I can list a dozen oil companies that compete against each other for your gas dollar. How does that meet your description of “Corporate conglomerates and Monopolies don’t answer to the people”?
I guess regulation is working, but the list continues to get smaller over time.
No you can't. There isn't a one cent difference in the price of gas at any station in Billings, MT. One goes up, they all go up. One goes down, they all go down, keeping the same price bar none. I can throw a rock from downtown and hit any one of three "competing" refinery's. Many if not all States have a minimum price that any station can charge at the pump, nice FRee Enterprise system you're touting there. Blackbird.