About Oil and gas...

God help us! Congress is talking about enacting a "windfall profits tax" to punish the gas companies for all the money they have made lately. Does anyone remember the late 70's???
The last time Congress did such a stupid damned thing the price of gas went even higher and inflation became rather, shall we say...massive?!

How about if congress enacted legislation that granted relief from TAXES on gas??? Has anyone ever heard these idiots suggest that as a way to give some relief to the average American???
Nope! And you never will!

For those of you lacking in oil/gas stocks, I will explain a few things. These stocks seldom pay well. Sure, there are dividends, but not particularly great ones...this time around EX/Mob actually DID pay some decent dividends...for a change.
In factoring the prices, also remember that each part of the country, indeed sometimes in each part of a state, there are different formulations of gas...these are mandated by the Gov't...this formulation changes with the seasons, so right now the gas at your local distributor/mixer is being made to comply with EPA standards for Spring/Summer driving...(hot weather, smog etc). This takes time and money...and the formulation changes not just with the seasons but with new information on pollution. This also causes the price to go up...

I am no great fan of the oil/gas industry...but I know when congress is about to stick it's greasy nose in somewhere that will hurt the whole country...and this is one of those times.