A primer on oil industry dynamics and energy costs (or why we get robbed)

[400Years]

http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/FTCBOOKf.pdf

This report covers such subjects as industry consolidation, the closing of refineries, the lack of competition due to mergers and how that effects pricing, and the role of the FTC.

The domestic spread of 80 cents per gallon versus an average of 45 cents for the base period in the study is a good clue as to how the "gouging" works.

Yes, it can be argued that they are not doing anything illegal but when an industry is so deeply embedded into our government that line of arguement is rather week.

[firefox]

1. Seems like the Sherman Anti-trust laws should have been debated

Six giant oil companies merged with blinding speed after the selection of *. A person would have to think that the Sherman Anti-Trust laws would not allow three major energy companies to control so much. We were told it was good for the consumer because it eliminated a duplication of effort. Just like in all things, we are told some kind of bullshit, and then the wealthy do what it is they want to do to get wealthier.

Exxon-Mobil is the largest corporation on the planet and it is a creation by the same power that brought/inflicted us with *.

[400Years]

2. Good points

A total monopoly is their goal and they pretty much have it.
Six corporations control the entire industry very similar to the media situation we have.