Why does the government protect some industires, but not others?
August 18th 2009 03:53
I just don't understand. We had all these bailouts for banks, insurance companies, auto manufacturers, etc. Congress and our President are doing everything they can to protect the health insurance companies with the supposed health care reform, but the drilling industry is just left to die. I don't like Sarah Palin, but I liked one thing she said - DRILL, BABY, DRILL!
Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should have bailed out any corporations. I don't get it. People are all upset because of the health care thing - "the government shouldn't compete with private business." But, it's just fine for the government to bail them out of financial trouble?
Drilling in the U.S. is down by half compared to last year. At just under 1000, that leaves just under 1000 rigs NOT running. 1000 rigs equals 20,000 jobs (or more, if you consider office employees no longer needed if rigs aren't running).
Ok, so 20,000 isn't as many employees as the auto industry has, or even the health insurance industry. But it's still a lot of people not working now who were working this time last year.
What is the government doing about this? Taking away tax incentives, imposing new taxes, and taking away leases from companies that aren't producing.
I know, I sound like a Republican, don't I? But, depending on the drilling industry for my family's livlihood, this is an issue near and dear to me. I don't think oil companies should get preferential treatment, but I don't think banks, insurance companies, or auto makers should get preferential treatment either. Just because Bush was a supporter of oil companies, doesn't mean everyone who works in the industry should have to suffer now.
Another thing to consider - not all driling is for oil. Much is (normally) for natural gas, which is a clean fuel. There should be more incentives for drilling of natural gas, yet the natural gas drilling has declined even more than oil drilling.
I don't have a solution to offer. I'm just ranting. I don't understand why we should protect all those other industries, yet let the drilling industry just die away. Even the supporters of a single-payer national health plan have provisions to retrain the insurance company employees who would end up losing their jobs. I don't see anyone trying to help all the OTHER industry employees losing theirs.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should have bailed out any corporations. I don't get it. People are all upset because of the health care thing - "the government shouldn't compete with private business." But, it's just fine for the government to bail them out of financial trouble?
Drilling in the U.S. is down by half compared to last year. At just under 1000, that leaves just under 1000 rigs NOT running. 1000 rigs equals 20,000 jobs (or more, if you consider office employees no longer needed if rigs aren't running).
Ok, so 20,000 isn't as many employees as the auto industry has, or even the health insurance industry. But it's still a lot of people not working now who were working this time last year.
What is the government doing about this? Taking away tax incentives, imposing new taxes, and taking away leases from companies that aren't producing.
I know, I sound like a Republican, don't I? But, depending on the drilling industry for my family's livlihood, this is an issue near and dear to me. I don't think oil companies should get preferential treatment, but I don't think banks, insurance companies, or auto makers should get preferential treatment either. Just because Bush was a supporter of oil companies, doesn't mean everyone who works in the industry should have to suffer now.
Another thing to consider - not all driling is for oil. Much is (normally) for natural gas, which is a clean fuel. There should be more incentives for drilling of natural gas, yet the natural gas drilling has declined even more than oil drilling.
I don't have a solution to offer. I'm just ranting. I don't understand why we should protect all those other industries, yet let the drilling industry just die away. Even the supporters of a single-payer national health plan have provisions to retrain the insurance company employees who would end up losing their jobs. I don't see anyone trying to help all the OTHER industry employees losing theirs.
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