Cartels Impact Our Nation

A cartel is “a combination of independent commercial or industrial enterprises designed to limit competition or fix prices.”  That is a definition from the merriam-webster.com/dictionary. .

The oil products cartel is the one that hurts the most.  All Americans feel it when we go to the gas station.  The number of oil distributing companies in America was never high but now it’s down to five. .

- British Petroleum.  Known as BP also owns Arco.

- Chevron.  It now includes Texaco, that company was an independent until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001.

- Conoco Phillips.  This company also owns Union 76.  This company is a merger of many smaller oil companies including Continental Oil and Phillips 66.

- Exxon Mobile. This company is the largest oil conglomerate in the country and perhaps the world.  Exxon’s 1999 acquisition of Mobil reunited two descendants of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company.

- Shell Oil. The company is part of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins. .

Whenever one of these companies raises their price at the gas pump, the others follow in lock step.  Oil companies are reported to be receiving $18 Billion in subsidies from the U.S. government.

Are any of the candidates for president discussing the cost of gasoline or the subsidies to oil companies?  Of course not.  The oil companies have the lobbyists to prevent any real investigation of their collusion on price setting or canceling their subsidies.

As you review other industries, you will realize that the oil companies are not the only cartel in America. The sad truth is that Americans really do not have significant power at the ballot box.

The Value of Democratic Party Debates

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama hold similar views on most topics.  I can identify only two significant differences. Barack Obama would be more willing to conduct direct negotiations with leaders of countries that have serious disagreements with the U.S. and he would raise the cap on social security taxes.  Hillary Clinton would limit negotiations with other countries at odds with us and would not be willing to raise social security taxes.

  
So why have these debates?  The Democrats are now down to choosing their nominee from two strong candidates.  That means the voters will have to dig into their views and beliefs.  Furthermore, voters will have to understand the thought processes of the candidates.  That leads to appraising their previous life both public and private.  Democrats can learn more about both candidates by carefully listening to what they say and have said, who they have associated with, and all manner of other things that most of us would consider personal (like religious belief, social behavior, etc.).

 
Hillary Clinton’s story about her landing in war torn Bosnia and Barack Obama’s membership in a church that spews hateful messages do count in the decision making process.  Super delegates do have a purpose.  They have the power to override the will of the people and they should exercise that power if they deem it to be appropriate.

Confusing Reality with Fiction

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton says she has something in common with legendary film boxer Rocky Balboa – she’s not a quitter.  Rocky Balboa is a fictional character.  Hilary needs to know that none of that film was real.  It was not a biography.  Finally in Rocky VI the series of films ended and the character went into retirement.