Why does the GOP continue to support subsidies for oil comapnies, yet continue to go after Social Security?

[semitar6]

I find it a little disturbing that at a time when many americans cannot put food on the table for their children, we continue to subsidize a business that makes billions of dollars in profits a year. What sense does it make to give big oil large sums of money when the GOP has gone out of their way to make "spending" on social programs such a issue?

[Teekno]

What oil subsidy? Name one. Just one. I'll wait.

You'll note that someone below posted a list that doesn't actually have any subsidies at all. It has lists of source contracts (so, I guess when I fill up my car, that's a subsidy? No.), and tax deductions available to all businesses.

When someone starts saying that the oil companies get subsidies, ask them to show you just one single part of the tax code that gives special breaks to oil companies. Because that's what a subsidy is -- a tax break targeted towards a specific industry.

It's not a subsidy if EVERYONE gets it. Your neighbor isn't subsidized because he gets to deduct his mortgage interest, because everyone else also get to do it. It's not a subsidy if you're selling a product to the government at market rates. That's like saying your employer subsidizes you.

Don't buy into the hype. Yes,there are lots of problems with the tax code, and the fact that many oil companies (and other companies) pay little if anything in income taxes is a problem. But if you're going to criticize the tax structure, take some time to learn what you're talking about.

There are no oil subsidies. There are tax breaks available to all companies that oil companies use. But no subsidies.

[Tony]

oil companies pay over 50% in taxes

[nostradamus02012]

the gop these days simply deny problems and try to discredit any sources that prove the things they wish to deny.

like the people here who will now state that there are no oil subsidies to repeal.

here's a link to an article with lists out the 15 primary oil subsidies.

http://archive.greenpeace.org/climate/oil/fdsub.html

[Mjǫlnir]

I guess you're just a talking point parrot, and you don't bother to inform yourself whether the talking points are based on facts or not.

First, there are no "subsidies for oil companies". What your puppetmasters are calling "subsidies" are really just standard tax deductions that all businesses are eligible to claim. If you want to remove these standard deductions only for certain businesses, that smacks of being a Bill of Attainder, which is forbidden by the Constitution.

As for SS, the problem is that its cost continues to grow an its annual outlays have surpassed its revenues, and that difference will only increase into the future. To make up the difference, the SS will take money out of the general revenue, or "cash in" a treasury instrument in the lockbox that is payable from... the general revenue. (Isn't it great that we get to get taxed twice for the same Social Security monies?)

The only way to make SS solvent into the future is to either raise the age where people can receive full benefits or make it more needs based, so the truly needy get the assistance they need. Doing nothing is not a sensible or mature option.

Polly want a cracker?

[Jim Unkown]

The GOP supports corporate welfare and the liberals support general welfare, however the GOP supports the fame bill witch includes the liberal food stamp program. No poor American should be starving with school meal programs, and food stamps which in some cases pays up to $900 a month to poor folks with 5 kids.