And now for a little perspective

Most people know I love a good debate. I enjoy being the Devil's advocate. Take the contrary unpopular view and make people see that said view is not "evil". If you want the best example of this, in a theatrical sense, rent "Thank you for smoking." It is great. The premise is that as the Devil's advocate I do not need to show you that my view is correct, I just need to point out that your view is flawed.
That being said. It seems Big Oil is the latest whipping boy. Now first perspective is that gas prices are NOT a pure function of Big Oil. The gas price blow-up was more a function of shady traders hedging bets on oil futures and driving prices, to cover losses elsewhere. So most of the far left already have their Big Oil premise of greed and batching in gold bullion shot from the water.
More than that my view, as opposed to "yours", is this. Oil, and its byproduct gas is a bargain. The simple minded argument of mpg for vehicles is sheer pandering to hysteria. Has mpg gone down? Of course, that is a shame in a technological age. However, your argument there is against the auto manufacturers and not Big Oil. Get your argument straight and seperate the issues. They are mutually exclusive.
OK, back to point.
Gas is a bargain. The price per gallon is inexpensive. If you look at the price per gallon as it relates to economic stimulus, gas is the ultimate driver of economy. Gas allows goods and services to get to the consumer. Gas allows the consumer to utilize these goods and services.
Let us take examples of three particular goods that are highly consumed, can be delineated out to cost per gallon and have incredibly high margins with essentially ZERO R&D or economic stimulus. Soda, coffee, bottled water. Why is Congress not going after Starbucks or Coke/Pepsi. These entities have cost per gallons that far exceed gas. They are consumed just as much, yet no one is on a high horse about paying $4 for some effing double mocha cappa caramel half caf frappalatta. Yet, Starbucks exploits coffee pickers for pennies per hour wage and pennies on the pound for beans.
Enough of this. The post would be far too long to go into the whole argument. My point is this, especially to bike racers. STOP EFFING WHINING ABOUT GAS!!!!!! You just drove 1,2,3 hours to ride your bike in circles around an industrial park when you could have walked out your door to ride for free. Thus you would have stuck the dagger in the heart of Evil Big Oil and you would have saved the environment.
When you look at margins, R&D, economic stimulus, supply & demand, gas really is quite a bargin. Ultimately your argument is flawed because their was no objectivity. Like in the movie, there is more than one flavor, Vanilla. I want Chocolate.
Thank you for smoking and have a nice day.