Fuel for Thought

Big

I cannot remember when I first heard the term Big Oil, but it is definitely a term that has been around for quite some time. Apparently, Big Oil is responsible for not only destroying the planet in search of profits, but also (according to some of the theories) they are responsible for suppressing oil and fuel supply lines to artificially elevate consumer prices, also in the name of more record profits. 

Big Pharma is another term loosely thrown around for years. Just as with Big Oil, the theories on Big Pharma seem to lean toward nefarious reasons why the medical community, or more specifically, the pharmaceutical companies operate under sinister business practices to elevate profits above treating patients with proper drugs or proper medical care. 

Along with their business practices, these companies have significant economical and political influences as well. 

There is Big Tobacco. There is Big Soda. Also Big Steel. And Big Tech rounds out the group of “Big” companies with interesting theories from some of the population toward their motives and business acumen. As much as some complain about Big Tech, they sure do use that technology (provided by Big Tech) to share their dislike for them.

Lately, we have seen deficiencies in the supply chain. Keeping certain items available for the consumer can be challenging at times. One day there may be a shortage of one product, and the next it may be something different that is unavailable to purchase.

There has been a lot of commotion about the shortage of eggs. The price for a dozen eggs has doubled, tripled and even quadrupled in some areas, while they are just not available in other places. 

I can almost hear the conspiracy theories cropping up from this. The claims that egg companies are holding back supplies to artificially elevate prices. As we all know, when prices go way up, they only come part way back down. Those $2 a dozen eggs that are now $7 a dozen will look like a bargain when the price drops back to $4 or $5 a dozen. What will the conspiracy theorists call this one… Big Chicken?

I guess the moral of the story is that some people want “stuff” without consequences. There are always consequences, good and bad or even both. Remember Sir Isaac Newton’s third law - For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you want petroleum based products, there will need to be oil taken from the earth. If you want drugs for what ails you, they will have to be found, formulated, tested and dispensed. If you want to eat omelets, you will have to crack some eggs.

A corporation's primary goal is to make money. Government's primary role is to take a big chunk of that money and give it to others. 

- Larry Ellison

See you down the road,

Greg