[Beetle01]

Hoot, Im never going to believe that opening up other drilling places (something I support BTW) is going to affect gas prices.

IF you don't think the few oil companies that remain don't have a monopoly on the American market, then this isn't going to go anywhere. Hell, one of my good friends fathers was Senior Vice President of Refining for one of the big oil companies until 2010. I have had long discussions about these things with him. IT IS a monopoly.

This is why these remaining oil companies went around buying up all the competition until there were only a few left, cut production, and started quadrupling profits. There were no competitors to counter this and put them out of business. Once they had a stranglehold they could make enough gas to meet the country's demand, but use the excuse of the production cuts to jack up prices, even though supply was meeting demand. They took full advantage of Wall St. and I wouldnt be surprised if they played a large role in it themselves.