obligatory oil prices rant

People on the news and government spokesmen talk about how the price of oil is out of control. BULLSHIT. The price of oil is NOT out of control. They act as if the price comes and goes like the tides or hurricanes or blizzards and there's nothing anyone can do about it. There are people sitting in offices somewhere making conscious decisions about the price will be on any given day. The oil companies have Congress under their control and have "convinced" them that they are powerless to control their record profits.

  I am a believer in capitalism. I believe it is everyone's right to make money to survive and live comfortably. I also believe that a segment that the entire economy is built on has the responsibility to do what they can to make sure the economy doesn't crumble. I'm not saying they should drop gas prices to 50 cents per gallon, but I think they have made enough profit in a single quarter to last them the rest of the year. They should sell gas at-cost for a while until things can recover.  OR they should get off their asses and start building more refineries. I realize there is always a NIMBY factor but damn! I'll let them build a refinery in my back yard if it will mean I can afford to drive to work every day.

  The government also needs to crack the whip on the Saudis. Didn't we do them a couple favors over the past few years by getting rid of Saddam? They owe us big.