F... gas prices

[skinsguy]

Sorry, but I can't see how anybody in their right minds would be making excuses for the oil companies. They are making profits hand over fist. I don't care what the reason is for the increased gasoline and other fuel prices, it's ridiculous and needs to end.

[Alvin Walton]

$4.29 here now.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Sorry, but I can't see how anybody in their right minds would be making excuses for the oil companies. They are making profits hand over fist. I don't care what the reason is for the increased gasoline and other fuel prices, it's ridiculous and needs to end.

But its not the oil companies' faults.

If you want to blindly blame something blame opec. At least most of the oil companies are American businesses, dont you want American businesses to make money? If there were more and smaller oil companies and their profit dollars (not margins) were smaller would that take away any blame you would place on oil companies?

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

But its not the oil companies' faults.

If you want to blindly blame something blame opec. At least most of the oil companies are American businesses, dont you want American businesses to make money? If there were more and smaller oil companies and their profit dollars (not margins) were smaller would that take away any blame you would place on oil companies?

Wait a minute! I'm not just blindly blaming the oil companies. I realize it all starts with OPEC and these stupid speculators that are running up the costs of oil out of fear. But let's not be stupid or naive, oil companies here in America are also making nifty profits. Don't just throw out the "Don't you want American businesses to make money" card. There is a huge difference in this situation. The difference is that this country lives and dies on oil for fuel. Everything hinges on this. Everything. And because these fuel prices have gotten out of hand in such a short amount of time, AMERICAN companies have either had to raise prices sky high on their products, or have gone out of business. It's one thing if the price of oil had naturally risen over a decade or so. I understand that inflation will eventually force all price tags to go higher, but you're talking a way dramatic increase in prices in a short amount of time. Maybe you're well off, making six figures a year or come from a wealthy family; but in the real world, with real people who are struggling to get by, the rising prices of oil is detrimental to those people's livelihood.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Wait a minute! I'm not just blindly blaming the oil companies. I realize it all starts with OPEC and these stupid speculators that are running up the costs of oil out of fear. But let's not be stupid or naive, oil companies here in America are also making nifty profits. Don't just throw out the "Don't you want American businesses to make money" card. There is a huge difference in this situation. The difference is that this country lives and dies on oil for fuel. Everything hinges on this. Everything. And because these fuel prices have gotten out of hand in such a short amount of time, AMERICAN companies have either had to raise prices sky high on their products, or have gone out of business. It's one thing if the price of oil had naturally risen over a decade or so. I understand that inflation will eventually force all price tags to go higher, but you're talking a way dramatic increase in prices in a short amount of time. Maybe you're well off, making six figures a year or come from a wealthy family; but in the real world, with real people who are struggling to get by, the rising prices of oil is detrimental to those people's livelihood.

I absolutely agree that this county lives and dies on oil and everything hinges on it. But as demand and use of oil grows oil companies are bound to make more profits, I don’t understand why they should be vilified for that when I don’t think they share any of the blame. Its not their faults demand for oil is high and continues to grow and supply isn’t infinite. I am not well off and make nowhere near 6 figures a year, nor do I come from a wealthy or well off family in the least. I consider myself a real person and im very much affected by fuel prices and feel for others like me and you.

Things to blame for oil prices (in my opinion):

OPEC (completely illegal in our country, but they own us as long as we need oil)
Obama Administration’s policies on drilling & leasing
Current Monetary Policy (apparently the dollar aint worth a dollar anymore)
Speculators
Perennial Unrest in the Middle East (wearing my Peace in the Middle East shirt all those years didn’t do shit)
Refinery building restrictions
Lack of alternatives
Danny Snyder
Emerging Market growth aka China aka Foreigners (it turns out other people like oil too)
Summer
Big cars/trucks
Long commutes/lifestyles
Ourselves