Posted on 04/25/2006 8:52:57 AM PDT by tomnbeverly
Senator questions gas prices Sen. Charles Schumer today questioned the validity of a 40-cent hike in the price of gasoline in the past month and said he would entertain a move to break up the oil-company giants that now control the industry and stifle competition.
Schumer, D-NY, said the fact that there are only four big oil companies now resulting from the merger of the 15 companies that existed in the past accounts for the lack of “real competition” and the increase in prices.
Those mergers were supported in the past by both Democratic and Republican administrations but should be reviewed now under the circumstances, Schumer said at an appearance in Syracuse.
If an investigation produces evidence that the companies are manipulating prices, they should be forced to stop gouging the public and, Schumer said he would “entertain” the idea of breaking up the merged companies.
More Up from Chuck.
HEY SCHUMER, WHY DON'T YOU LET US DRILL IN THE US YOU BIG DOPE????
CAUTION: don't get between him and a mic or TV camera!
UpChuckie is at it again: blowing hot air and making no sense, whatsoever. Par for the course for that buttwiper.
Too late!
How about a breakup of big oil taxes?
For a shakey sleestack-looking geek, he sure talks tough.
Only 4 ? I count over 12 shippers on various pipelines.
Yeah... breaking up the oil companies will do wonders for the newer, smaller oil company's economies of scale...
Let's see... factor in 15 CEO's salary into the price of gas, instead of 4... 15 accounting departments instead of 4... 15 purchasing departments instead of 4... 15 legal departments instead of 4...
While we're at it... maybe we should break up the US Senate...
Well, what did you expect from a hard SOCIALIST? You must have a monopoly before you can break it up, as was the case with MA BELL. Having said that, the oil companies have been merging very rapidly to the point we are down to how many now? 2 or 3 U.S. oil companies??
O Boy! Everytime these idiots propose a break up or deregulation of an industry, it winds up costing us money. Ma Bell and the Cable companies are two examples.
Thats what really bugs me with the liberals.. ANWR could save us from the slavery of mideast oil until we can come up with alternative energy i.e., pracical hydrogen cars.. etc... but they cry over ANWR so their wacky base of tree huggers will feel good about themselves meanwhile we empower the enemy thru oil.....
It worked for Ma Bell.
Chuckie is sounding more and more like that other Communist, Hugo Chavez....
I call for the breakup of big government.
American oil companies own 2% of the world's oil reserves. Break it up!
I really don't think more drilling is the answer anymore. It'll take time, but once we discover an alternative energy source and implement its use across the country, oil companies and oil-producing companies will have to listen more carefully to what we have to say about prices.
Not only that, but oil is a diplomatic tool in our world. Not only that, but it reallyl is one of the only things we have in common with the Arab world. To lose that would be to lose all connection whatsoever.
I have a better idea
Let's break up congress.
While we're at it... maybe we should break up the US Senate...
Best suggestion I have heard. ;)
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