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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2014 8:57:55 GMT -5
We peons sure do waste a lot of time defending and/or blaming one political party or the other when the fault lies with the elected officials of the ruling class irregardless of party affiliation. Republican officials are for one thing and one thing only; that being keeping their elected office/career intact. The same is true of democrat elected officials. Any of that old time crap about democrats being for the working man and republicans being for the rich is just bullpuckey. They are for what it takes to get reelected. End of story. If we voters actually used our heads we could effect change, but so long as we remain loyal to a party that has no loyalty to us, the game is over. Criticism of one party and not the other gains nothing, but might make those who don't do much thinking feel good, foolish though it be. I have taken an oath. I will vote for no incumbent ever again, regardless of what he/she promises or his/her party affiliation. If we all did that, think how fast things would change, but we will not. It might require real commitment. Besides, it is more fun to grouse and complain about things that to do something about it. Term Limits. Public Financing only. Remind these clowns who they work for again. PS: Walking out of the office last night and a flock of ladies dressed in frilly dresses handed me a flyer about Corbett and the Budget Tick Tock... something about down the rabbit hole, Alice? I guess the ladies were dressed as Alice in Wonderland? Tick tock Corbett, whatcha gonna do?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2014 9:01:51 GMT -5
Bob Bolus is a criminal. He's the exact reason NEPA is so corrupt; The mentality that "Hey, I'm a good guy, I do for my people. Take care of dem. Yeah." All while breaking the law to do it. Meanwhile, the peons (to use Mutts term above), follow along blindly trying to suck on the teet because it's easy.
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Post by bowbum on Jun 12, 2014 10:07:11 GMT -5
Bob Bolus had removed himself from that company some years ago but relatives still own and operate it!
It's certainly a stretch to say a company should deny low bid contractors a business opportunity because of the family name.
On the other hand, Bob Bolus is known in that region as the business "Robinhood" for all the charitable work he does. In my personal opinion, he is one who does charitable work to cover up his total disregard for regulations. I wouldn't trust him and, in honesty, I probably would look extremely hard at doing business with his family and associates. Presumably they were vetted and had a good reputation.
However, if a person is politically brainwashed to be anti-gas, they will use most any excuse to make the connection to it being "natural gas" rather than sloppy independent business practices...................................... ?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2014 10:37:41 GMT -5
Bob Bolus had removed himself from that company some years ago but relatives still own and operate it! It's certainly a stretch to say a company should deny low bid contractors a business opportunity because of the family name. On the other hand, Bob Bolus is known in that region as the business "Robinhood" for all the charitable work he does. In my personal opinion, he is one who does charitable work to cover up his total disregard for regulations. I wouldn't trust him and, in honesty, I probably would look extremely hard at doing business with his family and associates. Presumably they were vetted and had a good reputation. However, if a person is politically brainwashed to be anti-gas, they will use most any excuse to make the connection to it being "natural gas" rather than sloppy independent business practices...................................... ? Bowbum,
I'm far from being "anti-gas" as I have skin in the game - heck, my investments in the industry have returned $24,815.00 to me so far this year as of COB yesterday and they're up again today. I'm just not naïve enough to believe the industry, or any industry for that matter, "walks on water" as some on here do.
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Post by bowbum on Jun 12, 2014 11:54:09 GMT -5
Todd, I also do not believe the gas industry "walks on water."
I openly question much of what they do and I do not, "for one second" trust their financial dealings with stake holders and private citizens. I also am not 100 percent convinced of the minimal environmental risk of drilling -fracking - transport and marketing.
What I do is make comparisons to other industries and make comparisons to who serves our nations needs, our community's needs and what the end benefits are sportsmen and citizenry in general.
I see an industry that will get away in a limited way, with what it can but also is willing, in a poor market atmosphere, to be a good steward and to contribute and support social and charitable needs while benefiting all of us.
There is no question that our economic standing would be very, very much worse without the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania!
What irks my sense of fairness is that, on a site supposedly to do with sportsmen's concerns, there is such an anti gas bias.
From administration and management we see almost exclusively articles that are anti-gas or deal with adding costs....increasing taxes to gas producers or stopping/limiting drilling, (even on private-owned mineral rights), lands, or "Op Ed" pieces from extreme left wingers.
I honestly question the motives of those who profess to be "concerned with the environment" and "concerned with our economy." We see several people referring to what "other states do" but only ----- selectively! Those same people condemn using that measure for issues they do not support!
If we; Put out any non-gas related environment mishap --- get zero response! Put out any improved economic situation improvement due to natural gas --- get zero response, (from the typical anti-gas posters)! Put out any post on social benefits coming from the industry --- " Ditto "Ditto! Put out about the extraordinary monetary, equipment donation and manpower donation for disaster relief ---more "Ditto! Put out something about help to NWTF or other sportsmen's groups ---- More big "Dittos! Put out something about national security or pride being improved through gas development ---- same old "Ditto!
Some people who are our friends and fellow "sportsmen and women" here, and who have the bully pulpit "TO ME" seemed to have taken an early position that precludes having a brain and being able to diagnose which and what industry truly hurts our world and which truly is making an effort to be accepted as a good neighbor through benefiting us all.
I'll almost certainly eat some crow at some point, because there is always a high risk level in any industry an especially so in one that deals with natural resources.
There have been problems and there will be more problems......only a moron would not expect that to be true. But I'm willing to put myself out there as an independent who assess things as they develop and compares to the alternatives....not be in denial of beneficial progress because of some political loyalty or a false pretense of being concerned for the environment or sportsmen's interests.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2014 12:16:54 GMT -5
Bowbum, I understand where you're coming from and respect your point of view. I think you and I would agree on much more, politically, economically and in the arena of "the outdoors", than we would disagree on. I believe an extraction tax is the way to go and you do not. I'll just leave it there and compliment you on carrying on a spirited, civil debate.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2014 12:33:28 GMT -5
Oh, and if directed at me, I'm not Todd although I'm sure he's a good guy.
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Post by bowbum on Jun 12, 2014 12:54:29 GMT -5
Thanks Todd, and I hope you recall, as I do, that "yes" we really are on the same page!
My only problem with the tax is that, in my mind the thought of "fairness," does not equate with selective taxing of a beneficial industry based on nothing more than....other states do it!
I've tried to research how this began and all I can come up with is that, years ago, when the industry was limited in resource, a few states thought they had the only game in town and thus they did some arm twisting to get extra benefits.
Then, after extensively looking for more resources and finding them, it was too late for the gas industry, a precedence had already been set and every state started arm twisting of their own.
We are no longer in that "we're the only source of what you want," situation. The question of right and wrong, not prevailing, gas companies do have some flexibility these days to limit production, idle wells, reduce offerings for mineral rights, add post production costs, (which, incidentally are new and Corbett's court upheld), and simply not purchase mineral rights. We already have impact fees that are distributed statewide but the greed doesn't end with that!
I don't know if you recall that either Lackawana or Luzerne County, (maybe "both"), had a huge "anti-gas" consortium going on a few years back. Pipelines had already been started, mineral rights purchased, operations offices established and initial support infrastructure in place. But, all sorts of legal action was then promised and threatened by the consortium and that mentality spread to the county government. As quick as "overnight" multiple gas companies said "no Mas" --- we is leaving, and that quick they were gone! That area was marginal but the industry wanted to invest closer to a metropolitan area even if marginal.
The resulting big news stories over the complete pull out was not about natural gas --- except that people had mortgaged homes, bought new cars and municipal authorities had planned improvements and now ------ the gas industry screwed them!
My point in all of this is that "the gas industry does have choices." They may not quit or move out but they make adjustments that help them and in the end, hurt people financially.
I see really stupid thoughts expressed by some that ....nothing will change if we raid them. Bull, that is stupidity at it's highest level. Other states have seen down-scaling, other areas have seen market failure because of bureaucracy and public welfare mongering....all while Pennsylvania enjoyed moving into the number 2 position in the nation for natural gas processing!
I think it is morally wrong, fiscally counter productive and founded in a welfare mentality that leads us down a dangerous path and does no good for our state or country!
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