Are we being gouged at the pump by the oil companies?
360118
The oil companies set a new record for profits every 3 months.Of course they are gouging us.Most businesses lose money when costs soar,they dont make extra profit but less.
562396
Bush and the oil companies record profits. If there wasn't record profits there wouldn't be any problem. They are gouging America, and Bush is allowing it to happen.
1046750
when the oil companies are making BILLIONS in profit at our expense so that they can pay themselves millions in bonuses, I would say that yes, gas prices are a scam
1073624
55 gal...no, we're not running out anytime soon. Just be prepared for european style prices until people start carpooling to work and trading in hummers/SUV's.\n\nChina & India are buying crude/crude futures like crazy. Nigeria & Argentina aren't producing to capacity. Katrina damaged a lot of US rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. \n\nWe still produce around half of the crude(which we turn to gas) we use daily. We also have "strategic reserves" of crude which we keep for things like wars but use when supplies get tight.\n\nSo we either reduce our demand, pay higher prices, or start drilling in Alaska and off our coast. I carpool with a coworker in a Miata. S*rew those OPEC countries- conserve!!!!
78960
they are going up here too, I think the oil companies noticed that when it was at it's highest a couple of months ago, people were still buying. They know what "the market will bear" and are just trying to line their pockets more at our expense. There is no indication that supply is lowering or that demand is raising. So what exactly is the reason? Here it was 1.85 1st of January now it ie 2.28 and rising steadily.\n\nhow high are we going to let it go up?
1102690
Besides energy prices rising, their was an influx in our money supply through credit bureau's (most notably because of the housing boom), which in turn, raises prices throughout the economy.  \n\nTheir concerned because the GDP is not keeping up with inflation as it should.
611877
When ppl need something the complanies charge mega bucks! lol Oil we need it, and look at the prices.
1129055
Uncap Our oil wells. We have plenty of Our own oil but the libleft  won't vote yes to open them up. We are working on alternatives but its gonna be a long time before we get there, so if we don't start drilling Our own and start modernizing Our refineries the price is just gonna keep on going up. You can't have it both ways.
183199
in response to neparis2001: How about a car that runs on bull$hit? The conservative republicans are spreading plenty of that around. \n\nOr, you can do what I do. I refuse to support MidEast oil. All of my gas purchases are from Citgo, which comes from Venezuela. The only way that OPEC and the big oil companies are going to lower their prices is if we start hitting them where it hurts - in the wallet.
548514
bacause BUSH OWNS THE OIL IN TEXAS...I think we should be looking at how much the gas "went up" over the world...I bet it hasn't and we are the only ones who are dealing with this...It is NOT the oil companies from iraq or overseas...it is from right here in the USA!!
436573
Good for you, as you are on the right track.  If everyone decided to take two days off from work, say a thursday and friday and for those two days and the weekend no one drives or uses gas what the impact would be.  OPEC TO THE KNEES begging us to take their crude on the buy one get one free plan.  I have often said the same thing you did but I think billboards and a planned event of 'JUST STOP'.  This would be an event, if it could be pulled off, that would change the manner the oil people do business.  After all, look at what they do to their customers, me and you.  Do you think they would care after 4 continual days of no sales at the pumps??  There has to be more like us and when the number grows to be significant that are willing to perform such a simple task to such a major impacting event we will again be in control.  Where did we lose it, by hanging our heads and bitching every time we fuel.  The station attendant has nothing to do with it so I tell people, if you are going to do nothing about it don't bitch cause I do not want to hear it.  Bless you as I thought I was the only one with that philosophy.  There is hope.
507433
Oil prices are set by the market.  In other words, if people are willing to spend $72.00 a barrel, then why would oil companies charge less.  The market corrects itself.  If the prices are too high, people will purchase less oil.  If the prices are too low, the miniscule profit margin that the oil companies already face will diminish.  That is why we pay what we pay.  It is what it is WORTH to buyers.  Simple as that.  If you want lower gas prices, take the bus for a while and wait until the market decides that oil is not worth as much anymore.
342096
Gas will go as high as the oil companies think they can gouge us for before the govt steps in.
339321
PRICE GOUGING IS AGAINST THE LAW\nBUT OIL PEOPLE ARE GETTIN FATTER AND WE AS SHEEP GO ON FOLLOWING\nKEY WORD=PETITION AGAINST IT/ MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK
363841
China and India have drove the crude oil demand up.\nDemocraps and Environmental wackos have stymied oil exploration & refining.\nKatrina still has some of the gulf refineries not fully operational.\nEnviromental wackos have demanded numerous types of gasoline blends that add costs to the process.\nOPEC has not increased crude oil supply.\nThe federal and state gov'ts are getting 50 cents to 1 dollar tax on every gallon of gasoline.  \n\nAnd that's my 2 cents.
781385
You expected otherwise?  The drop in prices was a ploy by the oil companies to help get Repubs elected.  Now that the election is over and the prices are going back up, look for them to hit $3 a gallon by Christmas.  Merry Christmas from the big oil companies.  And besides that, they need to make more money.
599180
yes, essentially. they are just betting on the future supply of oil, which seems dumb when right now the price should be much lower. unfortunately this is not anti-american. capitalism is the american way and overall, it is a great system. we just have to live with a few unfortunate excesses.