Jay Kersting's Blog

A very good thing happened yesterday in the United States Senate.  It is rare that I can say this, but here is why.

One of the stupidest concepts since the Carter Administration came up yesterday.  And I bring up the Carter Administration for a reason.  Now, hold on and enjoy the ride.

A bill to tax "windfall profits" was defeated before it ever got off the ground.  On the surface, a simple mind could see this as a good thing.  So you know the names behind the simple minds, look at the list of those who voted YES on this bill. 

These folks can be explained in one of a few ways.  First, they are stupid as well as simple.  They do not see that increasing taxes on the oil companies, no matter how obscene their profits, will only increase the prices to US, the consumer.

Second, they are ignorant.  They did not see how the windfall profits tax that Jimmy Carter pushed on us was a horrific failure.  But, of course, people actually think the economy is worse today than it was back then.  Ignorance is correctable, but you can't fix stupid.

Third, they are corrupted by the system of lobbyists who run Washington, DC.  

Or fourth, they are simply wanting to LOOK as if they are doing something for their constituents, and they voted in the affirmative because they knew it would fail and they would get some political cover.    

I am not sure which of this our Senator is.  Claire McCaskill called this "Politics at its worst" and went on to say how the American people should be outraged.   

She is right.  But not for the reasons she thinks.

I agree that the profits of the big five oil companies are pretty obscene.  (That's TWICE I have used that term.)  

Bringing up another idea that feeds the cliche, "I'm from the government and I am here to help," is completely asinine. 

I am outraged that this club of one-hundred doesn't even have a decent understanding of economics, business, nor history.

Claire McCaskill, you are right.  And you are guilty.  Guilty of playing politics at its worst.

Find a soultion and quit being part of the DAMN PROBLEM!!!! 

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Now, that does feed to the question, how do we fix these outrageous gas prices?  Claire McCaskill and I can agree that giving the big oil companies large tax breaks or tax subsidies is an equally stupid idea these days.

How we got to the point of offering these companies these breaks, at these crazy levels, I cannot say for sure. 

The other fix is to fix the dollar.  How do you make it stronger?  Well, the Fair Tax would certainly make the dollar stronger. 

Encouraging investment in America is a good step to strengthening the dollar, right?

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And think about this, do we want these big oil companies moving their corporate operations OUT of the United States, then possibly escaping all US taxes?   

This could happen if idiotic concepts like these windfall taxes ever pass again.

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We were visited by a Kirby vacuum sales team on Saturday.  Long story short, after a demonstration of a couple of hours, we were told the damned thing cost $2000.  But after telling the guy NO, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again, the price got down to $969.  I told him to pack up and "get out of my house. At this point if it was $9.69, I wouldn't buy."  (OK, for ten bucks, I'd buy.  I could get more than that on eBay.)

In just three days, we got hit up by both a Jehovah's Witness AND a Kirby rep.  How lucky are we?

Oh, and advice to anyone who knocks on my door.  Do not tell me that your company doesn't do advertising.  It is not a selling point to someone who gets a paycheck due to companies paying for advertising.  Ooops.

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Have a great Wednesday.  "Anything Can Happen Day!"