The Return of the Robber Barons
The original reference to the
term 'robber baron' was coined around the 12th century, referring to feudal
lords, who took advantage of their position to stop merchant ships to levy
unauthorized fees for passage, often erecting barricades to enforce this illegal
penalty, commonly referred to as 'thugs with spears', who often 'feuded with
each other to contest this privilege..
This term in later American
history, often referred to industrial or financial magnates, who became
extremely wealthy by questionable or unethical methods,
such as the forced manipulation
of the stock market through insider trading, as well as the ruthless
exploitation of the early labor force. In some examples, politicians, who were
also wealthy entrepreneurs, such as Leland Stanford, former governor and US
senator, used political connections to have laws passed that would prohibit
competition for his Central Pacific railroad, which allowed he and his business
partners to directly profit for a monopoly scheme.
Currently government regulations have been enacted to impede the forming of
monopolies, such as the forced break up of the Bell telephone company, but as in
every political or business endeavor, laws of man can be circumvented, by hook
or crook, often under a legal guise, allowing vast profits gained off the backs
and labors of the every day citizen.
One of the most common examples, is the brain washing of the American public by
the gas 'monopolies', and you say 'but there are no monopolies', but if there
are no monopolies, then why are all of the various gas stations, the dozens of
different competitors, charging exactly the same price for a gallon of gas,
artificially inflating the cost when even a rumor of any type of gas shortage or
increase springs into being?
By my ciphering, a term used before the advent of hand held calculating devices,
when we had to do mathematical equations in our organic computer, if a company
purchases gas for 'X' dollars per barrel, then sells it to the public as 'X1'
dollars per gallon, then their profit margin should be consistent. In
retrospect, if the price is inflated, where the companies now purchase gas at
'Y' dollars per barrel, then selling it at 'Y1' dollars should maintain the
constant profit level.
But please tell me why, which the government on both sides, who can be
influenced by the best lobbyists money can buy, often former political
confederates of these same current government members, can't do as they hem and
haw, saying that this is the cause or that is the cause, and it is the war,
OPEC, potential storms, lack of offshore drilling, et cetera, that causes the
inflated gas prices.
Now back to the 'X' and 'Y' dollars, the profit margin should be consistent, if
the cost of the raw gas is offset by the cost of the refined gas to the American
consumer, and the status quo should be maintained. Then why, pray tell,
are the gas companies reporting record profits? The political pundits state that
the oil and gas companies profits are reflected on their total sales, consisting
of the revenue they receive from selling their products as well as other sources
of income. I state "Bull Hockey"
Per an article by Justin Blum, a Washington Post staff writer, the nation's
refineries are getting an estimated 99 cents per gallon, which is more than
three times the amount they earned a year ago, when regular unleaded was selling
for approximately $1.87. Exxon Mobil Corp's profits are up 32%, equating to 8.4
Billion dollars, and are expected to be even higher for the next quarter.
Dutch Shell saw profits grow 68% to 9.03 Billion dollars; BP reports a record
34% profit; ConocoPhillips reports a revenue jump of 43%, over 3.68
Billion.
Robber Barons again; it sure looks like it to this citizen, as well as millions
of others suffering at the gas pumps with the over inflated gas prices, yet our
income doesn't come close to matching those vast increases in gas that we need
for daily activities. Per my earlier statement, regarding those robber barons often referred to industrial or financial magnates, who became
extremely wealthy by questionable or unethical methods, such as the forced
manipulation of the stock market through insider trading, as well as the
ruthless exploitation of the public, doesn't this seem to be the case; you
decide.
Then there is the subject of the individual gas stations charging varying
prices, which is another subject that I can address at a later date, as I have
rambled on far too long. We are the only ones who can take action, and that is
holding all politicians feet to the fire, both sides, and make them accountable
to the American public that elected them to represent us, not allow high way
robbery.
A gas cartoon I received as an email.
That's my opinion and
I'm sticking to it.
