Posted on 01/27/2006 11:27:58 PM PST by VRWC_Member428
I find it strange that gas prices recently dropped to $2.00/gall (in my area, at least), only to creep back up to around $2.50/gall. Sounds like a decrease in consumption caused the companies to back off, and now I'll bet they're slowly raising up prices again trying to stay below some magic number that will cause sales to drop again.
Near the end of the article it mentioned lawmakers trying to impose a windfall tax. What a genius idea... tax the oil company so they have another excuse to raise prices.
As for effects, I, for one, definitely modified my driving habits last year. Several times I wanted to drive around town for some items, but didn't because of the prices. Nor did I take any drives up into the mountains to do stuff I enjoy like hiking and camping. These prices will destroy the american way of life where the car gave us freedom to go out and enjoy this great country. Weekend trips are now all but a thing of the past for me. I feel like I'm a prisoner of gas prices...
Outstanding!
Profits = Good.
Obscene profits = Better still.
Disgustingly shameless and obscene profits = The best.
When they put a gun to your head and make you buy gas.
Pay their asking price, or quit driving. The gas belongs to them, they can ask whatever they want for it. You don't have to buy it.
BTW, do you have any idea how much tax is in a gallon of gas? Did you know it's illegal in most places for the station to tell you how much tax is in the price of gas? Why do you think that is?
Chevron just found more oil in the Gulf.
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2006/01/02/daily11.html
Here in CT its posted right on the pump: 43 cents per gallon.
I have a question: If oil prices are so high how can profits be so high? If they are just passing on the increase in oil prices wouldn't the profit margin stay the same? The oil companies have to pay for the oil, right?
Good question...I'd like to see figures on how much the Oil Traders and OPEC are making off $65 a barrel oil.
The only explanation I can think of is that they are in cahoots with OPEC.
Revenue totaled $53.8 billion, profits $4.14 billion...
~8% profits....yep, obscene...
It seems to me they have just as much ability to price gouge as the oil companies. I read where it costs the Saudis less than $8 bucks to pump a barrel of oil out of the ground...At a whim they can go from selling at 10 bucks to 65 bucks.
Exxon makes much more money from oil production (about 2.5 million barrels a day) than it does from refinery operations.
Where did I say "obscene"?
You were next in line on thread... I was extrapolating the normal crying on these threads...
Their profits are up because their CGS has remained constant while the retail price has increased dramatically. The price increase in an open market has been brought on by increased demand from Eastern Europe, China, and India. More bidders for oil means a higher price. ECON 101
It's illegal here in WI. If I was a station owner, and I could, I'd have a display at every pump. One for gas price, one for tax, and another for the total. That would really open peoples eyes.
Oil company profits have consistently been between 4%-8%. For any other industry that would be conceded marginal, at best.
This "report" is more MSM BS aimed at the economically uneducated mases to push their anti capitalist, collectivism agenda.
You can't "think" of any other explanation because you just "know" and "feel" that they are deliberately screwing you because you've bought into the socialists arguments that big companies are evil by virtue of the fact that they make a profit.
Your problem is you aren't trying to think, you're trying to affix BLAME to someone. And your feelings lead you to the inevitable conclusion that the "blame" must rest with the guy making money.
$.43 per gallon. Now that is price gouging!
And, you can't have a civil discourse with someone. A$$hat.
So? That gives you the right to puts words in my post? It must be hard to be as wonderful as you.
Ok...
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