Opinion: Fight oil companies by reducing gas consumption

There is something so personally demeaning about being taken. I feel so … so … out of control.

I have no choice; I have to buy gasoline for my car and natural gas to heat my home. I have thought about stuffing my fireplace openings with pellet stoves, building a windmill in the backyard and erecting a 40-foot solar panel covering the front of our house.

My family did not approve of my plans.

While you and I have been bellying up to local fuel pumps paying 50 percent to 80 percent more than this time last year, there has been an equal response from the suppliers.

Last quarter Exxon’s profits rose 75 percent, Shell 68 percent, Conoco Phillips 89 percent and BP 34 percent.

I am elated these well-known companies are doing so well. And to think these percentages were on profits, not net income. Wow! As someone who owns his own business, these numbers are part of my fantasies. Hey, these companies have hit the Pump Powerball!

This column is not sour grapes; rather, it is the bile of the burned.

I believe we have been taken for a short ride (no one can afford more than that) and we have been scammed.

I would never deny anyone the right to make a huge profit by offering a product that was in such demand that they laughed all the way to the bank.

Here is the distorted, paranoid part of me: I believe there has been premeditated collusion between politicians and energy companies to dramatically increase profits. You are saying right now, “Come on, the oil companies did not invent Katrina, Rita, Wilma and any other natural calamity.”

You are right, they did not invent them. They took advantage of them.

Does anyone remember that Sept. 11 and 12 the price of gasoline spiked to $5 and $6 per gallon? No one invented that horrible day, but some people took advantage of it.

Have you noticed that as soon as there was a hint refineries may be off-line because of an approaching hurricane, the price of your gasoline, on the same day, went higher?

Was there a moment when you wondered why the cost of gasoline goes up over the 4th of July and Labor Day weekends?

Unadulterated opportunism.

Some of you are saying, “Yeah, well, look, the price has been coming down.” Big deal! Even at present prices, we are all paying at least 60 percent more now than we were last year.

I know about the oil-guzzling emerging countries like the People’s Republic of China. I know about the initial investment needed to sink a new well. And I know that there are terrifying tales about wells running dry.

The bottom line is, I do not trust the energy industry. There is always a good reason for greed.

You and I have three problems right now.

First, we will never know the real story because the intricacies of this industry are shielded from consumers like us.

Second, we cannot trust our elected representatives to protect us because many of their campaigns are fueled by massive petrol-dollars.

Third, we have to use the products of the energy industry. We have no other viable choices. We are the victims of capitalism without a conscience.

Or are we?

There is factual information that the price per barrel of oil has come down in the last month because the demand has also been reduced. Here is the only card we can play at this table.

The only option for the victimized consumer is to reduce consumption. That’s it. If you want to get the attention of big oil, start driving less and buying less.

Instead of being taken to the laundry … just drive there once this week!

Cal LeMon of Executive Enrichment Inc. solves organizational problems with customized training and consulting.

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