Leahy seeks to quiz Big Oil over gas prices

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/leahy-seeks-to-quiz-big-oil-over-gas-prices-2008-05-07.html

Leahy seeks to quiz Big Oil over gas prices
By Klaus Marre
Posted: 05/07/08 02:03 PM


The Senate Judiciary Committee announced Wednesday that Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) plans to hold a hearing with oil industry executives on the high cost of oil.

“American consumers continue to pay the price at the pump, while oil companies post record profits,” said Leahy. “With food and transportation prices rising with the exploding price of oil, it is important to hear what the multibillion-dollar oil companies are doing to help ease the crunch, and consider what actions the federal government should take to help consumers.”

Specifically, the panel wants to examine how soaring crude oil prices are affecting what Americans are paying at the pump.

With record gas prices a major concern for consumers and the economy as a whole, the spotlight was cast again on the oil companies last week when they revealed multibillion-dollar profits in the first quarter of the year.

The hearing is scheduled for May 21.

The House Judiciary Committee has already started hearings on high gas prices.

I like Bill Maher's new rule from the other day: "If gas is going to cost $4 a gallon, then the TVs at the pumps have to show pornography. That way I'm not the only one taking it in the ass."

So perfect and SO FITTING if all this profiteering culminated in some nobody, somewhere, figuring out a really efficient means of separating hydrogen and water in his garage. Or stumbled on some COE bending quirk of physics that allowed one refrigerator magnet to push another around in a circle for eternity.

These notions are SO ROMANTIC because tomorrow, the world would change.

Everyone could have clean water. Everyone could plant, harvest and process crops for nothing. War and the nature of it would change, empowering the weaker, at the expense of the stronger. Governments would rail against such a loss of geopolitical control.

The very best part: There'd be no way to profit on it. Oil would be a buck a gallon, with no takers to be found.

The downside: None of us could get any sleep for the wailing of these hyper-wealthy pirate barons over their lost profit.

I think the profits would go down. So would the prices.

Here is a list of things to do.
Carpool with someone or more if you can
Take public transportation
Ride a bicycle when possible
walk when possible
Do not make a trip for one or a few items or reasons combine them and make one trip
ask your employer if you can work from home or come and go during times of less traffic
do not use recreational vehicles, motor homes, jet skis, motor boats, dune buggies, dirt bikes
ride a motorcycle if you can or want to
get rid of the gas guzzler and buy a more fuel efficient car.
and a whole lot more

If we all would do this we would have an effect, I know the high prices are forcing people to change their habits.