i'm with ya on that. let's just that agree there are many influencing factors, while not denying there is tom foolery at work as well. ;)

The "evil/overpaid" people seem to change by decade. in the 70's it was plumbers, in the 80's it was televangalists, in the 90's it was lawyers and now it's the oil companies. Just an observation.

it seems as tho oil profits are DIRECTLY related to generated revenue. you might have heard that record usage produces record profits.

https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...its/index.html

now all the banks on the list CERTAINLY did not work as hard for their profits!

just an observation.

BTW, it seems as tho pharm drug companies are poised to be next for the upcoming decade.

https://www.citizen.org/documents/for...2002erport.PDF

here's a sample of profit margins. granted it's just 1 quarter of 1 year, yet quite consistent.

https://everydayecon.wordpress.com/20...er-industries/

ah, gotcha. I was just making sure you weren't one of those crazy media types who blames them for it all!

We are a society of enablers. If we stop buying the stuff, they lose their power.

i can't quit buying, but i've reduced my consumption by a great margin!

I am convinced that just as SOON as we get over this little dry hump that Opec and every
other oilboy will do everything in their power to drive the price of fuel right back up.

What am I talking about, they're already struggling to do just that!
Opec lowers production by 1.5 million barrels a day and it may not seem like a big
deal until one remembers that when the tables were turned they were increasing
production by only 200,000 barrels a day.
Yeah...

So for anyone who thinks this puny little drop in the price is anything but more bs,
I have news: They lower it and raise it as they see fit, to their benefit, it is a business.

It is going to do what it is, you and I have no control over that,
the only thing I know is these are NOT the reasons for it:
1. Only 3 refineries in the whole world (oldest one in the book).
2. Supply and Demand issues, bad weather, certain 'driving seasons,' all hogwash.
3. Specific seasonal blends and various assorted technical jargon, BIG B.S.!
4. Start of the (pick one: winter / summer / holiday / heating) season. (yawn)
5. Certain industrialized countries driving the demand, China, US, etc.
Evidently not even Somali pirates are having much effect,
a part of me wonders if someone isn't covertly supporting that!

More like...
They just feed us whatever bull they think we'll believe,
and then jerk us around every which way they like,
that in my book is the way them boys work.

As for the second question...
I would really hope most, if not all, Americans have learned their lesson.
Going back to the old ways now is asking for trouble later.
It takes time to change habits, weeks, months, years even.

We have worked too hard to get into conservation mode, why go back?

Better to keep saving, keep acting as if gas was $4 a gallon right now.
Do NOT fill up more or drive more because it's cheaper.
Instead pocket their cash and save it, now it's our turn.
Don't fall back to the old ways, it will only hurt in the long run.

The days of $4 and $5 a gallon fuel are coming, only a matter of time.
Watch out, sure enough.

did you click on to any of my links about profit and revenue? there are, in my view, "more evil" industries, if evil at all.

now OPEC does have power, but how does that equate to "every other oil boy?"

owners and CEOs of MANY industries and corporations are making obscene amounts of money, but most at a higher profit margin than oil.

My thought exactly.
Among other qualifications for the office, I think a primary one is a demonstrated interest in viewing all sides of issues and learning things previously unknown, in order to resolve those issues. Um, as opposed to applying fixed solutions out of standard playbooks.