</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
I gave my background on this. I've spoken to the players in the field on this. They are prevented from lowering their prices, even though they "own" the franchises.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Wouldn't that be part of the franchise agreement? They can complain about it, but I'm sure they knew going into the business what the franchise parameters are. I would imagine that a franchise owner might be feeling frustrated, especially if they are being blamed for the prices, and thus they explain how it works.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
There is NO reason for the higher prices of oil... there is no shortage, and no threatened shortage (the old lies and excuses.) They're already preparing us for 6-10 dollars a gallon! Just because they think we'll pay it.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

And we may very well pay that cost, because we ("we" as collective, not absolute) are a culture of excessive use of oil. Too many folks think nothing of driving from one end of a parking lot to another instead of walking despite being physically able and having the time. How many of us have watched someone sit in a car with the engine running while waiting they wait for someone else to do business, when they could have turned the engine off and rolled down the windows or perhaps gone inside as well? How about the folks who sit with the engine running waiting for that really close in parking spot when there are gobs of empty ones right behind them? Waste, waste, waste. Similarly, my own in laws turn the heat on when it gets below 70 and continue to run around inside in shorts and short sleeve shirts. Sure, they can afford a high heating bill. But seriously, put some pants on, for Pete's sake! Otherwise, it's a terrible waste of the earth's resources.

We have lousy public transportation in my city, primarily because too few use it. We all have cars. The average mpg of motor vehicles today is less than it was 20 years ago. That tells me it's a conscious choice to build cars that have more bells and whistles and whatever despite all we've learned in the past 20 years about building cars that are more efficient and earth-friendly. And that's not just because the auto companies feel like doing it that way. It's consumer demand. We (collective "we") demand it.

So basically, I vehemently disagree that "There is NO reason for the higher prices of oil". Demand has increased, and refining capacity is not running full. Basic economic principals of supply and demand are in play as well as what the market will bear. People are still buying gas. Complaining more about the prices, sure, but we're (collective) all still driving.

If Exxon notices that their sales have gone down significantly enough and long enough, sure they may lower prices. But blips like that aren't going to have a significant impact on fuel prices overall. Prices will be affected by the entire market and the economy, a global economy. My own choice for action is to do what I can to decrease my use of fuel in order to avoid spending more and more and more.

gg