southsider2k5

Why would the Phillies trade Bobby Abreu?

With the questions surrounding this case, it just means we will have to find some schmuck to test this out on... Jason?

Congrats and good luck to a class act, and one of the best in the business.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Nov 11, 2005 -> 09:50 AM) We do not create laws to maximize company profits. We do not have a completely free market. Ma Bell was doing great when they were forced to break up into smaller companies. The tobacco industry was making great profits until they were forced to spend hundreds of millions on anti-smoking campaigns. Yet, there is still investment in those industries. Once again Congress is availing themselves of constitutionally guaranteed powers. I would be hypocritical to state they should not do that. After all I believe as long as the judicial branch is following the same constitution, we are in good hands. What Congress does after this would bring out debate on the type of issues that you raise. You are looking at 3 completely different situations. Big Oil is not a monopoly. Big Oil is not making a dangerous product that they are lying to the American people about the safety risks about. It is nothing like Bell and Big Tobacco. Also if you want to look at those industries, the long distance phone market has completely collapsed since it was Trust-busted. If you don't believe me, go look at the rates for long distance phonecalls, and the prices of the stocks that go with those companies. Many companies actually quit offering long distance service because there is no money to be made in that sector. Finally when it came to the Bell situation, guess who took action on it? It wasn't Congress either, it was the Justice Department who successfully prosecuted them under the monopoly laws. It was basically the samething in the position of Big Tobacco. They were taken to court, not Congress, for their illegal activities. It was legal settlements and court judgements that forced them to reform their ways. Also when it comes to investment in that sector, it has pretty well collapsed. It is to the point where the US government (ie you and I) are paying tobacco farmers to grow something else, and companies like Phillip Morris (now Altria) instead of reinvesting in themselves are buying up other companies (such as the MO/K merger) to keep profitable, and focusing their efforts into other countries to sell their products. Remember we also do not create laws to cap profits. We create laws to protect the public, the employees, and the consumers, but after that we allow companies to maximize their profits. And finally we are looking at the branches of government overstepping their bounds all over the place. Congress is looking to judiciate. The courts are looking to legislate. The President and Congress are looking to control the media. (and people wonder why we have a bloated federal government) If we need debate over an issue, it isn't the Congresses job to do so, that is why we have the press around. It is their job to investigate and stir up public debate. Congresses job is to make laws, not determine legalities.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Nov 11, 2005 -> 09:41 AM) I agree there is an awful lot of political jockeying going on, on both sides. But I think congress has unique subpoena powers which are very helpful in this. Plus, congress looking at this is far more worrisome to a company that some assistant junior deputy in the justice department. Cutting out the b.s. politics for a moment, do you think it is in the nation's best interest to keep close tabs on what the oil industry is doing? I think it is in our best interests for the legal system to make sure that the profits were legally gotten. Beyond that, we live in a capitalistic society, if we take away the profit motivation of companies, why would anyone invest in this country?

QUOTE(Texsox @ Nov 11, 2005 -> 09:13 AM) Let me see if y'all think these two things should be linked. According to Bush suporters: A.) The economy would have been much, much better if energy prices had remained lower. B.) We shouldn't be interested in oil company profits. Oil companies could cripple the US economy. If they are engaging in collusion to raise prices, shouldn't the government step in, investigate, and prosecute? Isn't that in our nation's best interest? It seems like we should be very interested in this industry. Of course as we discussed in other threads, we could just stop buying oil and oil related products like everything in our house from chemicals to plastics. Interested, yes. Socialism, no. My biggest problem with this is that this really isn't even the Congress's realm of exsistance to be worrying about this stuff. If there has been a law broken, then the legal system should be investigating them. Out of the testimony that has been made public, basically what I have heard is either Congress exploring wealth redistribution and collusion, neither of which needs be dealt with by that branch of the government. They COULD be worrying about things that they are actually supposed to be taking care of, like balancing the budget, but instead they are giving millionaires all expense paid trips to Washington DC, so that Congressmen can jockey to get their soundbytes into the media, meanwhile accomplishing exactly nothing productive. Its a waste of tax dollars at best, at worst it is the legislative branch trying to quash capitalism and judiciate at the sametime.

Happy Birthday guys

I'd be curious to see the last time that an orchard was built, or what poor people that Big Juice is planning on returning its profits to? This editorial ran in yesterday's Trib

Does Pat Robertson even own a copy of the New Testament?

We are proud of all of our men and women in service. It is truely a higher calling :usa

Do you think Vazquez is kicking himself for spurning the White Sox now?

Technology being used to further the riots

Fewer cars burned, but police brutality being investigated.

Not enough evidence to prosecute Raffy for purjury

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Nov 10, 2005 -> 03:50 PM) This coming from the biggest nerd of all. Well that does make it expert testimony and all...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/biztech/11/10...e.ap/index.html

Jordanian protesters tell Al Zarqawi to "Burn in Hell"

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 10, 2005 -> 02:38 PM) I didn't realize that the Groups were actually maintained somewhere - I thought it was just user text. Oh well. Just out of curiousity, what groups are there out there? Is there a way to look? Banned is a popular group

There are guys around the Board of Trade after trading hours some days...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 10, 2005 -> 02:25 PM) Just like our army when it went into Iraq. Since the Iraqi army so held their own against us or something. The only effective technique that has been employed is the hit and run insurgency. Even when the Iraqi army was at its height in the first gulf war, we shredded it and were knocking on Baghdad's doorstep in a heartbeat.

And IIRC the Knicks own someone elses #1 pick, and if the Knicks end up being in the top 3, we would get the other #1 pick that year... or something like that.

QUOTE(bmags @ Nov 10, 2005 -> 02:09 PM) s***, i'm not gonna get a job now am i damn journalism liberal test comes junior year Please choose the most correct answer: Is Bill Clinton A. The most awesomest President since FDR B. The victim of a vast rightwing conspiracy C. The third anti-Christ D. Husband of the 42nd President E. Positively dreamy

I have never had/used a cover letter before. They are basically a waste of paper in this industry. Heck half the time a resume is too, but it is a necesary evil.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Nov 10, 2005 -> 12:53 PM) I tried to convince them that there was some value to my HUGE backyard, but they were unconvinced..... But with the odor eminating from it, they suspected an unauthorized landfill was operating there, and called in OSHA to check it as a Superfund site.