| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| frannie |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 10:08:11 AM
since we are "at war" and many families have sent their sons and daughters to protect our freedoms, whether we support the war or not, wouldnt it be a sign of patriotism if our elected officials requested the oil companies to sacrfice some of their profits to make life easier for the country. it could show that they support the effort of our young men and women in the service.
my son-in-law went to afghanistan and was recently discharged from the service.
the department of defense owes him 2 months back pay and re-imbursement for the move back home. they are living off of the generousity of family and friends, and i am sure there are other veterans our there that could benefit from the petro folks dipping into their profits and providing some kind of temporary assistance fund.
after all, its not like we would be asking them to give up their children for the effort, just money.
arent we all in this together?
love
frannie in texas
(http://abunnystale.wordpress.com/) |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| frannie |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 7:56:41 PM
thanks for everyones thought provoking responses, i think it can always be alittle tricky to express your feeling without getting into the attack mode.
tracy, you tickled me with your comment about the soap box.
while i dont agree with your beliefs totally, i do see that you are passionate about your beliefs and that you are thoughtful about your decisions.
i love this forum so much, and most of the time it is an escape and cozy comfort spot for me.
but i have been feeling better lately, and my own political passions have been stirring.
so this topic.
and honestly it was inspired by some of the other topics i had seen here.
i know that i can be very pompous at times about really heart felt subjects so rather than post on someone else's post i thought i would start this one so i wouldnt cause a ruccus any where else.
i really appreciate the generousity of our fellow farmgirl sue and what she has decided to do as her part.
but all of us do not have the opportunity to help all those who need help, and well honestly i have been waiting a long time to see the trickle down economy go into effect. if ever there was a time for the haves to send a trickle other folks way, it seems it is now.
but quite honestly i think there are some things that the government is supposed to do for us.
for example, i think the government should step in when corporations are abusing its workers, or the environment or our national economy. also the recovery of the folks of katrina and rita, i feel is too big a job for citizens alone to provide. that is when i feel the government has to work on OUR behalf. i feel the petro folks have had carte blance for way too long, and it wasnt totally altruistic, they have made a fantastic profit.
i was once a part of the healthcare industry, and on more than one occasion the government stepped in and capped my salary. it made sense to me.
my husband works for the federal government, and in one fiscal crisis, we didnt get a paycheck for 2 months, AND the government used the employee 401ks to float the government.
so i feel that as individuals we can figure ways to conserve and be thoughtful of the use of our fuel. but i also feel that the government and the oil folks have to do the part that we cannot. they must develop programs for meaningful alternative energy and the oil companies must put a cap on their profits.
while i appreciate your passion for john mccain, i in no way mean to imply that i have decided to cast my vote for the person who seems the most patriotic in a traditional way.
i have decided though that this election is too important to view either candidate through some one elses eyes.
i intend to read and listen to each candidate and base my vote on what THEY say, not what is said about them, or what is reported that they have said.
both of these candidates are a little scary to me at this point, but i am trying to listen to them and see what they tell me, and i intend to watch carefully what they do as well.
i also do not intend to vote for someone based on their religious beliefs, i dont need the president to be my spiritual guide, and honestly, i think some politicians in the past played the religious card when some of us who had seen them for many years knew from their life that nothing could have been further from the truth.
and yes, i will be praying for this country and for the best outcome that we can have.
thanks to all of you who have jumped in here and had this discussion today.
this is really one of the few places that i know of where folks can discuss things and have different feelings....and still not attack each other. it takes courage to express your own beliefs, but sometimes you feel you must do it, and in my case, i do think about what other people say and try to figure out if i can learn from their point of view.
sometimes, i must admit this can take a while.
please, lets continue to have a lively debate, and i know in my heart that the farmgirls here are being as thoughtful as possible about their own consumption of fuel,,,,but i think that is just one part of the puzzle. i would really like us to voice to others what we feel the other folks in the puzzle could do that we are not able to do individually.
truly, love and hugs to all!
love
frannie in texas
(http://abunnystale.wordpress.com/) |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 7:12:00 PM
Sadly, what everyting boils down to is MONEY. And the concept of giving it to those who PROTECT this country with their very lives just doesn't seem to be something our government is willing to consider. Too bad we couldn't ship THIER children and gandchildren to the war zone and see how quickly some of those "governmental" minds would change!
Although, I did read recently that two of presidential hopeful John McCain's children are serving in Iraq. WHAT they are doing exactly, I don't know, but the fact that his children are there makes me hopeful that-- if he IS elected President-- he might be more willing to fight for our Military personel. Obama seems like a nice enough person, but all he wants to do is "TALK" about issues, instead of actually DEALING with them-- and he certainly doesn't seem to keen on making life any easier (or SAFER) for our Military personel. I have read several reports on his deplorable treatment of military men and women recently and it makes my blood boil to think that this man could POSSIBLY be our next president, which means our next "Commaner-in-Chief!. Personally, I don't think we SHOULD have a president who has never served in the Military if one of thier biggest tasks is to command our Military troops. Such a SCARY concept! I man, we are dealling with people who have been taught from BIRTH to hate Americans and any others who are not willing to be part of their "Religious" beliefs. TALKING to those people will just get us all killed, or having us speaking THEIR language by this time next year! (but that's just what I'M thinking. Sorry, didn't mean to hop onto THAT "soap box!")
As for our military personel, I know I would be willing to give MY last dollar to help out those families struggling to survive while THEIR loved one(s) is(are) over there fighting for the freedom of EVERY SINGLE American. I say the people in this country who DON'T support our troops should be shipped out to a foreign country themselves-- maybe they will learn to appreciate the blessings we truly have here in AMERICA!! After all, given the choice, I'm sure every single man and woman fighting for our freedom (and LIFE as we know it) in this war would much rather be safe at home with their own families instead of where they are now.
May God BLESS our military personel and their families, may God BLESS AMERICA, and may GOD bless ALL of US! And Sue, what a WONDERFUL lady you are for making the lives of that Military family a little less stressful. If only MORE people who had the resources were so very generous, that would be such a blessing to so many!!! Hugs and Blessings to all~~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| nubidane |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 6:59:09 PM
I spent $475 in gas last month. I am an appraiser & have to drive to see properties. No way around it. I drive a Subaru that gets about 25 MPG, & get regular maintenance, but I just don't know what else to do. I cannot walk or ride a bike to a property that is 65 miles away one way!
Wish I could.. |
| Bellepepper |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 6:32:31 PM
I just posted this on another topic. I just filled up today, my one trip to town each week. I used 1/2 tank of gas in the last 18 days. Got 25.7 mpg. Doing the best we can. |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 4:37:52 PM
Well, I can't say anything more. You girls have said it all. I would back all of you in a heart beat. I firmly agree with Alee. In fact, I refuse to put gas in my car this week. LOl I will not! What a wonderful subject to discuss. Thanks, Frannie.
Marly |
| miss wilma |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 4:27:58 PM
Now Frannie that would be a swooper dooper thing for you to do, How we would love to have you I know those Texas girls are good dancers so hey I bet you could teach me to dance
Farm Girl #96
http://www.picturetrail.com/misswilmasplace
http://misswilma.blogspot.com/ |
| frannie |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 4:24:43 PM
me too, miss wilma,
i may go months, literally before i step foot off the farm.
no trips into town, i call my dh at the end of the day and he gets what we need on the way home.
now i must admit, that if i had a young un at home i might find this harder to do, cause you can feel isolated. but with all you good farmgirls here isolation is not as bad as it could be.
if i could take a car trip right now, i would want to come visit you miss wilma and check in with all your kentucky girlfriends!
we would have a great time.
love
frannie in texas
(http://abunnystale.wordpress.com/) |
| miss wilma |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 4:08:33 PM
Alee that is what we have been doing for months, we dont leave home unless we have to
Farm Girl #96
http://www.picturetrail.com/misswilmasplace
http://misswilma.blogspot.com/ |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 3:40:50 PM
Wouldn't it be great if for a whole week across the country- no one fueled up? Can you imagine the message that would get across to the fuel companies? That an accompany that with a storm of letters demanding an accounting for why fuel prices are so high and demands for more reasonable gas prices and better wages for employees.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| frannie |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 2:46:00 PM
maybe we could spread the word and boycott exxon stations labor day weekend. actively propose to make the effort to buy gas on that weekend at any station other than an exxon.
just imagine if everyone did that the silence at the pumps would speak volumes.
i also keep wondering where are our labor unions on this?
i think they should propose a 3 day (30 hour) work week until the gas cost come down. and i think the workers should still get there regular pay.the workers and regular folks should not be the only ones affected by the gas prices.
we should ask the oil companies to temporarily use their profits to offset the high price of gas, you know subsidize us like we have been subsidizing them all these years. also to set aside a fund to help folks out, military families, and farmters first.
if this were a temporary thing it wouldnt smack of some kind of "socialism".
in a few years we could be more energy independent on non fossil fuels and then we could get back to the free market and the capitalism that corporate america is so fond of.
if you really explore the petrochemical industry you would realize that those corporations will do anything for money...anything.
the media is reporting that most americans want to increase drilling, and while i dont hate republicans, (but i must honestly say, i am not republican) they have been whining so much about drilling, drilling, drilling.
if they really believe in alternative energy development, what has stopped them from developing it over the last several years when they had the power to do so.
i believe we might have a shortage of fossil fuel, but really i believe we are so over due for developing alternatives and being a better steward of the land.
i am so tired of being manipulated by scare tactics, all i can really add is shame shame shame on corporate america.
cant we call them to task on this?
love
frannie in texas
(http://abunnystale.wordpress.com/) |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 12:48:05 PM
As a Veteran married to a Service Member....AMEN!!! It makes me SICK how Veterans get treated or how our military are living paycheck to paycheck yet on base, the gas is HIGHER than the nearest station out on town and the food costs are high...sick, sick, sick.... I always thought that a little extra money in the paycheck for gas costs would help us out but that is just a dream...
It makes me sick when Exxon has the biggest profit it has ever had and you know the hourly workers and buyers are not getting that money.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
| K-Falls Farmgirl |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 11:43:24 AM
My son was in Desert Storm.. I can relate to any mom,wife,or sister. Thankfully he came home safe. It has been oil greed forever.
Keep life simple, to Simply live. Life is too short to worry about it. |
| palmettogirl |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 11:37:55 AM
well, i've tried to do my part......i have a home in florida and with the real estate market like it is i wasn't able to sell it without taking a big loss so i decided to rent it .....4BR/3Bath home with a pool, on the water with a dock and a boat lift a couple minutes to the jupiter inlet. i rented it to a guy who is in the army, and his family, for next to nothing.....told him to just take care of the place (put up the shutters if there is a hurricane) they are so thrilled and were so appreciative i told them they could have it for a couple years. |
| lilwing |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 11:01:17 AM
It would be wonderful if they would do that. But that's the problem, frannie, they are GREEDY. They aren't going to be doing that and it's sad. It's amazing HOW greedy they can be for this oil. You'd think they would do something since alternatives for oil are being produced but they are doing the opposite.. trying to milk it for all they can while they still can! 
http://maggie.ecrater.com
http://maggiemerch.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/hh_reiki
http://www.myspace.com/brookealyson |
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