On Gas Station and Oil Company Profits

[Huck BB62]

Well, how much of what this article says is true, I don't know but I do know one item is total BS. The article that says that they station has to buy propietory gasoline. That's simply inaccurate. The gas comes from the same danged storage tanks. There's a cardlock additive dispenser for each delivery and even that completely depends on the diligence of the driver and worker at the tank farm. Heck they don't even PUT additives in it sometimes when they screw up or get lazy.

This is the truth as told to me by my buddy that worked the tank farm in our area for five years.

Now you know.

If you want to be mad, be mad at the facts.

Oil in the states cost between $4 and $6.50 a gallon to get out of the ground. This is called "lifting costs". Anyone tells you different, they're a corporate whore liar. I've been in budget meetings and we've shut down power plants at the price point. Back in the late '80s, I saw bumper stickers in our area that said "Please God, give me one more oil boom, we promise not to waste it." They frickin' meant it. During the '70s embargo around here, oh my God, it was sin city. Money flowed allllllll over this town. Now, it goes one place, straight up. The oilfield I work in used to talk about astronomical profits at $20 a barrel!!!!!! They don't EVEN DISCUSS it now. I'm serious, it's a hush hush secret. They don't make trucks big enough for the amount of cash the oilfield I work in the middle of makes (the company begins with a C) They got rid of all their employees that they could. There wasn't enough profits for company owned oil rigs or repair people. NOOOoooo, that's all done by contractors now, on the margin.

Where the workers around here used to be people with defined benefit plans, medical, retirement. Now they're all poor schmucks that work for the contractors with minimal benefits. Nice huh? Billions and billions of dollars of profits and they complain about how expensive it is to give employees medical, and how much it's going up. (don't get me started on how the illegals are killing the hospitals in our area by using the ERs as a clinic)

Billions and billions of record profits and the news right now is that gas is expensive because of lack of refinery capacity. No new refineries have been built since the '70s (don't get me started on how the EPA greenie a-holes have made this and nuke plants very unlikely) With billions of dollars flowing for the record profits, perhaps BP could hose a little of that into a new refinery or two instead of puking ad dollars telling us how "Green" they are? NOOOOooooooo.

But still, we all drive like idiots with our foot planted firmly on the floorboard. I'm guilty too, so don't take it as an insult.

They're charging us precisely what we're willing to pay. No more, no less.

I've seen the enemy, they iz us.

[AfroCreame]

Hey..all we need to bring gas prices down is a election. Funny the decrease that happened in last years election..now look. When prices are high in winter they say it's because of heating oil...they'll come back down..spring...then summer..well it went back up because of demand. It's truly about screwing you just enough to keep you bitching but willing to pay. Can we say the sweet spot? Break the oil companies up.

[H3.007]

I am no expert and I certainly appreciate the feedback, debate, and education. The only thing that I wrote was the portion in red - again, the rest was from Smart Money Magazine (I urge you to read the entire article as I could only post portions of the original due to byte limitations here). And I am wise enough to not bet all my chips on one source but much of what the article states does make sense.

I really feel for you and your bretheren oil workers Huck. I can certainly see how cutting the working man out of the equation only increases the wallet size of these robber barons.

We are, to some degree, responsible but we must no longer remain responsible for the apathetic attitudes that have allowed such gouging. If we all can see the seasonal trends, why is it beyond the comprehension of the experts?

It isn't - and that is why we must put a stop to it through an legitimate means we can.... Afro makes a very, very good point there.

Interesting side note on the hospitals Huck. We don't have the illegals, at least to the extent you likely do, here in PA. Yet, the physician's offices are double booked and they now tell people to go to the ER for something as relatively benign as an upper respiratory infection. I know, it happened to me. I think the hospital issue is a combination of unethical physician practices as well as a failure of immigration policies and the enforcement of citizen patients' rights.

Fight the Power!!

[usetosellhummer]

My old country doc has to 40 people a day to make any money (HMO sets what they will pay and he has to eat it. This country is sliding into a dangerous area that I see only two ways out. 1. Jesus is comming back.
2. serious resession with a big political upheaveal. ??? who knows. I will be cutting back on Dish TV, vacation plans and we already put off the purchase of a new tv and fridge becasue of the extra $200 a month in fuel costs (we HAVE to comute) When Wal Mart sings the blues and people quit spending money, things will happen.

[usetosellhummer]

wow I like it!

[rob85635]

Not long ago, a month or two or three, I was working at my part time job (I think that is where I heard the story). An illegal alien, OH MY, please excuse me... I meant to say "Undocumented Immigrant". You can't call them illegal aliens anymore. Anyway, a person from Mexico came across the border close to where I live (I live less than 25 miles from the Mexican border as the bird flies) this poor person fell down a ravine/cliff while simply trying to come to American illegally to help us Americans who won't take low paying jobs. Heck, he is just doing us a favor by breaking the law.

Please forgive me, I digress... After falling he became seriously injured and required evacuation to a trauma center in Tucson I believe. He had severe head injuries. The story I was told was that he was on his third, YES THIRD, brain surgery.

Guess who is paying for this.???? YOU AND I are. I hate the price of gas, overbloated fat cat oil companies. I hate illegal aliens worse. I have personally seen what can happen. If you are interested in that story let me know and I will rant about that. I work part time as a police dispatcher and police patrol volunteer. I have over 17 years of volunteer and part time paid experience with our local police department. I speak from experience and I tell it like I see it.

How much do you think 3 brain surgeries cost? Think about it.

Rob

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

[quote=rob85635]Not long ago, a month or two or three, I was working at my part time job (I think that is where I heard the story). An illegal alien, OH MY, please excuse me... I meant to say "Undocumented Immigrant". You can't call them illegal aliens anymore. Anyway, a person from Mexico came across the border close to where I live (I live less than 25 miles from the Mexican border as the bird flies) this poor person fell down a ravine/cliff while simply trying to come to American illegally to help us Americans who won't take low paying jobs. Heck, he is just doing us a favor by breaking the law.

Please forgive me, I digress... After falling he became seriously injured and required evacuation to a trauma center in Tucson I believe. He had severe head injuries. The story I was told was that he was on his third, YES THIRD, brain surgery.

Guess who is paying for this.???? YOU AND I are. I hate the price of gas, overbloated fat cat oil companies. I hate illegal aliens worse. I have personally seen what can happen. If you are interested in that story let me know and I will rant about that. I work part time as a police dispatcher and police patrol volunteer. I have over 17 years of volunteer and part time paid experience with our local police department. I speak from experience and I tell it like I see it.

How much do you think 3 brain surgeries cost? Think about it.

TOO MUCH !!!

After the 1st one they should have put him on a chopper and leave him at the closest large mexican airport.

I feel sorry for people who get hurt looking for a better life but this country is slipping back and I don't want IT (the U.S. of A.) to fall into ANY revine...

[H3.007]

I agree with the illegal immigrant issue (yes, I also say GOD in the pledge, too) and I appreciate that debate and real world consequences as well - BUT -

just do me a favor and forward the gas article on to as many of your friends and family as you can.

I just spoke to somone in WI and she said the gas is now at $3.50 there.

Big oil is psychologically grooming us to $4-$5 per gallon - you watch....

[HoosierH3]

$3.63 in NW, Indiana for 87 octane. 30 minutes outside Chicago.

[H3.007]

Originally Posted by NOMOYELLO

Who cares about GAS when U drive a HUMMER?????Go trade 4 a HYBRID...Then U can polute the earth with your spent batteries.....

I am not particularly concerned about my expense. And I prefer to pollute by driving over the Prius scum in my H3 (twice the pollution).

However, I do care about those who have to pay such ridiculous prices and only make minimum wage or hell even three times minimum wage for that matter. I can not imagine putting almost an entire week's pay into a gas tank (and I used to), thanks to a long commute because of bloated real estate prices nearby to a job, while trying to support a family when some suit is macking around in his silver and gold encrusted Benz, groping a pro' or two, while sipping a MaiTai and eating lobster for brunch.

Of course, then again, I suppose I can understand how anyone who has had everything handed to them would feel that this thread is a waste.