Geez. I lived in the Berkshires (West Stockbridge) through most of the 90's. Even at $0.89/gal, it was way cheaper to heat my house with wood than home heating oil. And I didn't get "free" wood, I bought several green cords in the spring, had them delivered, and I spent a few weekends stacking wood to season.

There are always alternatives. Don't like the price of gas? move closer to work and walk or Bicycle. Don't like the price of heating oil? Buy wood and have a wood stove.

BAH!

When I say "what does it say..." I mean the collective John. I mean someone, some entity, whether a neighbor, a non-profit, church, government, etc. should be stepping up to the plate, saying it's not OK, and that they will help if the oil company will not. BTW, oil companies are of their own free will... I think $6B is being donated to needy Northeast customers. Why? Because someone asked them to and it was a darned good business decision. If you read my first post, I said companies do give back, they are massive donors to less fortunate.

But let me take the tack that "most" companies don't owe anything to anybody at any time. GM, Microsoft, etc. don't, nothing at all. Oil companies whose product pricing effects whether people live or not perhaps do owe Soceity something.

Do they owe the welfare mom cheap energy? No.

Do they owe the 69-year-old, fixed income widow? Yes.

Why? You've got me there. Just a gut feeling that someone who has most likely paid their dues in life gets to stay warm. I suppose I'm a socialist saying this, but I believe it.

Cashflyer,

I appreciate your points and the generosity you show in your donations. I simply got defensive because you insued that I would rather see a child die as long as I get a dividend. If I am going to take a look from the other side of the fence so should you. Assume you worked your entire life and discovered the cure for cancer, should you be able to sell it for a profit or should the government tell you that you can only charge xyz for 5 years? I am not going to continue arguing this one point because we are off of Shuans topic. And I will look over the acts that you have suggested.

We could all do more, and this is probably one of the greatest answers to Shuans thread.

When granny was 59 and home heating oil was cheap did she ever think about getting out of that big old house? Actually, home heating oil is the least of her problems, it is the property taxes that are eating up her saving and fixed income..

When your sister was raped, did you scold her for wearing a skirt?

Agreed.

Since I've already spewed a lot about education on OT before, I'll say that energy independence is a very big deal IMO. Someone is going to solve the energy problem and become independent from oil. And that nation will have an ENORMOUS economic and strategic advantage over every other nation (at least for a while). Frankly, I'd rather it be the US that solves the problem first and reaps the benefits. On the flip side, think about what will happen if, for instance, China goes "off the grid" while we are still shackled to mideast oil. You can say goodbye to the American Century and hello to the Chinese Millenium.

BTW - Y'all probably know I am a big fan of biodiesel as part of the solution. The American "middle east" region is far more politically stable and closer than the other middle east. A few months ago I posted a question on this forum seeking info on setting up a bio electrical plant to make $$. Unfortunately, the laws in my state do not support that sort of enterprise. So it isn't cost effective. :(

http://www.cea.fr/fr/sciences/nucleaire_1.htm

Nuclear is 28.4 euros/Mwh, gas 35 euros/Mwh, coal is 32-33.7 euros/Mwh. Those are complete production costs, including R&D costs.

Now, on the consumer end, the electricity cost is comprised between 0.1-0.12 euro/kWh.

I just looked at my Jersey Central electricity bill, it was $0.096/kWh.

http://particuliers.edf.fr/article493.html

Aurel