What has your local politician done to stop Big Oil from destroying the average family?

Big Oil purposly limits refinery capacity to reap record profits again and again. If you believe the politicians can't do anything about this, your 100% wrong.What has your local politician done to stop Big Oil from destroying the average family?
Not enough.What has your local politician done to stop Big Oil from destroying the average family?
In the oil companies defense the profits these companies make are not exact profits that the companies themselves bank in. Much of the profits go to future advertising, refining, shipping, chemical process, and so much more. In fact the only real time these oil companies are beginning to make any profits are when we see these dramatic spikes in gas prices.





Also, there are many reasons why Oil companies limit their refinery capacity.





On a side note did you know that oil companies have reached their merger capacity which the end result will mean the companies will reach maxed profits or possibly higher profits (uncertainty on how much higher) but in the end continue to lose money?





But we should find a new fuel source but stop calling them “evil” oil companies and besides these companies provide a lot jobs for a lot of people.





Update: Hey havenone! No kidding dummy!! I am talking about future investments. Have you ever worked at a refinery like my father who was a contractor for over 30 yrs? NO!





Do you work for one of the largest companies in the world who works along with Oil, Gas, mining, heath, governments, and other natural resource companies and non alike like my mother? NO!





Are you an economist %26amp; political scientist like me? NO!





You are misinformed!





There is a: Net profit, Gross profit, Net profit after tax, operating profits, and etc. Regulation differ from country to country and so whatever other taxes may be implied. Do not forget about OPEC either.





Now, after all profits are payed out you will have the Net profits. Which will be used for whatever. It is perfectly legal.





I am not a accountant but I understand this:





Sales Revenue = Price (of product) X Quantity





Gross profit = sales revenue – cost of sales and other direct costs





Operating profit = Gross profit – overheads and other indirect costs





Pre-tax profit or Net profit = operating profit + one off items and redundancy payments, staff restructuring – interest payable





Profit after tax = Pre-tax profit – tax





Retained or Net profit = Profit after tax – Dividends





Also, the price gouging at the pump often has nothing to do with oil companies but more at a local, state, and at time national level.





By the way this is what we call CAPITALISM!! I LOVE IT!!!
My congressman, Kucinich (D) Ohio, tries to speak loudly about corporate abuses - but no one wants to listen.








*Add'l - How_Would_I_Know : The environmentalists do not have enough power (money) to stop oil companies from doing anything. MONEY rules in America, clown.
Ron Lewis (R), KY 2nd Congr District





NOT A DAMN THING





Frisbee For Congress





Frisbee 2008
I work for an oil company, and I can tell you that there have been some justifiable reasons for refineries not being at full capacity in the recent past. That being said refining capacity is still at something like 90% or better. My company in particular is expanding our refining capacity as much as we can. We'd love to build new refineries but politicians have made it prohibitively difficult. There are a lot of reasons for high gas prices, but oil company collusion is not one of them.





Besides, from a logical perspective, refining is profitable, so why wouldn't we want to do more of it. There is definitely room for more profitable refining.





Also, the US does not pay the highest prices for gas by far.
ROFL big oil is restricting refinery capacity? Think again.. it's the eco-nuts.
Nothing that I'm aware of. It's not something that I've inquired about, nor have other people that I know in this area.





I don't think it's their place to set prices.
Politicians can cut the taxes that they are receiving at the gas pump.
Big oil companies dont build refineries because the enviroment nut jobs make it so expensive with all the regulations. Dont blame big oil blame liberals tree huggers like Al gore.
Record profits are different than record profit *margins*.





Aside from that, our government is responsible for about $.70/gal in taxes.





Combine that with record SUV sales for several years in a row not too long ago, and is it any wonder gas costs so much?





The average family should save themselves. Dump the SUV for a more reasonable sedan or compact, group errands and walk more, etc.
Not enough, to much money involved, to many pockets being filled.
Absolutely nothing!
Not damn thing! Congress is selling us out. They aren't going to give up their kickbacks from ';Big Oil';.