I don't have any problems with it. And no, I don't like paying $3 per gallon of gas. What am I, personally doing about it? Using energy more wisely.

 

An excellent question that many here obviously refuse to consider.

 

Good Point. There's lots of things we could do about it, unfortunately if you live 50 miles from work and have a 16mpg vehicle it's going to hurt.

But that's HARDLY the oil companies fault...

 

They are not taking advantage of anyone. You do not have to buy their product. Walk to work, car pool or buy gas from a competiter. Or do what I did and buy a 13 year Honda Civic. Yes I use my Civic at work all the time. i do not need to drive my work truck to work everyday. Most people dont want to change to save money. Its much easier to sit around and bitch and complain and blame someone else for their lifestyle. Gas use is starting to decrease nationwide and this will eventually drive the price down some.

 

Let me get this straight. You drive a Honda Civic which doesn't use fuel? Or are you implying you are not contributing to their 10% profit?

Sales of SUVs have dropped over the last couple of years due to high gas prices. So why has the gas price risen?

There are many holes in your statements.

 

You don't have a problem with it? Your attempt to save energy makes little difference to their bottom line as the higher prices compensate for their lower sales.

Don't forget, the oil companies enjoy a collective monopoly, much like the banks.

Something has to be done IMO but how is anything going to get done when the governments all over the world make significant revenue from oil sales?

 

Are reading any of my posts. I am an electrical contractor. I used to drive my Dodge Ram to work everyday. It gets 15 mpg. My Civic gets 45mpg. It doesnt take a genius to realize I cut my gas bill by 2/3.
No offense but you have not got a clue how this all works when it comes to gas prices. If you think the price of gas has everything to do with SUV's you really are ignorant. The main reason is about 2.5 billion people in India and China also want the same oil the rest of the world wants, and will pay a premium for it. Its quite simple supply and demand.
So in your eyes how would you determine how much Exxon should make? Should this apply to all business's or just oil companies? And who should be the one who decides how much companies are allowed to make?
You dont like oil companies dont buy gas, or use alot less of it, like I did by buying a more fuel efficient car.

 

Correct.

This is much like voting, huh? My puny little vote makes virtually no difference, so why bother?

Nice line of logic.

Ok. And they thrive because we thirst for their product.

Well I'm sure we'll just get the Gov't more involved and they'll "fix" all our ills. Has worked great in the past.

The ONLY thing I'd like to see done is any and all subsidies and tax breaks taken away. Beyond that, let that evil free market do its thing.

 

Like what? Have Exxon work for a loss? How would you like to go to work and have them say we are paying you to much, you need to work for a lot less.

 

OK I'm done with you. You talk in circles. I will not be able to have a good debate here.

 

Are you kidding? I asked you what you would do and this is the best you can up with? Why dont you try and debate instead of just bitching and whining about Exxon. Did you even make a valid point in this whole thread?

 

In the face of higher fuel prices, he took action instead of whining, complaining but otherwise doing nothing. What kind of vehicle do you choose to drive again? If the simple concept of individual responsibility and living within your means flies completely over your head then you have a real problem.

 

Prices depend on supply and demand. Strangely enough, SUV sales volumes are not the only factors in this equation - it is possible, for example, for demand to increase even if SUV sales drop.

The reason for that can be found in your bathroom mirror.

 

OK you win.

It's this point where I feel you missed the boat. You did not address the article in the FIRST post of this thread. You instead chose to go off on a tangent to bring India and China into this. Is that your real conclusion as I don't see how Exxon could make money off India and China. The article clearly states that high oil prices were a reason for the huge profit.

Can you see why I believe I'm wasting my breath debating this with you (no offence, btw?).

No, he didn't take action. He did not state in any way how he reduced his dependency on oil. He is still dependent on oil by driving a Civic. He is only attempting to reduce his fuel bill even though he is continuing to make the oil barons prosper. NEWSFLASH: A small vehicle does not stifle profits made by oil companies. Oil companies know that and they will compensate.

First point I don't agree with entirely - I'm a skeptic on a lot of things where companies make huge profits when the economy is supposedly bad - certain entities made huge gains during the great depression, for example - the rich are almost immune to economic downturns.

Second point, I can agree with.

 

The invisible hand stole my wallet