Gas Prices

I just heard on a news story that documentary evidence has been obtained that oil refineries are artificially inflating the prices at the pump. The oil barons claim the war and OPEC are to blaim but as the report I saw showed, they are merely hiking up the profit margins.

While am an advocate of the free market system that's supposed to balance supply with demand and price, this is obviously a case of abuse of the system. The oil companies have us over a barrel (pun intended) as the ability for americans to conserve gas by using less pretty much only works for those chosing to drive during their vacation (OK so the American penchant for bigger vehicles could be curbed, but for those of us with a large family, that's not an option).

The real problem is that as gas prices rise, all prices rise to pass on the cost of transportation to market.
I think it's pretty sick that oil companies are willing to sacrifice a long term economic recovery for short term gains in their profits. Eventually, the higher prices at the pump will even affect the oil barons for every thing they purchase will cost more. Eating away at any gains their bank accounts might've had.

My $.02 (or drop of gas).