Posted by AuntieMel on March 10, 2005, at 12:05:08
In reply to Re: more on the oil biz (not too long), posted by gromit on March 10, 2005, at 4:12:30
No worries. I didn't think it was directed at me. I just can't pass up an opportunity to try to educate people that oil isn't some giant "thing" out there, that it's a lot of hard working dedicated people. And of course it takes a special breed of person that is willing to work in this type environment. Wildcatters at heart, we are.
Every year or so (it seems like more often than that, actually) the public will scream collusion and demand investigation. Congress will have one, spend slews of cash hoping (think how the folks at home would love it) to find something. They never do.
What other industry ever had a "windfall profits tax?" Can you imagine the outcry if they did that to the movie studios? And they make huge profits.
SUVs and big trucks are all over here, too. But that's nothing new. We've always had our trucks. But when I pull up my explorer and fill it up I don't complain 'cause it was my choice to by one. When my daughter got her car and we knew she'd be putting lots of miles on it back and forth to school we got her a matrix.
When I go there it isn't for the scenery, it's because the in-laws moved there. Frankly everytime I look at the artificially planted over irrigated place I don't find it attractive at all. To me it's all a facade - just like the movies. Without huge quantities of piped in water (there's another fight) it would be it's natural brown. Which I think is much more attractive.
Mom in law lives in an area where they are always fighting the bunnies because they eat the flowers. So the community does something to get rid of the bunnies. Then the coyotes don't have food and munch on the kitties and poodles, which gets them even more upset so they go after the coyotes. Talk about messing with nature! Ten free acres? Let's put in another golf course.
Ok, rant over. I guess I'm just a Texan at heart. But sometimes when I go there and hear "why do you want to live in Texas" I have a hard time staying civil. The pat answer is "let's see... good jobs, affordable housing, no state income tax, need more?"
Oh - one more thing. It isn't intentional at all if there is a shortage of gas there. Believe me, we'll happily sell you all you're willing to buy.
{tongue firmly in cheek}Oh - darn - one more thing. The 80s and cheap gas? I heard on CNN (not local news, mind you) that that 80s cheap gas price would be about 3.00 now if adjusted for inflation. And (mind you I'm not a Bush fan) neither party is good at planning ahead for energy.
Anything more you want to know about the biz? It's a wild ride for sure. What other job will happily give you a round trip ticket to Kazakhstan? Or any other stan for that matter?
Remind me to tell you about the trip on Kaz Air.
poster:AuntieMel
thread:465800
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050122/msgs/469246.html