20:37   OYID    Hello, Mr. Iwasaki
20:37   OYID    I have a few questions for you
20:38   OYID    First off: Are you comfortable coming before the House Committee on Un-American Activities?
20:43   LuisIwasaki     I would not describe how I am feeling at present as "comfortable", but I find no particular issue with being here. Save the implication that this committee believes me, the company I work for, or my workers, to be guilty of some fascist association or meaning.
20:46   OYID    All this committee wants is to know the truth, and there has not, to my knowledge, been any mention of Fascist association with SOCAL until now
20:46   OYID    but moving on
20:46   OYID    How long has Standard Oil of California been active in the Mountain States of America?
20:47   LuisIwasaki     Standard Oil began operating here approximately in the mid 1970s. I forget when precisely
20:47   OYID    So it was during a Republican administration?
20:50   LuisIwasaki     I suppose. If you were after the date Standard Oil representative first began surveying in the Mountain States... that date may have been prior to that.
20:50   OYID    What activities does Standard Oil of California carry out in the Mountain States of America?
20:50   OYID    Currently.
20:51   LuisIwasaki     We drill, extract, process and sell, both wholesale and through our own gas stations, crude oil and natural gas products and derivatives.
20:51   OYID    How many people do you employ?
20:53   LuisIwasaki     I don't have those figures to hand. We're a much smaller operation than some of our MS-based competitors. Perhaps you ought to inquire of them as to their affiliations.
20:53   OYID    Perhaps you ought to be better prepared when coming before a congressional committee.
20:54   OYID    Do you not take this investigation seriously?
20:55   LuisIwasaki     I take all serious investigations seriously, sir. I'm just aware to what extent a zealous witch hunt meets that definition
20:55   LuisIwasaki     unaware*
20:56   OYID    So you dismiss this investigation as a witch hunt.
20:56   OYID    Very well.
20:56   OYID    What are your company's future plans in the MSA?
20:57   LuisIwasaki     To make a profit, just like any commercial organisation.
20:58   OYID    To do this, do you plan to expand your presence in the country?
20:58   LuisIwasaki     Yes, of course.
20:59   OYID    When did the first SOCAL surveyors enter the MSA?
21:04   LuisIwasaki     The first Standard Oil representatives entered the Mountain States before my time with the company. However previous records would appear to indicate that preliminary surveying and market assessment reports began sometime in the late 1960s, early 1970s.
21:05   Rep_AndreaHern  Coinciding with growing Right-Wing influence in national politics, interesting.
21:05   Rep_AndreaHern  What is your opinion of the Mountain States of America?
21:05   LuisIwasaki     [[By the way, this is a log of a HUAC hearing, in case you're interested - http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6440/]]
21:05   Rep_AndreaHern  [[looks cool :3]]
21:06   LuisIwasaki     I believe that the Mountain States are a country like any other. It has had its dark moments in its past, but over time the country has recovered. Such as from the abysmal treatment of Japanese immigrants and their descendants. Now one of them sits on this very committee.
21:07   Rep_AndreaHern  Would you say the MSA offers a favorable political and legal environment for foreign businesses, PSA or otherwise?
21:09   LuisIwasaki     I would have said so, once. Your governments have gone to great lengths to encourage economic growth and wholesome outside investment. But here we are.
21:11   Rep_AndreaHern  So the Republican administrations went to great lengths to encourage foreign investment.
21:11   Rep_AndreaHern  Hm.
21:11   Rep_AndreaHern  Why did you buy, as the press says, "smaller wells near the border with the PSA"?
21:12           Rep_RobertGoff chuckles at the former question.
21:13   LuisIwasaki     The market for gas stations in the MSA is very crowded, as you can imagine. Particularly with PAES limitations. Most of our business is done exporting the oil westwards. Hence, near the border.
21:16   Rep_AndreaHern  We've established that SOCAL has opinions about the policies of the government of the MSA, finding some pleasing and some not.
21:16   Rep_AndreaHern  Has Standard Oil California ever done any action directed towards influencing MSA policy? If so, in what form?
21:16   Rep_AndreaHern  carried out* any action
21:18           LuisIwasaki receives a report from his legal representative next to him
21:20   LuisIwasaki     Standard Oil of California has, on occasion, been known to make campaign contributions, both independently and in coordination with other companies.
21:21   Rep_AndreaHern  To what political parties?
21:30   LuisIwasaki     I do not believe I am at liberty to give specifics.
21:31   Rep_AndreaHern  So Standard Oil of California will not disclose the political parties it donates to to this committee.
21:31   LuisIwasaki     Such information is disclosed by candidates, not Standard Oil.
21:31   Rep_AndreaHern  What should the MSA do, in your opinion, to better cater to the interests of SOCAL?
21:33   LuisIwasaki     Congresswoman, if you are concerned regarding this matter, perhaps you ought to pursue campaign finance reform. Otherwise, I cannot help you.
21:34   Rep_AndreaHern  I asked you, Mr. Iwasaki, what do you think the government should do to cater to SOCAL interests. Have the courtesy of asking the question.
21:34   Rep_AndreaHern  answering*
21:35   LuisIwasaki     I am not an elected official of this country, Congresswoman. Perhaps you and your colleagues ought to consider that question. Oh, but you get your money out of oil in other ways, don't you?
21:37   Rep_AndreaHern  Your contempt for our institutions is evident.
21:38   Rep_AndreaHern  What is your opinion of the so-called "Greater United American Way Party"?
21:40   LuisIwasaki     They are a political party like any other, no?
21:41   Rep_AndreaHern  I asked you.
21:41   LuisIwasaki     And you have my answer.
21:42   Rep_AndreaHern  They are a minor party, one that you seem to be aware of.
21:42   Rep_AndreaHern  Defensive of, even.
21:42   Rep_AndreaHern  You speak of past injustices against the Japanese population. What is your opinion, then, of the situation of the Black and Latino peoples in the Pacific States of America?
21:44   LuisIwasaki     You are aware of them too, congresswoman. Perhaps Representative Goff over there, with all that disdain on his face, should launch an investigation into yourself?
21:45   LuisIwasaki     And I have no opinion of the situation in the PSA.
21:46   Rep_AndreaHern  None at all? Would you say the PSA offers a favorable legal and political environment for SOCAL?
21:48   LuisIwasaki     SOCAL is headquartered in the Pacific States, so I would assume that is the case. As you're no doubt aware, I am the Regional Director for the MSA. Higher policy level decisions do not involve me.
21:49   Rep_AndreaHern  Surely you have an opinion.
21:49   Rep_AndreaHern  Which you've given us.
21:50   LuisIwasaki     Is there a question there, congresswoman?
21:50   Rep_AndreaHern  Would you rather the MSA were more like the PSA?
21:54   LuisIwasaki     I would rather the MSA were more like the MSA is supposed to be like, instead of calling company employees before zealous fascist hunters.
21:54   Rep_AndreaHern  So you know what my country is supposed to be like?
21:55   LuisIwasaki     I feel at least one of us should, don't you?
21:58   Rep_AndreaHern  Mr. Iwasaki, you have come before this committee with an attitude of complete arrogance and a total unwillingness to cooperate, refusing to give us even basic statistical information about your company's activities in this country.
21:59   Rep_AndreaHern  The time in which your company has begun operating in the MSA is the same as organized crime, rampant in the Pacific States, has begun its incursion into our peaceful nation.
22:00   LuisIwasaki     Congresswoman Hern, I am here. I am physically present. There's your willingness to cooperate. Beyond that, I doubt the usefulness of worth of these investigations, or the unsubstantiated implications made by this body.
22:00   Rep_AndreaHern  You openly admit to financing MSAmerican politicians and having an preference for governments close to the RIght-Wing.
22:01   Rep_AndreaHern  I have no further questions at this time.
22:01   Rep_AndreaHern  Congressman Goff? It's your witness.