Originally Posted by
SaltyDog
ewrbasedpilot,
Sadly but often predictably, You draw the wrong conclusions and sneer at us for presenting facts to a serious problem. We all are concerned like you and Mike734. We don't like it either. We all want responsible action. We also don't want the environment trashed, dirty air and water, etc. However, punishing oil companies in the apparent way you desire is mob rule mentality supported by many organizations and politicians solves nothing except to further their own agendas. It does not solve the underlying crisis. It won't even make you feel good for very long <g>. Why? Because the market is not completely in their control. I don't have the answers, but clearly know that "punishing" oil companies is counterproductive. Intellectually, most know this yet still want "revenge". We don't allow oil companies to produce more refineries, we won't let them drill in places known to have oil. The export market has a line of customers for their product that grows daily, and somehow it is the oil companies fault that they make money on a gallon of gas at a profit margin that is in line with other business'. The solutions are very complex and require clear headed collaboration and leadership by many entities. Govt, corporate, and private.
SALTYDOG,
Thanks for the response. I agree with what you're saying, but I find it somewhat misleading that at $50 a bbl, oil companies were making a killing (just last year I might add), and at $100 a bbl, they are STILL only making 10%? I find that hard to believe. Refining costs haven't gone up that much and no one can make me believe they have. The oil companies and speculators are using every little tidbit of news to drive the prices up, yet their are NO REASONS for the prices to be where they are. No hurricanes last year, so why didn't the "$10 hurricane" premium come off? The airlines are constantly *****ed at for such "outrageous" prices, yet they are lower than they were 20 years ago. It reminds me of some of our passengers.....they have NO problem paying Shaq $20,000,000 for three years of basketball, but will balk at you and I working our collective butts off to make $120,000 a year while hauling them around the country. I can't believe so many are thinking the oil company's making the profits they are are okay with them. It's hurting EVERYONE except those in the industry. Don't get me wrong, making a profit is fine, but don't shower your execs with $100 million pensions off everyone in this country is not my idea of the "american way".
