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The American public has the motivational mentality of a herd of dairy cows waiting to be milked. So oil executives and Congress sit in executive "snivel" chairs and have no mandate to act." Investment banker and columnist Malcomb Berko

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/business/berko/886820,2_3_AU10_BERKO_S1.article


Every American should be forced to read the above linked column. High gas prices explained in a nutshell. I'll just hit on the highlights.

Average oil company cost to produce barrel of oil: $5.50
Average oil company profit on barrel of oil: $95.00
Big oil company after tax profits since 2002: 1 TRILLION dollars

Current value of big oil inventories:
Exxon - 2.9 TRILLION dollars
Shell - 2.6 TRILLION dollars
Chevron - 2.2 TRILLION dollars

Amount of big oil profits funneled to alternative energy research since 2002:
Exxon: 0% (yep! zero, zilch, nada)
BP: 0.6%
Chevron: 0.5%
Conoco/Phillips 0.7

Big oil has no incentive to fund alternative energy research, and every incentive to discourage and hamper the development of alternative fuels. And Washington politicians have no incentive to encourage development of alternative fuels so long as the American public is willing to put up with their sucking at the teats of big oil. (I should point out at this point that there is only one major presidential candidate refusing to accept money from big oil, and calling for a windfall profits tax and end to big oil tax breaks). The other two are sucking big oil teats.

So write or call your Congressmen, Senators, and presidential candidates. Let them know you are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore! Demand:

Severe restrictions on Washington lobbyists.
An end to tax breaks for big oil companies.
Windfall profits tax with proceeds to be invested in alternative energy research and development.

Make sure they understand the cost of their inaction will be a vote for their opponent in the upcoming election!

Thanks for your time, and be sure to read Malcomb Berko's entire article!