My Response to Jon Markman's "Who's To Blame For High Gas Prices" on MSN

[Merrick]

This article bugged me so much I was compelled to respond (its a total shill job IMO for the oil companies that was prominently displayed on the front page of MSN - shocking, I know)

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P116177.asp?GT1=6970

My email response to Mr. Markman:

They're not intentionally cutting back production, closing refineries, etc. to inflate the price of their product to make a buck, are they? And your suggestions for 'fighting back' by traveling further to obtain a better price in more competitive markets (uh, wouldn't the gas you consume getting to these places offset whatever meager savings you might obtain) and investing your money in these companies - enabling them to strengthen their grip on our country, impeding it from doing something to preempt the imminent disaster of a post peak oil era so you might reap a few bucks and die on a drowning tropical island somewhere are just offensive. Don't forget to save this shill job for your great grandchildren to read. I'm sure they'll get a real kick out of it.


(his email is listed on the article, but it's [e-mail] in case anyone wants to respond as well)

[bullimiami]

1. who is to blame?

the middle east is a war torn mess, bush and the 'oilmen' are in charge, fuel prices are the highest ever and so are the oil company profits.

follow the damn money, theres your answer fishbulb.

[jlayson]

2. Blame the filler up mentality

I think if you have the time... try just getting enough gas to get by until it's convenient for you to get a little more (try to hold a minimum amount )and let the oil/Cheney's hold on to the stuff for ya ..sort of dollar cost averaging them gallons at the oil barons expense

[rurallib]

3. Exxon-Mobil $10 billion in profits in the second quarter

A new record for a single company. And that before the prices REALY exploded.
How many big oil companies are there in the US now? 3 or 4? Do you suppose lack of competition has ANYTHING to do with the price of gas?