My views, beliefs, and opinions (cont'd)

I left off my last blog briefly discussing the events of 9/11 that have since forged my beliefs, views, and opinions. Many people often question why I believe the things that I do, but I could ask them the same question. Most of us are products of our surroundings. How you are brought up and the life experiences you have had help shape some of your opinions on the world.

I am no different, but I have experienced both sides of the spectrum when it comes to my views on politics and religion. I am not going to sit here and tell you that my views and beliefs are 100% right. I have an open mind and can often see both sides of a debate. In the end I probably will not agree with you if you stand on the other side, but at least I will respect you for believing in what ever it is you do believe. Obiviously we all draw our own conclusions about events that happen in our world today. I know that I will always stand up for what I believe in and will always support my opinions and views with "supporting evidence". Every side always has a "professional opinion" that can denounce the others opinion. Somewhere in between both sides lies the truth. The question is do we all sit there and let things happen without questioning the events that transpire? Or do we question everything so that we do not get complacent in our lives and let our leaders "run wild" and do whatever they want to do.

If we did not have dissent in our country then we wouldn't be the United States. We would be Nazi Germany! After 9/11 happened and the "war" in Afghanistan and Iraq came to fruition I was looked on as an outcast because I questioned the government on its choices. I was told by many that "in a time of war I was to support our leaders and our troops." I grew sick of that statement and realized that by questioning everything, I was in fact, contributing to the democratic process that we, as Americans, hold dear to our hearts. Someone that dissents can still support the troops in their mission but does not have to agree with that mission. The troops are doing what they signed up to do. They are taking orders from our ELECTED leaders!

My beliefs and opinions today are completely opposite of what they were 10 years ago. I have grown as an individual and gathered information that the "liberal media" (as my Republican friends like to say) will not report on. My best resource is and always will be Noam Chomsky. He is, perhaps, the greatest intellectual that is alive today. The sad part is that he is not called upon by our own media conglomerates to give his opinions on our government or on our actions throughout the world. Simply because there would be no one that could stand toe to toe with him in a debate. Bill O'Reilly may be Harvard educated but the man knows he cannot compete with Chomsky's knowledge. Chomsky is known throughout the world as a great mind and is often called upon to deliver speeches around the globe. So if you want to get an idea of where my beliefs and views have come from you best start with Mr. Noam Chomsky. He has a brilliant mind!

Until Next Time!
Spiral Out

Where my views, opinions, beliefs come from...

  People often ask me why I hold the views, beliefs, and opinions that I do. Simply because I come from a household of FBI agents. That's right my dad and step-mom were both FBI agents. My parents never pushed their views or  opinions on me. I was always free to decide for myself what to believe and not to believe. My parents did their service for the government and I applaud them for that. I've heard cool stories and some not so cool stories. I had the chance to work as a clerk at my dad's office when I was 16 which was pretty cool.
  I would say a big influence on my thought process was listening to Pink Floyd and watching The Wall. I also listened to a lot of Rage Against The Machine as well. At the time I didn't really look to deep into their lyrics and didn't realize that they were such a "poltical" band. The more and more I listened the more I understood what they were talking about. There was something far deeper going on in our world than most of us would even dare think about.
   As I mentioned in a previous blog, All Things Tool, I was turned onto them by a friend. So you pair Pink Floyd, Rage Against the Machine, and Tool together and hear what they have to say it made start to question everything. Their music led me to do my own research and branch out to things that normally I would of never known. I like to call it "Thinking Man's" music. Listening to their music relentlesly and reading Noam Chomsky opened my eyes to a whole new world.
  Let's fast forward to George W. Bush running for President. I knew the history of his father and did not like one thing he did so I was a bit scared as to what the "new" Bush would do. Also knowing that he would surround himself with a lot of his father's people. Bush wins the election and I had no idea the things his administration would be cable of. Then 9/11 happens... This is what truly sent me over the edge. Although not like a lot of Americans. Was I saddened by what I watched live on TV that day? Absolutely! Those images will never escape me nor will the escape the rest of the world.
   After 9/11, I began to do extensive readings from publications around the world. I watched all the news programs "religiously". The "official" story just didn't add up to me. There was something there that I could not wrap my head around. Someone was not (and still isn't) telling the truth of what REALLY happened that day.
   A friend asked me if I was surprised by the "so-called" attacks on our country.  My reply was (and this is before I began to seek out information) "Honestly, I am not surprised one bit. I am surprised it hasn't happened sooner." I then asked my friend, "Why do you think the rest of the world hates us?" (A question that still should be asked but one that will never be answered.)

To Be Continued.....

Spiral Out

Gas Prices

DISCLAIMER- This is written solely as a consumer of gasoline. I am not in the oil industry and do not pretend to know or understand the complexities of the companies that I will discuss in this blog. This is written soley from common sense and from reading the annual reports for Shell and ExxonMobil. In my eyes, its pretty black and white, but there are some out there that probably think otherwise. Now on to the blog...UPDATE: Today gas at my local Mobil station is $3.89 for regular. Which is up from $3.75 this past Wednesday.

Well it's about time to dive into something that we all should be paying attention to. The sad fact of the matter is none of us really do pay attention to these things anymore. Most of us need gas so that we can work, shuttle the family around, go on vacation, etc. As consumers we are in a strangle hold that we cannot get out of. The gas companies know that we need their product and therefore can set whatever price they want when it comes to a gallon of gas.

The following is an excerpt from Shell's annual report:
"Shell businesses delivered strong operational and financial performance in 2007, with earnings of $31.9 billion. Shell’s healthy financial position allowed us to return $13.4 billion to shareholders, through dividends and share repurchases, while capital investment reached $27.1 billion. Earnings in 2007 were up 21% from 2006, which were in line with 2005. The increase in 2007 reflected higher oil and gas prices, the positive impact of increasing crude prices on our inventory, improved chemicals margins and substantially higher interest and investment income; although these were offset by lower production volumes, lower realised refining margins and lower trading contribution."

Now if you read that again notice the $31 BILLION in earnings for 2007. Then notice the 21 % INCREASE in earnings from 2006 to 2007. I find it quite humorous that they say that the increase in 2007 was "reflected by higher oil and gas prices, THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF INCREASING CRUDE PRICES ON OUR INVENTORY." Well now to me that just is common business sense. If you increase the price on your product then you are going to see an INCREASE in earnings! And yet we all sit here with soaring gas prices and our elected leaders getting kick backs from these blatant crooks. Our salaries and wages are not going up as the price of gas goes up. It is amazing to me that companies are allowed to get away with such practices. All of these CEO's are sitting in a board room some where and laughing at all of us.

Now lets take a look at our good friends over at Exxon Mobil. The same company that brought you the Valdez oil spill. Which was one of the worst spills in the history of spills. Here are some bullet points copied directly from Exxon Mobil's annual review:
Superior 2007 Results
- Best-ever lost-time incident rate for our combined employee and contractor workforce
- Record earnings of $40.6 BILLION, with record performance in each of our business functions
- Annual dividend per share growth of 7 percent versus 2006, the 25th consecutive year of dividend per share increases
- Total shareholder distributions of $35.6 BILLION, an increase of $3 BILLION versus 2006

So now they had record earnings of over $40 BILLION! It seems pretty cut and dry to me. If you continue to raise prices of your product year over year then your profits should increase. If I just look at the local Mobil station right by my house in L.A. it was $3.65 a gallon on Monday. Then by Wednesday it was at $3.75. Little by little they raise their prices and I keep on checking my paycheck and low and behold what do you know, my salary does not increase with the increase in gas prices.

For now I will stop with this subject. Expect more later as I read the annual reviews. There is some good information in these things and also some hiliarous information to. Stay Tuned!

Until Next Time,
Spiral Out!