US/Israel Launches Op Epic Fury Against Iran (5 Viewers)

[Deitz]

Yeah, I have looked this up many times as it is irritating. Basically, considered commodity risk, so they legally draw the line this way to "prevent" price gouging................huh? As I have said many times, you literally just can't make any of this up when common sense situations turn political.

I think I mentioned this before - in Maryland up until last year, we were able to shop our electric distribution on the market, and I had a contract with Dominion for about 7 years at an average of 7.8 cents/kw. Wes Moreless came into power and the passed Protect Maryland Consumer Act (some dumb name) which now makes it impossible for other suppliers to sell into Maryland. Dominion notified me that my contract ended and they would not renew............so now I am stuck with 1 option - BGE - the price is now 13.9cents/kw and rising. Like I said, you can't make it up, but they are protecting me.

Message for Mike, Jason and other Texans - you may want to complain about certain things happening in your State or the weather, but in all seriousness, be thankful you live there as it is much more expensive and worse policies in a good majority of other States (of course not all, so Floridians, Kentucky, Carolinas and Georgians on here don't yell at me!). Another of my cousins just moved there in the last few years, he was originally Maryland, then Delaware (which is not bad except for Winter). He continually reminds me of his savings and he has sticker shock when he visits me in Maryland. If you all ever want to read about factual comparisons of States, there is an annual report put out by the Tax Foundation, it is non-partisan. IT compares a myriad of data points and you would not believe the costs in the ten most expensive States.

Last year ten worst States (cost wise)
41. Massachusetts
42. Hawaii
43. Vermont
44. Minnesota
45. Washington
46. Maryland
47. Connecticut
48. California
49. New Jersey
50. New York

Comment - I believe New York became the worst in 2025 flip flopping with California from 2024. NJ stayed steady at 2nd worst.
Last year ten Best States

1. Wyoming
2. South Dakota
3. Alaska
4. Florida
5. Montana
6. New Hampshire
7. Texas
8. Tennessee
9. North Dakota
10. Indiana

Now to be fair, 11 thru about 30 are now terrible either. It is really the last 20 that rise dramatically. Also for the board Illinois is 37. Kentucky is 22. North Carolina is 12.

Tom

I thought Illinois would be in the 40s.

 

[Combat]

I meant today, because of nukes...

The US has paid to defend S. Korea for 70 years and counting. We continue to do so until the present day. I think we have done plenty in that context while no one else has done anything. Not sure what point you are trying to make. If you are trying to argue that it makes no sense to single out Iran from other bad guys to get attacked, that doesn't work. Iran sits in the midst of a region that supplies most of the world's oil. If they had a nuclear weapon and used it on Israel, it could be the end of times.

 

[damian]

I am not saying you are not broaching on good points. However, the part of history that is being glossed over is that no matter what Israel does/did in Gaza and the West Bank is that the rockets never stopped firing from those arears not did the suicide vests stop exploding.

My point is everyone wants to blame the current Israeli leadership, but it is hard to blame them IMO. Every peace offering over the last nearly 80 years has been eventually met with rockets that Israel didn't invite. If I were them, I would be aggressive also. The current press and opposition likes to omit the fact that again, no matter what course Israel took in the past, it was met with Rocket fire. I am not generalizing or trying to excuse the colonialization, just stating a fact that gets lost.

Tom

Israel has to remain a democratic Sparta for all time. Armed to the teeth and ever vigilant. If they let their guard down for a minute they get attacked.

 

[OzDigger]

Meanwhile in Australia: