[marron]

"Equilon" and "Motiva" represented a huge stealth merger between Shell and Texaco.

Outside of the employees I doubt anyone was ever aware of it. Keep in mind, this happened more or less in parallel to the Clinton anti-trust prosecution of Microsoft.

This also happened about the same time as the mega-mergers of Exxon and Mobil, BP and Amoco, BP-Amoco and Arco, etc.

So while Clinton and Gore were publicly chastising the oil companies, they were turning a blind eye to some of the largest mergers in oil company history.

It has not gotten any better since their departure. Chevron has gobbled up Phillips, and Conoco, in addition to its slice of Texaco.

If you will remember your Econ 101, and what happens as competition is reduced...

[discostu]

Everybody who ever bothered to read the back of their Texaco card knew. This card also accepted at Shell stations.