James K. Glassman of Tech Central Station today profiles our very own Senator From Windfall, Maria "Double Tugs" Cantwell.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at December 05, 2005 01:39 PM | Email ThisWhen I was a kid gas was $.25/galon, mom sent me to the store with a quarter and a note for a pack of Kents and a candy bar was a dime.
A candy bar now costs six to ten times as much, the smokes are ~$4/pack and gas is more expensive now too.
I don't work for free nor do I put my investment dollars at risk without the possibility of commensurate reward. Why would I expect those who work in or invest in the energy field to do what I would not do myself?
1789–1815 $6.00 per day
1815–1817 $1,500
1817–1855 $8.00 per day
1855–1865 $3,000
1865–1871 $5,000
1871–1873 $7,500
1873–1907 $5,000
1907–1925 $7,500
1925–1932 $10,000
1932–1933 $9,000
1933–1935 $8,500
1935–1947 $10,000
1947–1955 $12,500
1955–1965 $22,500
1965–1969 $30,000
1969–1975 $42,500
1975–1977 $44,600
1977–1978 $57,500
1979–1983 $60,662.50
1983 $69,800
1984 $72,600
1985–1986 $75,100
1987 (Jan. 1–Feb. 3) $77,400
1987–1990 $89,500
1990 (as of Feb. 1) $98,400
1991 $101,900
1991 (as of Aug. 15) $125,100
1992 $129,500
1993–1997 $133,600
1998–1999 $136,700
2000 $141,300
2001 $145,100
Or at least get Mike McGavick to respond to this column?
Just hoping for a POV from a leader in THIS state.
Posted by: A Watchdog on December 5, 2005 02:37 PMWhich is a windfall profit?
Posted by: Kevin Ryan on December 5, 2005 02:48 PMWhich is a windfall profit?
Posted by: Kevin Ryan on December 5, 2005 02:48 PM[sarcasm]
The oil companies, because they're evil and responsible for all that is wrong in the world, whereas the State is divine and pure as the wind driven snow... or didn't anybody re-educate you about that?
[/sarcasm]
However you look at the internals to that number. Profit before tax went from 3 mil to 15 mil.
The price we charge per unit went down about 12%. Our volumes went through the roof and and are continuing that trend. On top of that we trimmed our costs of production and overhead.
The other thing is Q2 '05 was our first quarter in the black. Over the last five years we have burned $50 million getting our products up and running.
That puts 500% profit increase in a little perspective.
Back to oil companies.
The relevant questions are:
What was the profit per barrel?
What is the oil companies cost production per barrel?
How many barrels were processed?
What is the historical data on those figures?
What is the total Federal, State and Local taxes per barrel?
Until you can look at those figures total profit is a meaningless figure.
Posted by: JCM on December 5, 2005 04:07 PM
McGavick won't respond to this column or
any other column for the matter.Its because
he doesn't want anyone to know where he stands
on the issues.He knows full well that if they
did the majority wouldn't vote for him.
Don't you find it a little strange that
the three US congressional representatives
Hastings,McMorris and Reichart run out
along with Dino Rossi to endorse McGavick
yet they don't know where he stands on
anything.That people of this stature are
willing to back McGavick without knowing
much about him.That's pretty scary stuff
and all it does is further divide this
party.
Yeah I know Cathy McMorris says there is
a groundswell of grass support happening
in eastern washington.I don't for a minute
believe that.What you have over there is
miss know it all freddie simpson trying
to circumvent the process.You don't ever ask a
county or a state political party to back
any candidate before a primary.
To think that the State vice chair would be
this arrogant is unbelieveable.Some of
you people need to realize that most of
the state party leadership are out for
themselves and not you or I.
I'd like to see more candidates come out. The RNC has stated they ain't gonna raise much dough anyway, what's to fear? The wrath of Chris Vance...giggle-giggle.
Posted by: concerned in Kitsap on December 5, 2005 04:57 PMWhy did your company reduce the price of your product 12%?
Thanks,
Huck
I don't what in the world your talking about.
Susan has done numerous speaking engagements.
The latest was last week.She can't do them
all.Part of what she does for a living requires
her to travel out of state every so often.
Susan can't be everywhere and to the best of
my knowledge hasn't stiffed anyone. What's
important to know is that when Susan does
speaking engagements if asked her postions
on the issues she answers the questions.
Unlike McGavick who doesn't want anyone
to know where stands on anything.
We make computer chips. The cost of the wafer is essential fixed, it cost x to make one doesn't really matter what is on the wafer. The biggest thing is improving yield, the number of good chips on a wafer. The cost of sticking the chip in the package was improved by a couple of cents (at volumes in the millions it adds up).
Add that to other efficiencies it added up.
We could pull the savings off in large part going from startup and high R&D to more full out production type operation.
Like I said the big number doesn't say a lot, you've got to have details.
Posted by: JCM on December 5, 2005 05:55 PMLet's see;
WSRP Fall meeting in Yakima
NFRW annual meeting in Longview several weeks ago
Kitsap GOP have asked her repeatedly for an appearance, no show or even an answer to the inquiry
Those are the base voters. Shinning them on without explaination is foolish. Especially when they wanted to hear from her.
Posted by: concerned in Kitsap on December 5, 2005 05:58 PM
As far as the fall Wsrp meeting was
concerned Vance told another one of his
famed whoppers about Susan.She was at the
time heading back from D.C.Vance never
asked her to speak as he lead everyone there
to believe.He simply invited Susan to
come and observe the proceedings.She told
Vance ahead time she would not be able to
be there.Once again to make her look bad
he didn't bother to tell anyone the truth.
As for the other two meetings I will ask
her about those.Susan has never deliberatly
missed a meeting.Knowing Susan as I do
I know she wouldn't hose anyone.Rest assured
I will find out.If you will still want her to
come to Kitsap I can probably make it happen.
Just let me know when and please give a little
notice to me before hand.Ok
The computer chip business is past competitive to cut throat. We pocket some of the savings and pass the rest to consumers for better market position.
On a sale of millions of units pennies can make the difference in making a sale.
Bottom line selling 10 million units at 5 cents profit is better than selling 1 million at 10 cents profit. And 5 cent difference can make the difference on large sales.
Posted by: JCM on December 5, 2005 06:53 PMCantwell is underhanded & devious; never forget that. She will do anything, ala Hilary, to stay in power. McGavick has his work cut out for him.
Posted by: Clean House on December 5, 2005 07:44 PMI do find myself anxious for Susan to announce she's running. But then again, the only people who are really paying attention right now to this kind of stuff are political junkies like us. We really are in the minority. She's probably wise to hold off until after Christmas.
I heard her speak last week. She got asked a ton of questions on every national issue and she's spot on. If she does enter this race, I'm reminded of that great little book, "A Choice, Not an Echo". She has the potential to really shake things up. I'd love to see her and McGavick in a debate, then her and Cantwell.
Posted by: Republcan In Exile on December 5, 2005 07:58 PMIs the American oil industry competitive?
Posted by: huckleberry on December 5, 2005 09:56 PMShe doesn't want drilling in ANWR; the caribou are more important than us. She doesn't want to build more refineries; she is the quintessential NIMBY. She doesn't want tankers in Puget Sound; the orcas are more important than us. And she wants to punish the oil companies; capitalism is evil of course.
Posted by: Bill K. on December 5, 2005 11:05 PMWhen you consider that gas prices in the US are consistently less than half what European drivers pay, I'd say yes - very competitive!
Posted by: Patrick on December 6, 2005 09:07 AMWhat does the pump price in Europe have to do with price competition in the U.S. market?
I believe America has a competitive oil industry, but I don't mind being reassured with supporting facts from time to time.
Does Maria Cantwell understand any of this? What about the other one, that giant of economics Patty Murray?
Posted by: huckleberry on December 6, 2005 09:34 AMThe KCRP met last night and I can tell you McGavick has lukewarm support. His county chair announced he crossed the million dollar threshold last week, and it didn't generate a positive response at all.
The KCRP county chair has been drug through the sewer, cause he has tried not to rush into McGavick's campaign. He's tried to contact Susan, not any response after we received her blast resume.
The Republican women's group that Susan stood up caused our Chair major grief by the former KCRP chair who is McGavick's county chair and a member of the gals. Susan needs to fix the slight the Republican gals feel.
If she's serious, let 'er rip.
Posted by: concerned in Kitsap on December 6, 2005 01:56 PM
I understand your frustration and I will
resolve this matter in a positive way.
I have been trying to reach Susan but
she is in route to New York.Rest assured
I will speak with her about this matter.
Again knowing Susan there has to be another
side to this whole thing.
Susan isn't the kind of person that
would do what your suggesting.Tell
everyone in Kitsap and the women's
group to be patient a little longer
and I will get this resolved in a
way that makes everyone happy.
Who is Mike McGavick? Part One: McGavick on the issues.