"No, but they give $400 million retirement parachutes. That's the equivalent of giving him the Atlanta Braves franchise ($424 million value) just for retiring. What other "perks" do you think we pay for?" Then I take it you have read and understand "him" ... (L.R. Raymond's) contract and think because of it, gas prices are skyrocketing?
"Let's face facts. With the government-approved mergers of big oil companies, competition is dead. The oil companies are no different than the federal government. One raises taxes. The other raises prices."
Competition to do what? Pay the market price for a barrel of crude? Competition to build refineries that are cost prohibitive in the U.S.?
Your solution would be?
In the same breath you say that throwing $400 mil down this guy's fat throat is fine but building or upgrading a refinery is too expensive? It just doesn't seem sensible for a company to throw away its money like that.
At least a refinery will result in future company growth and profit. Hopefully Exxon won't be whining for a government bailout when oil tanks and they've pissed away their last billion.
"
In the same breath you say that throwing $400 mil down this guy's fat throat is fine but building or upgrading a refinery is too expensive?"
I said no such thing.
BTW ... a little research on your part would indicate building refineries is being stymied by community activists and political opposition, and that the last refinery to be completed in the United States was in 1976.
In the last 25 years, the number of refineries in the United States fell to 149, less than half the number it was in 1981. Can you spell b o t t l e n e c k ? Or perhaps you think the evil oil companies are purchasing crude at pennies per gallon, instead of at the market driven price (last I read was $75.20 per bbl) and are given the oil rigs and equipment through an special agreement with God?
