Sucking profit from the ground

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The Schrammie: Sucking profit from the ground

Story Published: May 14, 2007 at 3:47 PM PDT

Story Updated: May 14, 2007 at 3:47 PM PDT

By Ken Schram

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The State Attorney General is trying to get to the bottom of it.

 

I don't know if he can.

 

Congress has sporadically tried to find the truth.

 

But I don't know if it really wants to.

 

There's a word for what the oil industry is doing to us.

 

The FCC won't let me use it.

 

Gas prices being where they're at -- and where they seem to be headed -- I figure big oil deserves this "Schrammie" in a big way.

 

The profits are obscene.

 

For the first quarter of this year Exxon Mobile netted $9.28 billion.

 

But then poor Shell only pulled down a paltry $7.28 billion.

 

Record profits this year are exceeding the record profits of last year.

 

But you know that.

 

You're paying the price.

 

So while this "Schrammie" is for them, I'd rather you have it.

 

So, give me the best worst story you've got.

 

Give me a yarn of how you're living on bread and water in order to keep your car filled with gas.

 

Give me a tall tale or a short story and I'll give you the oil industry "Schrammie" and a free gallon of gas.

 

I'm hoping that maybe, in some small way, this little exercise will take our minds off how badly we're being had.

 

You have until Friday to send me your e-mail: kenschram@komo4news.com.

You can have the gallon of gas... I just want the Schrammie!!!

 

 

Um...

 

 

So, what do you think?

[Kor37 9]

I think that Schram is absolutely right. Every time I see one of those big oil honchos on a news show giving us all these wild excuses about why the price of gas is so high and saying it with a smug grin on his face makes me want to reach into the TV and just choke him. Their profits are obscene and anyone who doesn't think we are being gouged has their head stuck in the ground. The price of gas will affect everything in our lives. Its certainly affecting my business. The problem is we just seem to stand here and take it. Where are the protests? Anybody out there writing to their representatives about this? I certainly did. As long as we remain silent, this will continue to go on.

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Going for that free gallon of gas Kor?

[He Who Shall Not Be Named 2]

Actually, as long as we remain silent, we get to drive to work.

 

You might not like paying so much for gas, but if the alternative is not working what choice do you have?

 

It is free market economics. Deal with it. If you think gas is too expensive then don't buy it. That simple.

[Kor37 9]

Actually, as long as we remain silent, we get to drive to work.

 

You might not like paying so much for gas, but if the alternative is not working what choice do you have?

 

It is free market economics. Deal with it. If you think gas is too expensive then don't buy it. That simple.

 

 

Thats an incredibly narrow and over-simplistic view of the situation. Gas is not a luxury item. We need gas like we need air to breath or food to eat. There is no way around it. Its like saying that if you think the price of food is too high then don't eat......

 

The fact of the matter is that there is absolutely no reason for the price of gas to be this high. The big oil companies' quarterly profits prove this. Its plain and simple price gouging which last I checked, is against the law.

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Many contenders for oil industry Schrammie

Story Published: May 18, 2007 at 1:34 PM PDT

Story Updated: May 18, 2007 at 7:07 PM PDT

By Ken Schram

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Earlier this week, out of frustration and angst, I awarded the oil industry a "Schrammie."

 

Unwilling to give those gougers the actual bobble head, I asked for people to e-mail me the best worst story they could come up with and that I'd pick the best one and let them be the keeper of the oil industry "Schrammie."

 

The deadline was Friday. So who is going to be the keeper of the oil industry's "Schrammie?"

 

I've poured over several hundred e-mails.

 

I read poems, like the one from Kelly Burlingame:

 

"My nice things have vanished

into the vortex that is my gas tank.

My necessities are now

the profits of already rich men."

 

I read the tall tales, like the one from James Whitney: "Gas prices are so bad that I now have to shave my sheep dog myself."

 

I laughed at the clever e-mails, like this one from "The Susan."

 

 

I went into the gas station today and asked for five dollars worth of gas.....

 

The clerk farted and gave me a receipt!!

 

There were far too many e-mails that ended up tugging at my heart.

 

The retired couple counting pennies so they can drive to church.

 

The young couple barely scraping by with a baby on the way who drive no where but to work and back.

 

Picking just one to hold on to the oil industry "Schrammie" was really difficult, and in the end, I resorted to just closing my eyes and picking one.

 

So, Toni Nielsen, a single mom working two jobs and raising three kids, you are the keeper of this "Schrammie."

 

And while I also promised a free gallon of gas, I've decided to make it a tank.

 

Thanks everyone for going along with me on this one.

 

Have something to say to Ken? E-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com.

[Kor37 9]

Wow...a rare event. Schram and I being in complete agreement!...

[Capt_Picard 0]

Wow...a rare event. Schram and I being in complete agreement!...

Yip!