I own Exxon Mobil Stock and if I found out that the directors did anything to make LESS money I could sue them, so YES they have a LEGAL obligation to make as much money as possible.

Reagan knew how to lower prices, and it was by lowering regulations and making it easier for EVERYONE ELSE to get into the business. Let me ask you a question. Why do you think that all these big Oil companies keep giving these candidates Millions of Dollars to get re-elected? It's because of the fact that they LOVE all the regulations. It keeps new guys from coming into the business and spoiling their free lunch.

Exxon-Mobile is doing what their supposed to be doing, delivering maximum return to their investors, but Congress isn't doing what it's supposed to be doing, which is to make sure that our free market works as intended. Instead they've stacked the deck in favor of Big Oil.

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http://www.nosocialism.com
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America is not a Socialist country, this is why the only democrats who ever win, are democrats who SOUND like Republicans (Hello Bill Clinton - Low taxes, Free Trade, Welfare Reform, Era of Big Government Over - Sounds Republican).

more like, you have no idea what you're talking about.

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So your logic is that if we are not there, the number will go down... That makes perfect sense... not.

I heartily agree that all companies on the stock exchange have an obligation to make as much money as they can. But, Exxon Mobil is a very different company than Pepsi. If Pepsi starts charging $4 a can, people would stop drinking it. But if oil is costing $4 per gallon it will be paid.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that supply and demand doesn't work if there is a guarantee of demand. Because they know we will never be able to go without it, they can charge whatever they want and we will have to buy it. The only thing that maintains the prices were they are is competition. However there is very little to keep all of the oil companies from deciding to raise their prices together. If they did that we would simply pay it. And when I see a Shell station and a Chevron station raise their prices in exact step with each other, makes it very hard not to think that.

As for profit margins, I understand the concept. All I'm saying is that they could take a bit of a profit cut for our economy. If they are currently making 10% profits, couldn't they cut the prices by 5% and settle for only $5 Billion in total profits?

If you can't tell, I think oil should be socialized. It works for Mexico.

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"Masters of War" by Bob Dylan
"When a man assumes public trust, he should consider himself as public property"
-Thomas Jefferson
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
-Albert Einstein
"One man with courage is a majority"
-Thomas Jefferson

I think that's in the plan.

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So your logic is that if we are not there, the number will go down... That makes perfect sense... not.

Well, that makes two of us, I guess. Did Blade take over your body or something?

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Where are we going? And why am I in this handbasket?

It could also help the economy if every citizen took a 10% reduction in payroll. You wanna volunteer for that?

Quick..tell me what oil companies do with profits. I bet I know your answer, and I also bet that you're wrong.

Yeah, 'cause Mexico is SO prosperous, right? I mean...I can't think of a reason why millions of people flee that country!

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Political Affiliation: Zod

"The mods won't let you call a moron a 'moron'." --" the former, BillyBobaganoosh

Your correct so far sir.

Where you've gone wrong here is that you believe that gas companies set their own prices. The government has limits on what you can charge for gas at any station no matter who is selling it, so the price is artificially altered before you ever get to the pump. If the price per barrel continues to rise and refining continues to be covered in as much red tape as it is now, then prices won't ever fall and we'll just have to find some other means of producing energy for transportation.

So you want for the govt to seize privately made profits for the good of the masses? Sounds like communism to me.

If there is any country on this planet we shouldn't model ourselves after, Mexico might be it.

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The first site didn't immediately proclaim any political view as far as I could see. The second site took too long to load for me to bother.
In any case neither seemed to be a site for the communist party. Believe me, there is no real "left" in the US.
Does the price you pay for fuel at the pump consist of over 80% taxes? If no, you are not paying for what you get.

Ok, so I'll concede the point that we don't have a communist party here in the US. IMHO it's for the better.

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I agree with you.

BTW, we don't have a communist party in Denmark either. But we do have something which is very close to it called Enhedslisten which is a conglomaration of various Marxist and communistic inclined parties.

And they even have 4 representatives in the Parliament.