I spent last weekend on vacation talking smart with friends around a campfire and under the stars. As these things naturally progress the conversation quickly led to war and politics and the what's wrong with kids today discussion. I didn't hesitate to throw my two cents into the mix as the late-night debate oozing of liberalism continued.
The long ride home on Sunday gave me time to think about the aforementioned campfire discussion and allowed me to weave in some of my own theories about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
First up is the gas situation. We, the American consumer, are the peons in the Feudal System of Big Business.
Whether gas costs us $2/gallon (remember when that was outrageous?) or $2.75 or $3.20 Big American Oil, with it's extremely over-paid executives, is still making money.
Now, here's my simplistic trickle-down theory. The Arabs sell the oil and definitely make their money, then Big American Oil cashes in after buying from the Arabs. Eventually the gasoline gets closer to us - the consumer. First the refineries and distributors make their money and get the petro to individual station owners, who post the prices on the big board, and take their cut. It's all based on a percentage of profit.
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Like the consumer, individual station owners are at the mercy of those higher up the petroleum food chain, but they still have a percentage of profit to survive and set their prices based on how much they paid for the gas. They've got a business to run and need to make a living like everyone else. The average consumer has no idea how much the station owners are paying for gas, we are only concerned with how much we are paying at the pump. And the only way to have an idea if we are getting jacked-up is to compare prices from station to station, and town to town.
From the Arabs on down people are making money, except those of us at the very bottom of the chain. And we'll basically pay whatever is posted on the board because we've set up a society of big vehicles and over-consumption. And that's my theory.
As long as I'm on my soap box, here's a little more of what I believe.
- Baseball should be played outdoors and not under a roof - retractable or not.
- I believe in fighting and war when it's to directly defend and ensure the safety of ourselves, our families and our country. I don't believe our soldiers should be in Iraq.
- The National Guard should be just that - guarding us at home, not fighting in Iraq.
- I believe in tighter borders and stricter immigration.
- Kids should run through the sprinkler, drink from the hose, eat dirty carrots directly from the garden, and maybe even eat a worm somewhere along the line.
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- I believe in Spider-Man lunch boxes and walking to school. Riding the bus three blocks is silly.
- I believe those who only vote the party line year after year are sheep... simply drinking the Kool-Aid.
- Rock-n-roll will never die.
- I believe kids should play full-contact sandlot football games during the day and kick-the-can after dark.
- I believe ADD/ADHD does exist, but not as widespread as we are led to believe. I say this disorder is due in large part to laziness, too much sugar, not enough running around outside, too many video games, and lack of discipline in this era of the babysitting television.
- I believe kids should break a bone or two... it's part of growing up.
- I believe in free-range chickens.
- I believe there are far too many freeloaders in society.
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- I believe we are over-insured and under-covered.
- I believe government shouldn't have to legislate stupidity and common sense... but unfortunately it does.
- I believe in black and white.
- I believe that's enough for the next campfire debate.
