I for one DO think the gov't SHOULD tightly control the price and profit margins of gasoline within the USA just like ANY OTHER UTILITY MONOPOLY.

Anyone that thinks the oligopoly that the oil companies have is not a functional monopoly is a fool.

Just like Electricity, Natural Gas, and Water, gasoline is a UTILITY and should be treated as such by the gov't to ensure stability of supply AND price. People would not tolerate wildly fluctuating Electric, Gas, and Water prices and it is high time the same standard is applied to the oil companies. "You WILL continue to suppy maximal production at XXX price level" via edict. If that causes them to take a few years of record losses after a decade of record smashing gouge-level profiteering, SO BE IT !
Exxon, Texaco, Chevron, Mobil, Citgo, et al should be put on notice.

This is one of very FEW areas that I see the gov't being able to help the avg. Joe.

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