What I'm going to do to the oil companies

[David Van Os]

Texas was the second political jurisdiction in the world to enact an anti-trust law. We did it in the 1880s. Our then Attorney General, James Stephen Hogg, drafted the bill and persuaded the legislature to pass it. This was at least 10 years before the U.S. Congress enacted the federal Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

We still have a strong state anti-trust law. The primary enforcer is supposed to be the attorney general. Enforcement is virtually nil under Greg Abbott.

As Texas Attorney General maybe I won't be able to do much about what the Oil Giants do to the people of New Jersey or Iowa, but I'll have a hell of a lot to say about what they do in Texas. Further, the corporate headquarters of the biggest of the Oil Giants, Exxon Mobil, is in Irving, Texas. I'm going to use every tool at my disposal, most importantly the anti-trust law and the consumer protection law, to take on the oil tycoons over what they're doing to the people of Texas. Unlike Greg Abbott who filed a few consumer protection charges against a few small-time retail outlets, I'm going to go to the core and break up the big boys' party at the sources.

At one time the nay-sayers said Jim Hogg could not beat the railroad barons in the courts. But he did. At one time it was said to be impossible to beat Big Tobacco in the courts. But they were beaten. There are voices who say I can't beat the Oil Giants in the courts. Just put me in the Attorney General's office, then sit back and enjoy the show.

If I could spare the $$$$ to put up a big billboard outside Exxon Mobil's corporate HQ in Irving to tell them what I'm going to do, I'd put it up right now.

David Van Os

[Vincardog]

1. David how much would we have to raise to get that Billboard up?

I have seen DU get behind some ideas. This could fly. WTF is Greg Abbott doing instead of his job?

[David Van Os]

2. What it would cost

At usual rates, in the range of about $1200-$1500 a month.

[ms liberty]

3. K&R - I'm unemployed, or I'd give you the $$ myself! n/t

[Maestro]

4. I'm with you.

I work in Irving and I know exactly where that corp. is. Actually, there are several places within Irving and Dallas where Exxon is. It is ridiculous that oil companies can post record profits and give CEOs $400,000,000 retirement packages while it cost me more than double what it used to in order to fill up my tank.

[rucky]

5. When oil company execs crap their pants...

is it oily & slick?

sorry. "crude" joke.

:yourock:

[elehhhhna]

6. please stay off small planes and don't drive around sugarland in

your jammies at night, if you know what i mean.

careful & good luck.

[mhr]

7. The Problem Is Peak Oil Not Pig Oil Companies

The data are clear from many sources; we have reached a peak in light sweet crude oil production worldwide.

That is why the oil price is being bid up globally. With the easiest to pump and easiest to refine oil gone, the cost will only go higher as production and refining of the heavier crudes will require ever more effort.

Instead of focusing on corporations, place your emphasis on conservation, higher cafe standards, electric railroads for transport, new urbanism, etc.

As background: see www.theoildrum.com and read Kunstler's The Long Emergency.

Basing your campaign on attacking the oil industry is a loser since that industry is only responding to demand for oil based on the desire of most Americans to drive SUVs and live in Mc Mansions.

[David Van Os]

9. Rejoinder

Nice social engineering plans, if you're not trying to live on minimum wage.

[mhr]

12. The Point Was Missed Entirely Which Is All Too Typical Of

Democratic Party policies today.

The reason that I am now an Independent.

You want my vote, you have to work for it.

[David Van Os]

14. The choice is yours

I am who I am and I stand for what I stand for and stand by my convictions. This gives you the ability to make an informed choice. What I said in my post that started this thread is where I stand on this issue. If you don't like what I stand for, then don't vote for me. That's the way representative democracy works.

[CoolOnion]

20. That's the way I like politicians to answer!

You've got my vote!

[rman]

19. Production is peaking AND big oil is making record profits,

meaning the high price of oil is not just to cover increased expenses of extraction and rafination.

[Festivito]

8. Oligopolies and monopolies should be increasingly heavily taxed.

After all if the market is not able to watch some corporation with competition, then we the people must watch them and require due compensation for our service.

The bigger they get, the more say we need to have. If they want to compete better nationwide or worldwide, we're there to help.

[David Van Os]

10. Texas Constitution says....

Article 1, Section 26, Bill of Rights, Texas Constitution --

Monopolies are contrary to the genius of free government and shall never be allowed.

[Festivito]

11. Wow, good. But, just leads to living denial, or denial of non-enforcement.

How did TX handle the old AT&T?
I doubt they decided not to have the telephone whichamigidget.

Black and white thinking doesn't invoke fairness.
We all want some fairness, and enough love to cover the discrepancies.

Genius. ha! All one must do is slow freedom in government. Slow the media. Slow the response. Hide the information for periods of time. Then, no free gov, then no contrarian genius, then, YES, monopolies.

Sorry, but, A1S26. Poppycock! Useful poppycock, but poppycock just the same.

[David Van Os]

15. As a matter of fact

As a matter of fact a previous Texas Attorney General, John L. Hill, went after Southwestern Bell/AT&T very aggressively in the 1970s over their monopolistic, predatory rate-setting. The way Hill handled the Attorney Generalship of my state is a role model to me.

[Festivito]

16. Michigan had AG Frank Kelley, kept our state straight for decades.

I did not pay attention to politics enough back then, nor even now. But, he was a shining star now that I look back. Having one honest person in power can make a big difference.

Now we have a DeLay style Republican for AG and Secretary of State and our state house and senate, all Republican controlled. Only Governor Granholm is a Dem. This AG, Mike Cox, actually gave a campaign donation to one of our supreme court justices that would determine a case he argue of some tens of thousands, almost half his yearly salary at the time. Insane. We have no decent media any more.

Aside: I do wish we had more laws that took effect slowly, with percentage monetary curbs that would work to watch companies for us, but, it's just an idea.

I wish you well on your run.

[Vincardog]

18. Fsetive why are you so full of Poppycock? David is willing and able to DO

SOMETHING and you sit on the side sniping at him and posting tripe.
Don't get me wrong if you have something usefully to add feel free. If not be sorry on your own time the TEXAS Constitution is not Poppycock your post is.

[Festivito]

21. I deserve that. Dave set me straight.

Indeed Texas has used that to properly move against monopolies.
It is not just some platitude.

I do still stand by my first post, which contains my own platitudinal approach(due self deprication) to the rise of monopolies. But, I'd best fight for that elsewhere, such as my own state where I'd have better understanding of such law.

Be strong; be well.

[Vincardog]

13. Does anyone have Air America's email address? They should see this.

[DarkTirade]

17. I just filled my tank up for the first time in months...

I drive a Honda Accord. Not a gas guzzler. I think the tank is only 13 or 14 gallons.
I only filled it up completely because I just got my tax return back.
It cost me 37 dollars to fill up my tank.
I haven't had the car that long, but I remember when it only took me 25. And when my brother had this same car before I did, I don't think it ever cost him more than 20.

[cfsteak]

22. How is Cheney's Energy Task Force Working Out for You Now?

Gee, just too darn bad we don't have the notes to the FERC Energy Task Force meetings very early on in the administrations reign

Lets see for you oil boy's we'll put up a self moratorium on refineries
and blame it on the enviros, no use investing 4-5 billion of your profits for a something thats going to take 3-4 years to build

Even if oil supply rockets up http://www.minyanville.com/articles/index.php?a=10246
we can always find some excuse to scare the bejezus out of the markets

I can't believe we haven't heard much about the task force in this last run up of oil prices ,guess with so many scandals they get lost in the West Texas
Intermediate

[PDittie]

23. Here's the board:

[johncoby2]

24. Now that is cool!!!!!!!

Can I post this on my blog?

[PDittie]

25. Hell yeah

Go to the website and steal it. Small:



or large, like in my previous post.

[WestHoustonDem]

26. Awesome! I bet you could post this in GD and

collect some donations!