[Young Scholar]

The oil companies or more of a drain on the American economy than an asset because they drive up the costs for almost every other business in the country.

Definitely. Let's nationalize them, and make their executives switch to a job where they do an honest day's work on an oil rig or something for the first time in their lives. And if they refuse they can give back all their bonuses since 2000, when they first started gouging American consumers.

[ConTex]

Funny, around 2000 is when they all consolidated so bad. (clinton timeframe). Look at the companies then and now. You'll see a lot of the increase in prices right there.

[KevinDavis]

Nationalize the gas companies?? Are you insane??

[Naptowne]

I think you missed my point. They essentially are nationalized because there is no competition among the oil companies. They are monopolies and should be broken up so that there is competition. All of the people on this thread who claim high oil prices are the result of free market capitalism don't know what a free market is. OPEC and the oil companies make sure that a free oil market is an oxymoron. I suppose some people on this thread think the high price of diamonds and cocaine is the result of free markets.

[SteveMcKing]

"Let's nationalize them, and make their executives switch to a job where they do an honest day's work on an oil rig or something for the first time in their lives. And if they refuse they can give back all their bonuses since 2000, when they first started gouging American consumers."

The problem with this plan is that it is stealing.

You are also suggesting some kind of slavery, where one's freedom can only be earned by returning wages that were earned legally.