The ability of a company to make a profit is NOT the point.
The point is about how we are all FORCED to pay MUCH HIGHER gas prices because of xyz reasons -- then to find out that those xyz reasons = bullsheit -- because this
ONE company alone is earning
$9.9 BILLION IN 1 QTR.
When Microsoft was deemed "too monopolistic" it got censured by the government. That was for a computer o/s software with lots of alternative
CHOICES for the consumers (you can buy a Macintosh instead).
When Exxon earns $9.9B and the second company earns $9+B PROFIT/QUARTER ("cartel"??!) --
WHERE THE CONSUMERS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BUY GAS TO LIVE (don't get semantic and bring up peanut-oil-powered cars
) -- where is the government intervention?
Here's a closer analogy:
If the bird flu virus becomes a rampage in the US, and Roche said "Hey! DEMAND IS UP!!" and charged $10,000 per tablet of Tamiflu and make $9.9B for that quarter -- do you think there will be a public outcry?
Summary:
I don't have a problem if I can CHOOSE to pay the price and make that company rich. But when I'm FORCED to pay the price,
Why so surprised with THIS pubic outcry?