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Forum Post: Why no Occupy Petroleum?

Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 17, 2012, 1:22 p.m. EST by Heldhostage (11)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

For a while now I have been watching what has been going on with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Amazingly it seems to me that the Occupy Wall Street Movement has actually accomplished two things . One is to bring a good amount of News Media and recruit members.

The part that I am surprised at is that the focus is on Wall Street. Rather than Petroleum companies. In a country with a Petroleum based economy which is being held hostage at the gas pump, such having been the case for several decades now, it would seem that petroleum companies would be the focus if actual change were the desired effect.

The United States has the ability to have the cheapest crude oil and gasoline prices in the entire world, yet we are held hostage by every opportunity the petroleum companies desire to fabricate in order to jack prices higher and higher.

I wonder at a time when when many people are out of work, having to choose between food and gasoline, why this would not be a paramount focus.

The Occupy Wall Street Movement appears to have little to no effect on Stock Market trends and has become to Wall Street just another daily annoyance.

Are the Petroleum Companies untouchable? Are they off limits for some reason? I have wondered from the start of this movement actually how much if any effect this would have on the Market as a whole. I have not seen more than a glitch in the trading trends as a result of the Occupy Movement.

However, the Petroleum industry has no choice but to respond. Unfortunately until Crude Prices drop to $30.00 a barrel or less, gas prices will only continue to soar while the Oil Moguls post record profits every month and keep the entire economy choked down due to high costs ion transportation, manufacturing and every conceivable step required to produce a single market item in the United States.

If you want to level the playing field, then you have to first know where the field is.

I suspect though that the Occupy Movement will likely not accomplish much more than making a name for a few people and getting many others arrested.

Many are waiting to see if this movement is real or simply a publicity stunt. You have to realize that may of us who have been fighting these issues for the last 30 to 40 years have seen a lot of things come and lot of things go. Few leaving a trace once they have burned out.

Momentum can only last so long with out some degree of success. Success being making a real and permanent difference for the 99% not just publicity for a few.

If you really want to change America, take the power away from the petroleum companies. If gasoline were $1.80 a gallon, there would be no inflation, the American Dollar would have the highest value in decades, People would have expendable income and jobs creation would be in full force.

I am curious to see if the Occupy Movement will actually take on the petroleum companies or of the Big Oil money will go untouched.

19 Comments

19 Comments


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[-] 1 points by Samcitt (136) 12 years ago

They need an Occupy Area 51.

[-] 1 points by fairforall (279) 12 years ago

From the US Department of Energy, here is how they breakdown the cost of a gallon of gas. Libya is under siege and the futures price of oil spiked $9 higher tonight. Because 40% of the corn crop is going to ethanol, corn was up 23 cents per bushel too!

Currently, 68% of the pump price can be attributed to the cost of a barrel of oil. 14% goes to taxes, 8% to marketing and distribution, and 10% is refining.

The price of crude varies. That’s why the price of gas at the pump varies. Taxes, the cost of refining, and distribution costs are relatively static. It is relatively certain a gallon of gas will top $4 per gallon soon. Not only that, but gas will be well over $4 per gallon for the summer driving season. One reason for that is the summer reformulation that the government mandates.

There is no short term fix to get the cost of a gallon of gas down. The long term fix is to create more supply of all proven energy; oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear. Solar and wind won’t cut it. We ought to be drilling, mining, and building.

There is a short term fix to the cost of corn. End the ethanol subsidies. Corn prices would drop, causing repercussions throughout the entire agriculture economy, because so much of it relies on the price of corn.

[-] 0 points by DevilDog420 (133) from Saratoga Springs, NY 12 years ago

This is a relevant topic for sure... Why is it politicians never talk about oil dependence, or family values? We are slowly watching the death of the middle class, the suburbs, and the great american highway. My answer is move to the country or the city and buy a nice mountain bike. Only rich people will be able to afford luxury vehicles anymore. If most of us stopped using cars it would saves us money, and stop a lot of CO2 from going into the air.

[-] 1 points by jrhirsch (4714) from Sun City, CA 12 years ago

Best way to Occupy big oil is to occupy gas stations less. I went from a 17mpg vehicle to a 35mpg one. Instead of just complaining do something positive. Economic democracy in action.

[-] 1 points by francismjenkins (3713) 12 years ago

I'm jealous, I'm upside down in my 300c, and as fun as a 5.7 liter Hemi is, 17mpg city/20 hwy is a little hard on my wallet (not to mention the environment). The most embarrassing part, I bought the thing while on active duty (basically, the old swinging dick contest, which happens when you have too much testosterone concentrated in one location) :)

[-] 1 points by jrhirsch (4714) from Sun City, CA 12 years ago

Your auto purchase might not have been due to the testosterone, but to the MSM advertising that shot it through your veins. Large cars equal large profits equals large oil sales and tires and all related items in the economy. They got pumped up while the buyers were left deflated by the time it was paid for. The same with our politicians. Where can we find a good economy model that doesn't pull to the right or left, that does not require a contribution to drive, and responds to voice command.

[-] 1 points by ClearView (73) 12 years ago

Some good thoughts here about Occupy Petroleum. I have attended a few Philly GA's where anyone may suggest an action. have you presented this at a local GA for some action? For Example "End Oil Subsidies and oil tax breaks"

[-] 0 points by economicallydiscardedcitizen (761) 12 years ago

As contract negotiations continue at Tesoro/Golden Eagle, Valero, Shell and others in Martinez, CA Union workers are operating without a contract and, since one of them is a friend we know first hand that they too are unhappy about the greed reflected in the pricing of gas. According to him, based on calculations of costs the 'raw' cost of gas per gallon is somewhere in the neighborhood of .10 Cents per gallon, the inflated pricing of apx. $3.50 per gallon reflects the profit margin so, in hearing that I too have wondered why Oakland and San Francisco Occupiers have not taken up the cause of protesting the 'hidden in plain sight' gross margins of inflated gas pricing that in effect keeps the majority of drivers leashed by costs to driving distances of within a daily max of 25 miles to probably no more than a 50 mile drive for a weekend or extended vacation due to income constraints with devalued dollars.

OK Occupy Wall Street, you now know the raw cost of processed gas per one of the refinery workers who helped calculate the estimate of it so please protest the high cost of gas if you are near refinery towns such as Martinez, CA and Richmond, CA

Signed, Economicallydiscardedcitizen (sick of being leashed by high gas prices to within 8 miles of my home and having to limit driving to no more than 4 driving trips per week for food, necessities and gas due to limited income until an increase in stable income occurs.)

[-] 1 points by Heldhostage (11) 12 years ago

I found similar estimates in my research as well, with the most expensive being 14 cents per gallon in some refineries.

I also discovered that it costs only about $14 dollars to produce a barrel of crude.

The crude by products alone excluding gasoline generate more than enough profit to cover production and upkeep plus generate substantial profits.

[-] 2 points by Faithntruth (997) 12 years ago

How much does it cost to store and transport and store and run a gass station? There is more to the cost than you you account for. I am not against your essential point, just pointing out more that needs to be considered. Oil companies are making record profits every quarter, and we are the ones paying for others to get rich when some of us cant even afford to fill the freakin tank in the car.

[-] 2 points by Heldhostage (11) 12 years ago

I agree, there is much more, but the fact is the gas stations operate at a rather small profit margin while the producers operate at a tremendous profit margin.

The reduction of falsely inflated prices by producers would reduce the cost at the pump and even allow for a better profit margin at the local level which would help the local economy and place more money in the hands of employees in the community.

The profit margin for the average local store is usually only cents , while the jobber does a lot better. The petroleum companies cut everyone below them to the point that there are no price breaks at the local level.

[-] 1 points by Mooks (1985) 12 years ago

One thing that I have done for about 15 years is keep a few thousand dollars invested in some oil companies (most of the big ones are publicly traded). The value of the investments normally goes up much faster than the cost of gasoline so it more than offsets it. They also pay nice dividends.

You are right in that big oil is a massive cash cow but it is also an industry where it is very, very easy for middle class Americans to also profit nicely.

[-] 0 points by economicallydiscardedcitizen (761) 12 years ago

Mooks, That is a good valid point and once our personal economics returns to some semblance of 'normalcy' investing is and always has been part of our plans before the bottom fell out of the markets 2007/08 beyond what we anticipated and preventively saved for.

D. R. I. P. S. (Dividend Reinvestment) with a diversified selection of investment types is wise as any investment advisor will tell you and for anyone to stay 'comfortable' and to make things simple it's always a good idea to break apart personal finances in 3rds or quarters ie: using your Net income after taxes create your budget so that your living expenses including utilities, garbage, insurance and property care reserve calculates to around no more than 1/3, general living expenses (car, insurance, medical, dental, vision insurance or reserve, personal care, food) equal to about another 1/3 and savings/investment set aside in with a view to spreading risk. Of course, if you're self employed/commission employee you would decide where the maximum flexibilities lie before you are uncomfortable enough to take aggressive action to correct excesses brought about by variables that can reduce income averages.

[-] 1 points by economicallydiscardedcitizen (761) 12 years ago

Yep and the refinery workers do not get a special discount like they did in the old days adding further discontent among them. Apparently at the refinery he works at their costs are on the lower end but just the same, people need to know and something has to be done.

Best, Economicallydiscardedcitizen (sick of being tethered by artificially high gas prices!)

[-] 0 points by economicallydiscardedcitizen (761) 12 years ago

PS: This link with info. and plenty of articles concerning costs of gas from Exxon I found as a click through yesterday. I thought the breakdown of costs involved informative http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/

If you find any site that quantifies across multiple refiners it would be appreciated.

[-] -1 points by FreeDiscussion4 (70) 12 years ago

Own petroleum? I bet you already own a years supply of KY. Heldhostage sounds like a calling out for help from a gay partner.

[-] 0 points by DayumShame (148) 12 years ago

y'all can occupy my anus whenever you want to.

[-] -1 points by FreeDiscussion4 (70) 12 years ago

I will let you and Heldhostage alone. Have fun!

[-] 0 points by DevilDog420 (133) from Saratoga Springs, NY 12 years ago

Texas, only steers and queers come from Texas, How tall are you boy? 5-5 sir. I didn't know they stacked it that high...

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