In their attempt to keep their government welfare alive and
well, at least for another session of congress, the American Petroleum
Institute (API) has broken out a new ad targeting U.S. Senator Mark Warner
(D-VA).[1]
The ads aren’t so much of an attack on Sen. Warner as a
vague assessment of November’s elections and what they mean, or should mean,
for America’s energy future. The ad runs, “America spoke loudly, clearly:
We
want a common sense plan to help people succeed. Sen. Mark Warner can make
energy a big part of improving our economy.”[2]
Thus, not only does the ad not touch upon the oil industry’s
$4 billion in annual tax breaks (and why would Big Oil?), the ad also
approaches November’s election results in a way that could backfire in the face
of Big Oil.
That is, America did speak in November’s election, and it
didn’t say “extend the $4 billion in tax breaks for big oil.[3]
If anything, voters from all points on the political spectrum said enough with
congressional gridlock and unnecessary handouts to industries that hardly need
government assistance.
For instance, in 2011, the “big five” in the oil industry
produced 4% less oil and “oil equivalent” in 2011 relative to 2010 while raking
in $137 billion in profits[4].
That’s right, $137 BILLION. So why would our government, and our hard-earned
taxpayer dollars, go towards feeding this gluttonous monstrosity anymore than
it already feeds itself on the backs of Americans?
The answer is, of course, we shouldn’t. We’ve been giving
Big Oil handouts for too long while focusing our budget-cutting axe on some of
the neediest elements in our society. And I’m not talking about faceless Big
Oil board members and their CEOs, I’m referring to the hard working American
who has seen social programs continuously cut under the ruse of “tightening the
budgetary belt.”
Folks, we shouldn’t need a wakeup call every four years, and
the idea of stripping billion-dollar companies of tax breaks shouldn’t even be
a point for serious discussion. There are a number of things that need to be
changed in America, and this is at the top of the list.
[1] http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/influencealley/2012/11/api-to-energy-state-dems-support-our-tax-breaks-13
[2] http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/influencealley/2012/11/api-to-energy-state-dems-support-our-tax-breaks-13
[3] http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2012/02/07/11145/big-oils-banner-year/
[4] http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2012/02/07/11145/big-oils-banner-year/
No comments:
Post a Comment