Posted on 07/23/2007 6:17:52 AM PDT by Daffynition
For those idiots (liberals) who think that taking from private companies doesn’t effect consumers.
I am totally in favor of the free enterprise system, without government interference. However, this week we are once again being told that “down time” at several refineries are resulting in a shortage of supply, and our prices are jumping up again. When will this finally stop? Why can’t the oil companies schedule regular maintenance and build additional or even backup facilities to prevent this from happening on a weekly basis? The Alaska oil pipeline was shut down for a leak, then after the public outcry, they suddenly fixed it quickly. Do the oil companies think everyone else is as stupid as the politicians?
They do schedule regular maintenance, but the infrastructure is huge and you can’t predict everything.
Do you think that the oil companies can just build new facilities whenever they want to? They have to jump through all kinds of legal hoops and fight the environmental watchdogs.
And what about all the fuel the government is using to fight the war? And all the fuel these early-bird politiciams are wasting flitting around the country campaigning a year early! I won’t listen to any of them, I’m so disgusted!
Why the hell should they build more capacity, if they read in the papers that Congress is going to mandate x billion barrels of corn-based ethanol fuel, with the intention of replacing petroleum-based gasoline? If you were operated an Italian restaurant, and Congress was talking about mandated Mexican restaurant expansions and additions, would YOU increase your main eating area, at great expense to you?
The NIMBY environmentalist whackos won't let them.
I realize that they do regular maintenance, I just wish they would stop blaming all of the high prices on the refinery issue, when the politicians won’t drill in Alaska and won’t approve new refineries. I am sick and tired of the oil companies making obscene profits at the expense of working people. Enough is enough. If they continue their current pattern, the next administration could very well step back in and start regulating again. Is that what anyone wants?
Incidentally, Congress should decide whether it’s good to consume lots of oil, or to conserve. If consumption is good, then “gouging” should be punished - but if conservation is good, then companies right down to mom-and-pop gas stations that charge excessive prices should be rewarded with Medals of Honor for discouraging consumption, through high prices. Congress is schizophrenic, just like with tobacco - subsidize, and tax.
If oil companies are gouging by making an 8 to 10% margin, then jewelry retailers should drawn and quartered over their 2000 to 5000% markups.
You think they planned on having that leak?
Another reason they don’t build additional capacity is they are banking on the notion that when public outcry gets loud enough, the government will pay for the exansion, rather than the oil companies paying for it themselves.
Making an 8% margin is not obscene. You are only parroting the ignorant MSM and liberal whinings. That's crazy talk.
No, but they wasted no time in jacking up prices across the board. Funny how prices jump up instantly, but it takes weeks to come back down.
PING!
Yeah, a grand conspiracy! /s
In dollar amounts, they are huge. Record profits posted across the board by all the major companies. You are only parroting the oil company talking points.
Make up a graph or chart, making note of when a “crisis” occurs that causes a spike in oil prices. Then graph/chart the decrease later. The delta of the price decrease delays are pure profits.
Now you are being stupid, and talking just my lib/com sister. So, because they are huge companies (and have to be to survive) they should be punished? If they were smaller, their margins would HAVE to be higher, and that would mean higher prices for all of us. Would you prefer they pull a 10% margin or a 40% margin?
See #18.
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