Bryan, Read Thyself

It would probably help if oil companies could operate on smaller capital. There aren't that many mom and pop oil producers for people to empathize with.

It would also probably help if oil companies weren't so tightly tied to the current administration. It might well be an exagerated perception, but an average american (or at least average Democrat) only consumes oil and sees some politician making a bunch of decisions then slapping buddies in the oil business on the back. Common sense allways takes a back seat to politics.

For instance, advocating raising gas taxes and engaging in market intervention on behalf of US companies because you don't like Iranians profiting from consumption.

I believe it is more an anti-investment attitude. It seems the public in general are against someone profiting from forward thinking. Oil companies drill for oil now so they'll have a supply in the future. Drug companies research drugs now so they'll have a product to sell in the future. But when the future comes, way to many people feel that they shouldn't profit from their prior planning. Way to many feel that companies should only charge what their costs are today, to pump and refine the oil, produce the pill.

It is kind of like your relatives save nothing but have expensive cars and furs, while you save and live more frugally. Then when things turn, the relatives feel you should give them some of your savings since you have more than they do.

Let's face it no one was concerned for the oil companies when oil prices were down and they were struggling to keep up their search for new fields. No, everyone lived large but now that the parties over, how can the oil companies profit from they're misfortune.

BTW, you don't hear much about it now, but many localities have laws that will jail a station owner for selling to far below the area price. Most of this oil crisis is caused by government price fixing, boutique fuel requirements, and gas tax inequities.