Should the term GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE be changed to TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE?

The offshore leases probably should be chopped. Most are in deep water and we just don't have the technology to handle an error on one of those. Errors may be rare but we don't need another multi-day blowout. Fishing still isn't back to normal. Others are in standard hurricane paths. California (that means me, too) doesn't want another spill wrecking the tourist industry.

I'd say in heavily populated areas like Ohio and Pennsylvania we should move slowly. Aquifer danger is real. The technology can be improved.

North Dakota gives us the luxury of doing this.

We have other nations drilling offshore and I'd imagine that if anyone can do it better, it's America.

You won't have tourists when people can't afford to come see you!

9.2 Million employed by oil and natural gas industry; ExxonMobil in 2011 made $27.3 billion in cash payments for income taxes. Chevron paid $17 billion and ConocoPhillips $10.6 billion. And not only were these the highest amounts in absolute terms, when compared with the rest of the 25 most profitable U.S. companies, the trio also had the highest effective tax rates. Exxon’s tax rate was 42.9%, Chevron’s was 48.3% and Conoco’s was 41.5%. That’s even higher than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate, which is already the highest tax rate among developed nations.

At least try for a fact when discussing oil - the pablum put out by Obama is a lie

The oil depletion allowance has not been repealed. In fact Exon paid 0 income taxes in 2010 - I don't think 2011 is published yet. They have some half decent excuses, but they as you point out made a lot of money. I don't think they need drilling subsidies. I don't think they are using them to reduce prices.

I have nothing against the oil companies. I just want them treated like everyone else.

Sorry that is simply incorrect - Exxon paid 15.1 Billion in 2010 http://money.cnn.com/gallerie...
They are treated like everyone else - all the rhetoric would have you believe differently but it is not true

I said income tax. I guess I should have said US income tax. Most of that 15.1 billion was paid to foreign governments. A lot of the rest was sales tax. My statement is not incorrect.

No it was not - When discussing taxes one must look at actual information - they over paid in 2008 (2009 filing) and did get credit for the overpayment in 2009 (2010 filing) and according to the IRS 10-k also records $7.7 billion in the U.S and 15.1 Billion world wide. Look hate whomever you wish but know that the oil industry receives no more tax consideration than every single corporation in this country and have exactly the same rules to follow.

- There is, however, one huge company that did not pay one thin dime - GE and shipped thousands of jobs to China and Immelt (CEO of GE) is Obamas Jobs Czar - just makes ya warm and fuzzy to know that this administration only cares about donations

Actually GE paid the same kind of taxes as Exxon in 2010. Sales taxes. I never said Exxon didn't pay any taxes. I said they didn't pay income taxes. I've seen figures similar to what you quote and agree with you. The 7.7 billion was not income tax.

The LIES just flow so naturally from you clowns.

Without them companies like Solyndra wouldn't exist. (oops, they don't anyway!)

I am always amazed that some think it is just fine to take flyers with taxpayer money (and lose it) but private industry is some how a bad guy for paying billions in taxes, employing millions and making money for people willing to risk their personal after tax income through investment. It is as if they live in an alternate universe

It's tough here in reality...sometimes I understand why liberals want the easy way out.

I frequently find righties complaining that 50% of people pay no tax meaning income tax. I am simply pointing out that Exon in 2010 was a member of that group. I did not say Exon was a bad guy. They have every right to reduce their taxes as much as possible just like everyone else.

The most recent figures I had were 2010. I am glad to hear Exxon is now a "tax payer".

Because the government has NOTHING to "help" others with that they don't STEAL from the rest of us.

Look at your paychecks and see HOW much they rip off between the state and FED.

I have posted this before. A friend of mine earns a $950 per week salary and he works 55 hours a week, and pays his own medical costs. He brings a paycheck home that is 705.00

THAT is how much the state and fed STEAL from HIS labors every week, that is like working for free, for the government, 1 week of every month. Contrast that with an average income of $38,000. for those living on the government dole, WHICH of these two parties is better off?

Third world countries have much lower taxes; why don't you move there?

WTF????????????


What about staying where I was born and EXPECTING my government not to steal the labors of the workers to support the slaggards who REFUSE to work.

...... very easy cure for this Lani, very easy ....

' Government Assistance negates the Right to Vote '


We as Americans are a very giving people, it's in our genes. That said, Government Subsidies are not intended to be a Way of Life, but rather a Short Term Assist ..... upon acceptance of Gov't Subsidy it is agreed that anything past a certain Time-frame or Dollar-value, the recipient loses the Right to Vote, and here's why I say this, even if what I say goes fully against the grain of our Freedoms + Constitution ...


" A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship." -- Professor Alexander Tytler >>>> over 200 years ago

I like it, that is a brilliant plan.

..... would need to be fashioned/worded with extreme caution so as not to be able to be twisted to mean anything other than directly intended, but I'm sure it could be done and enforced.

.... know why they have " Lower Taxes " ..... because of our Foreign Aid !

Yes, if you work, you help " Other Countries " with their various Welfare Tits. How would you like to retire at age 55 as they do in Greece ... yep' you the American Taxpayin' fool subsidize that and work until you're 69 to help them do that ....

....... feelin' better now ?

True, we subsidize much of the world.

Many third world countries are socialist, You would fit in better there.

They don't make enough money to be taxed...I don't understand why you liberals want us going down that road.

Call it what it is, Government mandated income redistribution.

How about GOVERNMENT ROBBERY OF THE TAX PAYERS TO KEEP THE POLITICIANS IN OFFICE

The term would be more honest, and some would actually learn who owns the government money.

That is what it is. The Government does not spend their money, they spend the Peoples Money, the Taxpayers Money.

Actually the government prints the money ...

No, a private corporation known as the Federal Reserve prints it.

-For individuals: "Bailouts to Non-Taxpayers."

-For Corps, Unions & Special Interests: "Bailouts to crony campaign contributors."

It does seem like our government is on welfare doesn't it?
They don't have money
They keep borrowing from the tax payer
And
They do nothing for the money they take except spend more money

Maybe one day Liberals will realize that Government has nothing to give they haven't taken from everyone else you igits.

The government has a printing press. Case closed.

I hear you but none the less, that printing press in on our tab. Whether the Government is taking our actual dollars from the coffers or devaluating our dollar by printing more, it's still our wallets getting thinner and thinner.

WRONG AS USUAL! The federal reserve prints the currency NOT the federal government.

Good idea!

The taxpayers are the government.

No they are not.

We The people are the government represented by the people, for the people.
What country do you live in???
Just because you feel that the people are not represented does not mean it's not "our" government, and I agree with you, but our constitution states we the people are our own governing entity by the people we vote for to represent us, which are fellow taxpayers.
That's the way it is suppose to be, even though many think it isn't. But that's the fault of the people who do nothing about government acting like a dictator.
We vote in the same type of nuckleheads every time we vote, when we should be voting for an independent candidate that is not democrat or republican, but we don't do that, now do we?????