Big Oil or Big Gov't

The following quote I found on The Drudge Report :

NY Sen. Schumer wants probe into 'whether or not we should break up the big oil companies. Enough is enough'...

The probe I'd like to see, Mr. Senator Schumer, is one on "whether or not we should break up big government. Enough is enough"....

The whole situation with switching to Ethanol fuels came from the government. Crazy regulations about formulating gasoline came from the government. The lack of new oil refineries falls on the shoulders of government. The lack of new oil drilling, domestic "non-Islamic" oil drilling is because of the government. It looks like to me that big government is to blame of high gas prices.

"But, that's not true! Oil companies are gouging us for higher profits."

I have no doubt that we as consumers are being hosed by the big oil companies. But, as companies would do, if there is an increased demand, they would increase supply and thus increase profits. But we can't increase the supply of gasoline without new and more refineries and new drilling. The government doesn't want that to happen.

And here is the question you should really ask yourself: How much profit does an oil company average per gallon of gas.

The following statistics came from The American Daily:

Based upon a $3.00 gallon of gasoline, the average break-down is as follows.

Gasoline Retailer $.01 cents per gallon
Oil Company $.08 cents per gallon
Refining $.29 cents per gallon
Marketing/Distribution $.32 cents per gallon
Taxes $.59 cents per gallon
Cost of crude $1.71 per gallon (delivered)


Hmmm... Who is making the real money here? I could not find the origin of the statistics and the following from The Philadelphia Business Journal would seem to contradict The American Daily's statistics.

"In 1999, U.S. oil refiners made 22.8 cents for every gallon of gasoline refined from crude oil, which by 2004 had increased to 40.8 cents. Last year profit margins soared to 99 cents on each gallon sold, the Governor's Office said."

That would be Gov. Rendell of Pennsylvania office quoting those statistics.

The following comes from The Tax Foundation:

"Today, U.S. consumers pay an average of 45.9 cents per gallon in gasoline taxes. The federal gasoline excise tax is 18.4 cents per gallon while the average state and local tax is 27.5 cents. The vast majority of these taxes are levied at a flat rate per gallon—regardless of whether a gallon of gas costs $1.49, $2.49, or $3.49. Thus, the effective rate of these taxes can vary wildly, from roughly 31 percent in the former case to 13 percent in the later."

The one thing I can conclude from all of the above is that the government gets a large part of every $3 bucks I pump into my tank. And so why in the world should they get more of it with a "windfall tax?" What as the federal government done to deserve more of my money? Spend it like a drunken teenager, is what!

It is time to break up the monopoly. Well not actually a monopoly, but an oligarchy. The ruling class in Washington must go. Republicans, bye! Democrats, Adiosamigoss! The courts, see yah later alligatorr! The Media, don't let the door hit yah in the ass on the way out! All of them must go, babies hiding in the bath-waterr included. You don't deserve my money. Not a dime.

So Chucky-Boy remember this, big oil might be a problem, but you are the bigger one. At least Exxon, BP, Shell and all those guys are honest abouttheirr motives. You actually want me to believe you have my best interest at heart. If you really did you'd read the constitution one day are realize you are in violation of that sacred document and step down.