"IN THE NEWS"

[IIronman]

The whole world is hurting..makes you crinche!
The Associated Press: High gas prices hit consumers worldwide

[rebel]

Not a word on BBC about fuel strike in England. Guess their media doesn't like to talk about either.

[Greyfoxx]

Bikers stop motorways in fuel protest


Hundreds of bikers brought busy motorways to a near-standstill yesterday in protest at the ever-rising cost of fuel.
As many as 500 gathered near Manchester early in the morning before forming the slow-moving convoy, causing massive rush-hour queues.

The protest, which came after lorry drivers held a similar rally in London last month, was organised by just two motorbike riders, with word spread by text message and over the internet.

Around 1,500 bikers are taking part in the protest, understood to be led by two protesters, known only as Maverick and Triumph Man
Police closed all three lanes of the westbound M62 between Rochdale and Manchester to allow the riders to join from Birch services, where they had gathered.
Supported by taxis, lorries and even an ice cream van, they crawled along the motorway at just 15mph, delaying rush-hour drivers by around half-an-hour.
Many motorists honked their horns in support and supporters waved and gave thumbs-up as the convoy passed by, working its way around the M60, onto the M602 and finally finishing in Salford Quays.
It is the latest in a series of protests as petrol prices have soared to an average of £1.15-a-litre, around half of which is made up of tax, according to the AA.

Commuters faced chaos in Greater Manchester this morning as bikers led a rush-hour fuel protest along the M60 at Junction 16
The protesters have called on the Government to scrap VAT on fuel.

Afterwards one of the organisers, known only as "Maverick", said: "This has turned out better than I expected, it's absolutely fantastic.
"To be honest, I'd be happy with ten. The amount that turned out today, I can't thank those guys enough, they've really helped to get the word out."
Protester Eric Curren, 56, said: "I've been biking for the last 40 years and it's never been this bad. I don't have any other means of transport so it's essential for me to get about."

Onlookers wave their support to the protesters
A 42-year-old rider from Bradford who gave his name as "Bobcat" said: "It used to cost me just £7 to fill up the bike. Now it costs £15.
"It doesn't sound like much to pay but it really cuts down on where I can go. Biking is my hobby. It's a great hobby and I don't see why I should be penalised."
Onlooker Gary Hutchinson, 47, a technical support worker from Gorton, said: "I totally back them. Fuel duty in this country is outrageous - the Government are making a killing on the back of the motorists.
"I hope that people continue to protest like this and that the government start listening to us."
And Salford garage owner Michael Cleary, 56, said: "I think it's brilliant. It's a pity they're not blocking off Downing Street and London too."
Police said around 20 lorry drivers who took part in the protest broke away from the group and drove more slowly than had been agreed in advance. They were issued with warnings and told they could have their vehicles seized.
The bikers had hoped to lead their convoy into the centre of Manchester, but were prevented from doing so by Highways Agency staff, and in protest they stopped their engines and blocked the M602 for a further ten minutes.
A spokesman for the Highways Agency said the convoy had "clearly caused some disruption" but that this had been kept to a minimum.
"It is hard to tell exactly what impact this had but it is fair to say the rush hour has been extended by at least half an hour and drivers trying to join the motorway have had to wait," he added.
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "The vast majority of those taking part have expressed their views in a way that was agreed with police, that was safe for motorists and that caused minimum disruption."
The Treasury has made a windfall of more than £1billion on petrol since the last Budget in March as a result of record oil prices, leading to calls for a hike in fuel duty planned for October to be postponed.


Fuel Protest Bikers Jam M62 Motorway - Congoo

[BANDIT]

Hey Ya'll, haven't been here in awhile due to some personal problems. I notice there are some changes that have been made and from what I've read, some new rules to go by. Like in anything, there are some I agree with, and others I think are dead wrong. I won't get into that here. What I do want to get into here is:: Can any of you read the post above from GreyFoxx?.....CAN YOU READ IT?....If not, CAN YOU AT LEAST SEE THE PICTURES?....Maybe someone can explain to me why it is that when someone Wrongs a black person, the entire black population jumps up and raises hell. When someone Wrongs a homosexual, the entire gay community jumps up and raises hell. When someone Wrongs an animal PETA and all the rest of the animal lover groups raise hell. When someone Wrongs a child, Everyone Raises Hell. Why then, When someone Wrongs all the Truckers and their Wives, and Their Children isn't EVERYONE OF YOU TRUCKERS RAISING HELL? Why is it that everyone else in this country can band together and fight for what they believe in and all you big, strong, tough, truckers can't even fight for your own families welfare. Just look at the post above that Foxx put up here, and all of you hang your heads in shame, because that is how sorry ya'll are. If ya'll can't get up and fight for your own self-respect, or your families well being, you are all truly SHAMEFUL. And I'm Sorry BullWinkle, but right now the big damn issue is OIL....If you can't buy the damn fuel to run the trucks, none of the other issues mean a damn thing. Right now it's the damn OIL that is breaking everyones backs. Not Mexicans, Not insurance, Not DOT checks, None of that,,,,,,It's OIL...The Cost Of Gas & Diesel Fuel...And If you don't put a stop to it and do it fast, You don't need to worry about all the rest.......You'll need to hope they don't run out of Welfare money so your families can keep eating. Sorry about blowing off like this after just getting back here, but Ya'll need to wake the hell up and get real. Stop being a bunch of pussies and do something....Don't ask your politicians to do it for you, they don't give a damn about you unless they're up for re-election. Get up and SHUT THIS DAMN COUNTRY DOWN....
They just gave us all a GREAT BIG KICK IN THE BALLS today...Price of OIL.....over $138 a barrel. The Biggest one day jump in history. If you don't think it's about OIL, you really need to get a reality check. Someone help me here, isn't there anyone who can lead this bunch of ball-less truckers to revolt. What does someone have to do to really piss ya'll off? Tell me, and I'll do it, just to get your asses in gear to get something done for your families if not for yourselves. This industry and your families can't wait for 90 days, or 30 days, or even 10 days..You Need To SHUT THE DAMN COUNTRY DOWN NOW......How Many Times Are You Going To Let Them Kick You In The Balls Before You Realize It HURTS?.......

[rebel]

Now you're talkin. I was born with a big pair and ain't skeered to use'em. Hadn't thought about pissin off all the truck drivers. Hmmmm. Maybe I'll hang an insulting sign on my p/u (something about their mother and you're all a bunch of p_ssy so and so) and get a couple hundred chasing me. Then just haul ass to D.C. or Exxon HQ and say , "they paid me to do it!"

[IIronman]

The News are bringing NOTHING about this crap...I was expecting this morning it would be all over..Crap..same old that nobody cares about Clinton, Obama and McCain..this was the biggest spike in HOISTORY..soo ignoire it and it will go away?? I was reading oil watchdog and like what they have to say!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Consumer Watchdog’s recommendations include:


-- White House action to sell some of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which contains the highest-demand oil known as light, sweet crude.

--Closing the Enron Loophole in commodity trading regulation. A regulatory measure in the federal farm bill (S.2058 by Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Carl Levin) would help stop speculative oil pricing. The huge omnibus bill was returned to Congress to fix an error in the version that president Bush vetoed last month. Now the repaired bill has to be passed by the House and Senate again, Bush has vowed to veto it again, and then the House and Senate must override the veto, wasting yet more time. (See more on Enron Loophole and farm bill amendment at Oil Watchdog: Articles )

--Increase in margin funds that traders must put up in energy markets to help suppress speculation. Currently, traders only have to put up 5% to 7% of the worth of the purchase, instead of the 50% required on stock trading. This makes it cheap to speculate.

-- Senate approval of an alternative fuels bill funded by withdrawing $1.8 billion a year in unjustified taxpayer subsidies to oil companies. This measure, passed by the House, was not taken up in the Senate, where opponents used a filibuster tactic to require 60 votes for passage. A similar House measure was removed from the federal energy bill by the Senate last year under pressure from the oil lobby. (Find text of HR 5351 at THOMAS (Library of Congress) )

-- Oversight of refinery operations, including regulation of national gasoline supplies. In the last decade, the average on-hand supply of gasoline has dropped from 30 days’ worth to about 22 days. This makes prices increasingly sensitive to any cuts in production. Only government regulation to control the supply of gasoline, nationally and regionally, will keep supplies adequate to control prices.
-30-

[BANDIT]

My Dad Told Me A Very Long Time Ago, There Are Two Simple Sayings You Need To Follow In Life To Make It. The First Was:: "There Are Two Things You Never Screw With And We'll Be Fine, My Family, And My Money". The Second Was:: "Screw Me Once, Shame On You. Screw Me A Second Time, SHAME ON ME". I Believe It's Time That We All Take A Long Close Look At Them Both And DO SOMETHING ! !

[rebel]

If you read the last line of the England biker protest they say this was done according to law so everbody's happy with it. That's the problem. We're gonna have to piss off a bunch of people to get any action. It's sad, it could be hard to control, but it's true.

[lunachic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BANDIT My Dad Told Me A Very Long Time Ago, There Are Two Simple Sayings You Need To Follow In Life To Make It. The First Was:: "There Are Two Things You Never Screw With And We'll Be Fine, My Family, And My Money". The Second Was:: "Screw Me Once, Shame On You. Screw Me A Second Time, SHAME ON ME". I Believe It's Time That We All Take A Long Close Look At Them Both And DO SOMETHING ! !

Hi Bandit,
Driver's are talking, it's making the trip, C.B.
First of all Rebel,
trust me on this not a good Idea.
Dont go and try to piss them off.
The mood is bleak, And they are much bigger then you.
The talk on the radio is they feel we are heading for a civil war, (American)
What I have tried to express over and over again is our problems lie much deeper then Oil.
Yes fuel is a concern, But so much more is involved.
You are going after companies that hold goverment contract's.
as the union let me pose a question,or two.
Why would they care, Who is this hurting as far as trucking.
The smaller companies and the O/O.
What is hurting us and putting us under?
let's leave it open now as to answers.
And I posted this in the wrong place but don't know how to move it.

[BANDIT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel If you read the last line of the England biker protest they say this was done according to law so everbody's happy with it. That's the problem. We're gonna have to piss off a bunch of people to get any action. It's sad, it could be hard to control, but it's true.

Sorry rebel, I don't see where it says what they did was according to law. I see where it says the police threatened about 20 truckdrivers with citations, giving them warnings, and that when the bikers couldn't go where they wanted they turned off their engines and sat there blocking the road until the police agreed. The way I read it, it says they protested in a manner that was agreeable with the police not necessarily within the law. In all reality, the only way you are going to get anything done or changed in this country right now, is to MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE. You are going to have to disrupt life totally before you even get anyones attention. I don't know how many times I have to say that before it sinks in. I've said it over and over and I'm not sure anyone understands. We need someone to make a lot of noise for the truckers, and for the American people in general. No offense to all of you black folks here, but, what happens when a person who is black is treated badly? In comes Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton, jumping up and down making a whole lot of noise and getting everyones attention. We need a Jessie or Al to jump up and make noise for US. The squeakie wheel gets the grease ! You truckers, if anyone should know that. You don't go through the trouble of greasing alot of parts till you start hearing them squeak. I can promise you that we are going to get absolutely nothing by making the government happy and following and obeying all the laws. Keep doing things their legal way, and you'll be living in cardboard under a bush outside the capitol building very soon.

[BANDIT]

Hi Luna, I guess I posted in the wrong place too, but I'm not sure there is a right place here anymore, If there is, I guess I'm just not sure which is the right place. Sorry, guess I'm just not a happy camper right now. You're right that there are many more issues for us truckers luna, but the way they are using this fuel cost thing, they are making it to where we literally can't afford to fight any of the other problems. If we can't afford to buy fuel to run the trucks, none of the other problems matter. We are going to be sitting in the driveway and standing in the welfare line. And at the back of the line I might add. I can't afford $5 a gal. fuel. I can't afford the cost of insurance, or the highway use taxes, or the cost of tires, or to haul freight for $1 a mile, but the bottom line is, If I can't afford the fuel to make the truck run, none of the rest is a worry anymore. Am I making any sense? We have to stop this game that they are playing with the cost of fuel before we can get to the real problems that have existed in our industry for many years. Right now it is the cost of black gold that is putting us out of business, plain and simple.

[rebel]

We're in agreement, Bandit. The English like to be a little too polite sometimes.
And luna, I'm crazy, not stupid. I was just joking, anyway I wasn't gonna let them catch me. When you're small ya gotta be fast.

[lunachic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel We're in agreement, Bandit. The English like to be a little too polite sometimes. And luna, I'm crazy, not stupid. I was just joking, anyway I wasn't gonna let them catch me. When you're small ya gotta be fast.

lol,What do you drive?
yea, but for real, people are screwing with them.
some talk about the tanker accident that shut down 95, the driver put the rig over the bridge. To save 4 wheelers lives.
The car lost controll, the roads were wet,Most people in panic would have turned from the wall.This hero of the road did'nt.

[lunachic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BANDIT Hi Luna, I guess I posted in the wrong place too, but I'm not sure there is a right place here anymore, If there is, I guess I'm just not sure which is the right place. Sorry, guess I'm just not a happy camper right now. You're right that there are many more issues for us truckers luna, but the way they are using this fuel cost thing, they are making it to where we literally can't afford to fight any of the other problems. If we can't afford to buy fuel to run the trucks, none of the other problems matter. We are going to be sitting in the driveway and standing in the welfare line. And at the back of the line I might add. I can't afford $5 a gal. fuel. I can't afford the cost of insurance, or the highway use taxes, or the cost of tires, or to haul freight for $1 a mile, but the bottom line is, If I can't afford the fuel to make the truck run, none of the rest is a worry anymore. Am I making any sense? We have to stop this game that they are playing with the cost of fuel before we can get to the real problems that have existed in our industry for many years. Right now it is the cost of black gold that is putting us out of business, plain and simple.

I agree Bandit, but our problems started again around 05, It's only now that it is hurting the general public that they have become involved.
That is why they cant understand the issue's pass the oil.
Even if we do manage to win the gov. fight with oil.
it wont help us with the issues we are dealing with, and then how many will still be here fighting for us.
Have great respect for all of you but what will be your next battle with us?

[BANDIT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunachic I agree Bandit, but our problems started again around 05, It's only now that it is hurting the general public that they have become involved. That is why they cant understand the issue's pass the oil. Even if we do manage to win the gov. fight with oil. it wont help us with the issues we are dealing with, and then how many will still be here fighting for us. Have great respect for all of you but what will be your next battle with us?

You're probably right Luna, if and when we win this battle about the cost of gas and diesel fuel, the general public will go on about their business as usual and leave us here to fight our own battles of the industry by ourselves. That's just the way it is in this country anymore. If it doesn't directly get into their pocket, it isn't really important to them. It didn't used to be that way to the people of this country, but it damn sure is now. People today don't give 2 damns about anyone but themselves. If you go belly up, they'll stand shoulder to shoulder to get a bargain on all your stuff when they auction it all off to pay your bills. Like blood sucking leaches. Welcome to the good ole USA where people care about each other and fight for each other......ha, ha, ha. Now That's Funny,,,,I don't care who ya are.....That's Funny. So damn funny it makes me sick to my stomach.

[lunachic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BANDIT You're probably right Luna, if and when we win this battle about the cost of gas and diesel fuel, the general public will go on about their business as usual and leave us here to fight our own battles of the industry by ourselves. That's just the way it is in this country anymore. If it doesn't directly get into their pocket, it isn't really important to them. It didn't used to be that way to the people of this country, but it damn sure is now. People today don't give 2 damns about anyone but themselves. If you go belly up, they'll stand shoulder to shoulder to get a bargain on all your stuff when they auction it all off to pay your bills. Like blood sucking leaches. Welcome to the good ole USA where people care about each other and fight for each other......ha, ha, ha. Now That's Funny,,,,I don't care who ya are.....That's Funny. So damn funny it makes me sick to my stomach.

I wont fight for them unless they fight with us..................

[Greyfoxx]

Welcome back Bandit, you've been missed.

I keep thinking back to my Union days with the UAW and the IBEW. We paid our Union dues for the privilege of having someone on the front lines to fight the fight. But look around jobs are pouring out of the country like water, why because the Corporate Tower of Babylon have convinced the working class that it's the Unions that are corrupt, but if it wasn't for the Unions our sons and daughter would still be working in the textile mills starting at age 6. And anyone who doesn't believe that have been brainwasted, and don't know crap from apple butter.

I remember when I worked at Ford back in the 60's, the Union would only strike when both sides could not to an agreement. Then there were the times when a Union Stewart found a good reason to walk thought the plant blowing a whistle calling out "WILDCAT" and every machine would shut down and everyone would all walk out of the plant. We didn't wait 90 days. Lord, we kicked the crap out of the English in two wars, and we can't get it together to put a shutdown together in less than 90 days? It's a wonder we're not all driving on the wrong side of the road and talking with an English accent.

I think to get the job done we need to diversify, jam the boycott and shutdown (or slowdown?) down their throats at the same time, and by pinching and poking relentlessly, by calling a liar a liar when they preach their corporate propaganda. I thought the 4th of July shutdown would have been more symbolic, and I still think that. We need to contact the Teamsters and see what they are planning, if anything, or how they can help the O/Os put a real shutdown together along with any other groups wanting to voice their anger at the way the economy is being handled by the do nothing Congress. The powers to be are trying to get rid of the owner operators truckers, and let the "wetback-truckers" take over the highways for pennies on the dollar?

I know that in any fight for justice there are those who are placed among the troops by the enemy to sabotage the fight, to confuse the issues, to divide the troops. Remember the truth is the enemy of the state and corporate world, and don't for a minute forget that the truth is on our side, that we can win if we keep it simple by repeating the truth, by not confusing the issue with bickering. We have the truth, they only have lies.

We've fought wars for less reason than to protect the freedoms guaranteed in "OUR" Constitution. We've destroyed nations and people in the name of the Military Industrial Complex, and for want, so that the filthy rich and their political lackeys can now dictate who lives or dies in America, so that they can decide which of us will be flushed down the corporate toilet to maintain their insane greed! There is a new book out titled "The Uprising", telling of those who have had enough of the filthy rich detecting who will live and who will die in the name of their right to rape an plunder this nation. It makes for good bedtime reading. There is a revolution going on in America, We can join it, or get ran over by it.

[Greyfoxx]

Yesterday I got the video message out to the Newsrooms of NBC, CNN, CBS, and FOX Snews.

[Greyfoxx]

[quote=Greyfoxx;17281]

Welcome back Bandit, you've been missed.

[Greyfoxx]

Keep the Video moving....

Energy - C-SPAN