22 Comments
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Richard Smith's avatar

Joel, Welcome back ! So Americans have been spoiled compared to the rest of the World.And it appears its time to stand in line like the rest of the world and pay our dues,so be it. In tightening

our spending habits to just survive,maybe it will become part of our vote as a message to Washington D.C. and our state capitals,and our Federal Reserve we are demanding accountability in Government. United we stand,Divided we fall.If you wish to remain loyal to your Democratic Party or Republican Party I sincerely wish you all the luck in the World in your survival.If you forgot,you are an American First, which constitutes Oneness.So be it.

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Steve L's avatar

Remember one truth, it was the democrats and republicans that placed us in our current demise. It’s up the us to make the necessary changes or go along with the cattle and wait in line for what’s due….but while we wait, we can still make a few extra bucks listening to Bill and Joel to help bury our dead 🇺🇸

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Michael C's avatar

100% agree, all this bloated tech and where are we? Disconnected as ever, on a scale beyond beyond.

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Indian lake's avatar

Unlike the government, corporations are in business to make a profit. Always check what the NET profit margin is before going kaka on your Marxist rambling, “a friend “.

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AFriend's avatar

Then no complaining about prices.

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User's avatar
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Jul 9, 2022
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AFriend's avatar

I knew corporations would start making record profits after Biden cleaned up Trump tariffs and trade war mess.

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Dennis T.'s avatar

Biden is a sock puppet, as is his no nothing VP. Whomever writes what appears on the teleprompter is the President. The same as with Obama, every word spoken as from a teleprompter.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Friend (not) - I've said this to you before so I'll type s l o w e r this time...

The job of the executive is to maximize profit and safeguard shareholder's interests. Period. Full Stop.

Get over it already or move to China where your "understanding" of Capitalism would be welcomed.

You present all three of your posts like the information is a bad thing. New flash - it's not. At all.

The people running these companies are obviously doing a good job, and, unlike you, understand and excel at their responsibilities...

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AFriend's avatar

From Chevron financial reporting with CEO remarks :

"As gas prices soared, Chevron’s 240% profit spike was part of “the best two quarters the company has ever seen”, prompting a dividend increase and assurances it would keep production low to maintain high prices" Chevron has also done $10 billion in buybacks in the last two years.

"Just as PulteGroup kept housing starts down, oil companies have kept production low while gas topped $7 a gallon in some regions. In earnings calls across the industry, oil executives like Diamondback Energy CEO Travis Stice have promised to keep production flat in the years ahead, “putting returns and, therefore, shareholders first”.

“No one wants to see that shareholder return program put at risk with volume growth,” Stice said." Diamondback has done $2.4 billion in buybacks in the last two years.

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Jul 9, 2022
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AFriend's avatar

$7 gas isn't caused by communism.

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Carl Goldamer's avatar

If I was an oil company CEO why would i want to keep investing lots of cash reserves t o produce a lot more oil if the government is trying to put me out of business. They want an electric car in every third drive way. The electrical system in my neighborhood can't handle that, would need lots of up grades. Maybe if our president could have done a little planning and research. But I guess the teleprompter can't know all wise things. P.S. Welcome back to the US Mr. Bowman. Great to have your sense of humor back.

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Jul 10, 2022Edited
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AFriend's avatar

You should educate yourself on how the oil business works.

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rwagnerhaus's avatar

I have complained about how they changed the way they calculate inflation for years! Likely done, so our leaders can boast how they are keeping inflation in check, when in reality it has gone unchecked for years. Simply put, the mobile phone still provides the same basic function and whether it has a ton of features or not, it still is a basic cost. Same for automobiles, they are transportation in the most basic form and who cares about how much "more" we are getting. Those extras are nice to haves and not necessities. What is next? Will they tell us the bread we are now buying is much more nutritious and we therefore should be paying more? This is all complete nonsense and we need to realize inflation. Is it no wonder Powell and company missed the inflation that has been present if they were looking at the bogus calculations!

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Richard Dornhofer's avatar

Before I went to the Cnary Islands , Early ,2020 , costs across the board were alreadyup 5% .

Got stranded there for a year coz of the lab-flu thing , ( nicest jail I've ever been in ) ... got bumped off a return from England and had to fly bakto SFO .( coz of the covid thing).. ok , so .. costs noticed up another 10% .... Two more years here & another 10-15% ( can't help it - I was always good at quick maths) ... Hmmm - probably looking like ( 5+10+15 %s) = 30+ % infltion , w/o factoring other multibles thatcould easily add another 10% ..., in less than 2 years . ??? ,,, Plant a garden & don't argue with Your neighbors or go to anyother kinda wars .... is my advice ,,, always !

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Leo Hamel's avatar

For those people unaware, Maple Syrup is controlled in Quebec by a syndicate (bureaucrats) who dole out quota. You can have a large sugar bush in Quebec but unless you can grab a portion of any new quota that they decide is needed, you aren't allowed to sell your syrup. So, you can rest worry free knowing that the pricing and supply of this liquid gold is in good hands just like everything else the governments control

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AFriend's avatar

After all that election crying about socialism hurting America it sure looks like greedy capitalism is hurting most Americans now.

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AFriend's avatar

The Kroger Co.

' At the bottom line, Kroger reported 2022 first-quarter net earnings of $664 million, or 90 cents per diluted share, compared with $140 million, or 18 cents per diluted share, a year ago. '

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Steve L's avatar

Yes my little friend, we all find it strange that these same corporations were not greedy under Trump, but suddenly went off the rails under your corrupt Biden? Who do you think they paid off to get away with such greed? Maybe ask Hunter and the rest of your devilish cult to find the answers 🤔

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AFriend's avatar

' Shock Doctrine ' Naomi Klein

Read the book or watch the documentary on YouTube.

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Steve L's avatar

No shock there my little friend. What I don’t understand is why those who despise logic, happiness, life, freedom and the ability to create those most cherished principles, always choose to push their personal demons, self loathing and ignorance on those good folk around them? When this fraud President was placed into office, I told all that we would now have mass shootings weekly, and was correct, because those of you who worship man, and have no higher belief, inspire at the alter of ignorance and corruption, and show your hatred for mankind in every thing you are. Tolerance, Diversity, Equality was once the liberal motto….such hypocritical BS coming from the darkest souls. If you want to push an ideology of destruction on America, you can leave at anytime, unlike those countries that already suffer under the idark ignorance of the left…🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸Love her or leave her!

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Jul 10, 2022
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Steve L's avatar

There is no spinning corruption, immorality, treason and insanity. They are what they are….

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Jul 9, 2022
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AFriend's avatar

Looks like corporations are doing great under Biden.

His policies are making shareholders record dividends.

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