[Alberta's Child]

Unless I've missed something in the last 30 years, there is no patent on oil -- so your comparison is silly and pointless.

Oil companies are in one of the least profitable industries in the U.S. In fact, I made the case on a thread last week that if I were a professional investor I'd be selling a lot of Exxon/Mobil stock right now.

[Boiling point]

So, let me get this straight, you are trying to tell me that the oil companies are testifying before congress because they are loosing money?