On May 18, 11:09 am, ktbr wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:

There is certainly not an oligopoly in the supply of crude oil. I'm
not familiar enough with the fuel's market to tell you if there may be
further down the chain (distribution, refining, etc). I have heard
some suggestions that some oil producers may have been growing through
vertical integration (i.e. they don't control the crude but may be
creating exclusive channels of distribution). If that is the case, it
may be appropriate for the gov't to break them up (as they did with
the old AT&T).

Oh, great. Lets let the 'great minds' in the Senate decide how to
more efficiently explore for, produce and deliver energy to the
American people. I can't wait to see how much lower my energy costs
are going to be with Ted Kennedy in charge.

Breaking up a big company can increase efficiency, not reduce it, if
their size prevents competition. At one point Boeing owned the only
viable airline. You may be able to argue that some certain situation
does not justify a gov't breaking up a company, but there is no
logical way you could be arguing that it is never necessary.

-Robert