con's fault also.

[speeder]

Katrina was a popcorn fart in terms of gas prices compared to the ME. They barely changed at all after that.

[Tim Hancock]

You need to ride that Gypsy 550 more often to save gas. (best friend in college still has his '83 GPZ 550, I am trying to convince him to bring it over so I can resurrect it for him. Fun, light bike!)

I hate paying more for gas too, but they can't stay low forever. Hell, bottled water costs more than gasoline.

[on-ramp]

i posted this in another threading but it's also fitting here...

the oil companies and the US gov'ment are in bed together. There's your answer.

Bush & Cheney are oil guys, they don't care about you or me.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by speeder
[BThis is a prime example of why corporations need to be watched like a hawk when they control your economy. They would bury radioactive waste 6 inches deep in a playground if they could get away w/ it. Or sell the national parks to the Japanese. (Univeral/MCA in the early '90s until it was discovered). And no, I am not commie. They're just as bad if not worse. But anyone who thinks that large multi-national corporations that are loyal to no one can be trusted is a major fool or a fellow crook. [/B]

Your example may not be the best, but your observation is spot-on. Yes, they do control our economy. No, they cannot be trusted. It is not, however, a necon, liberal, Democratic, or Republican issue. It's big biz and big government. Just like on-ramp so astutely points out. Not like that's any earthshaking revelation, but it seems many have re-constructed this as a big biz / neocon relationship. Hardley. Such as believe that are allowing themselves to be distracted by some of the major players in the game.

[dd74]

Originally posted by speeder

I'm just pissed-off because if it wasn't for the influence of the neocons, (a fairly small and normally disregarded group), the ME would not be on fire and gasoline would be spiking from $1.75 to $2.00 right now. I'd like to take a pick-axe to those goons.

Just as long as you don't take a pick axe to the pipeline.

But seriously, Denis - the spike in oil prices has nothing to do with Bush. And if Gore was in office, the same spike would occur, and he'd be equally blameless.

If you really want to blame someone, blame the Chinese, who in two to five years, may have more than 10,000,000 cars.

[speeder]

Originally posted by dd74
Just as long as you don't take a pick axe to the pipeline.

But seriously, Denis - the spike in oil prices has nothing to do with Bush. And if Gore was in office, the same spike would occur, and he'd be equally blameless.

If you really want to blame someone, blame the Chinese, who in two to five years, may have more than 10,000,000 cars.

Like I said, it would be spiking from $1.75 a gallon right now if not for the M.E. situation, which I lay blame squarely on Bush and his neocon puppet-masters for. There has NEVER been a time in modern history, either w/ Dem or Rep. leadership, when there was no fire extinguisher pointed at Israel and their Arab neighbors. And never a stupider and more poorly executed war of choice as Iraq, it makes Viet Nam look like a smashing success.

[speeder]

I would give anything to hear what Colin Powell or even George HW Bush had to say about current foreign policy if they were a little buzzed and let the truth about the boss's son flow. It would be priceless.

[teenerted1]

Originally posted by speeder
Or sell the national parks to the Japanese. (Univeral/MCA in the early '90s until it was discovered).

when did an amusement park become a National Treasure?

[Brian 162]

Up here we pay around $4.50 a gallon. When I drove to Fla. 3 weeks ago I filled up in Ontario for $93. for regular. In the States the most that I paid was $64 for premium@ $2.85-$3.00 a gallon. We get killed on taxes up here however one oil company posted first quarter profits of $800 million dollars. They know that they have us and there is nothing that we can do about it.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by speeder
I would give anything to hear what Colin Powell or even George HW Bush had to say about current foreign policy if they were a little buzzed and let the truth about the boss's son flow. It would be priceless.

You mean you want them to 'do a Gibson' on Dubya?

[dd74]

Originally posted by speeder
Like I said, it would be spiking from $1.75 a gallon right now if not for the M.E. situation, which I lay blame squarely on Bush and his neocon puppet-masters for. There has NEVER been a time in modern history, either w/ Dem or Rep. leadership, when there was no fire extinguisher pointed at Israel and their Arab neighbors. And never a stupider and more poorly executed war of choice as Iraq, it makes Viet Nam look like a smashing success.

Excuse me, but you're wrong. Iraq can be a contributor to our own deficit, moral discord, and whatever else we currently find bothersome as a country, but - and not that I am defending Bush, but rather looking at this as an investor, this has little to nothing to with Bush and his M.E. antics. They don't help, but they're not nearly as large an impact as growing cities and populations, specifically in China. If the Chinese (and others) were stagnant, you'd see lower crude prices, and for that, lower pump prices. Blame Bush for a lot of things, but the cost of gasoline is not the place where many believe it his fault.

And anyway, oil and gasoline prices always go up in the summer. $1.75? Where do you buy your gas? Tijuana?