Reply #2: Actually a good point - oil refine shutdowns, plants closed forever -are [View All]

not part of capacity because they can not be re-opened. I am sure the Bush crowd has worked to remove them (actually I'm not sure - the Bush crowd has been so lacking in talent in every other area, I doubt they effective in this area - what I depend on is the idea that civil service folks doing the work are not being too tightly managed - so they will do the right thing unless interferred with).

But this is likely to be a percentage of a smaller number.

Back in the old days when it floated in the 80's folks said thatobsolete plan shutdowns and sell off of parts was needed to get the utilization into a "healthy" 90's something number..

Well we have had the shutdowns and sell - offs

and only an inventory build-up gets us to the mid - 70's.