Yes, we can.

[Strangler Lewis]

The Ben Stein article is fine as far as it goes, but most people hurt by high gas prices are a long way from retired. I know a number of families that have cut off their balls--i.e., sold their Tahoes, Silverados, etc. and downsized to minivans or bought a smaller used car for errands--because they can't afford to fill up the tank.

The price of food has also gone up, both because of increases in the price of gas and the price of wheat. I suppose the answer would be that most of the processed foods that Americans are killing themselves with are ultimately owned by Phillip Morris and the like who might be part of their 401k.

This assumes that most Americans are contributing sufficiently to 401k, which they are not. Rather, many are living paycheck to paycheck and running up credit cards. Of course, now that MasterCard and Visa have gone public, this is obviously a good thing.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

The Ben Stein article is fine as far as it goes, but most people hurt by high gas prices are a long way from retired. I know a number of families that have cut off their balls--i.e., sold their Tahoes, Silverados, etc. and downsized to minivans or bought a smaller used car for errands--because they can't afford to fill up the tank.

Who do you think is to blame for the high gas prices? Some believe that Exxon-Mobile et. al. is to blame (because E-M made $12 billion last quarter). It ain't them. Look at the cost for a barrel of oil which is well over $100 ($107 as of Thursday), up from about $50.00 in January 2007.

And for those who think that $12 billion is 'too high', look at it from a percentage perspective (all info from the respective companies' Income Statements on finance.yahoo.com):

Exxon-Mobile: 10%
Disney: 12%
Apple: 16%
Sears: 17%
Microsoft: 29%

[wendybeth]

Anybody else finish that Ben Stein article and think "Bueller.........Beuller......."



Btw, I think he lives up here in Sandpoint, Idaho- or he used to, anyway.

[Deebs]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Anybody else finish that Ben Stein article and think "Bueller.........Beuller......."

"Anyone? Anyone?"

(Yes, me.)

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Anybody else finish that Ben Stein article and think "Bueller.........Beuller......."

Nope....I was thinking about cheese balls myself


http://youtube.com/watch?v=OratYKWszU8

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Who do you think is to blame for the high gas prices? Some believe that Exxon-Mobile et. al. is to blame (because E-M made $12 billion last quarter). It ain't them. Look at the cost for a barrel of oil which is well over $100 ($107 as of Thursday), up from about $50.00 in January 2007.

I wasn't really addressing blame for the situation. I was addressing the article's theory that people should be happy to pay high gas prices because the money all comes back to them in the end.