Comments on: OPEC is Evil and Don’t You Forget It

By: Mr. ToughMoneyLove

Mr. ToughMoneyLove — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:32:44 +0000

Andrea – As long as OPEC countries control so much oil, we will cannot destroy it all at once. However, picking off the worst of the members (such as Venezuela) one by one would be worthwhile in that it would send a message to the others that they should not use their oil as leverage to support harsh anti-American properties.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:22:35 +0000

Hmm. I don’t know if that’s true, but at least you didn’t give the standard e-mail chain letter reply answer that it’d somehow destroy OPEC.

By: Mr. ToughMoneyLove

Mr. ToughMoneyLove — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:14:45 +0000

Andrea: If everyone stopped buying from CITGO, that gas/oil would be sold elsewhere (outside the US) which would likely dramatically increase distribution costs and lower profits for Petroleos de Venezuela, and thereby decrease the amount of money that Chavez has available to prop up his anti-democratic rule.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:04:49 +0000

If you stop purchasing gasoline from Citgo, what do you think would happen to all of that gasoline and oil?

By: Mr. ToughMoneyLove

Mr. ToughMoneyLove — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:24:25 +0000

John: Thanks for your visit and comment. I understand your point about ownership of CITGO stations but that does not change the fact that the CITGO brand (which franchises and supplies fuel to the stations) is 100% owned by Petroleos de Venezuela, which in turn is owned by the Venezuelan government. So, ultimately, purchases of gas at CITGO stations in the US feed profits into the Venezuelan treasury. That wouldn’t be so bad except that Venezuala is a founding member of OPEC and is run by an autocratic, anti-American socialist, Hugo Chavez.

By: John

John — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:06:48 +0000

The only impact legal action against CITGO stations would have is hurting local businesses in America. CITGO itself does not own or operate any stations. Each and every CITGO station in the United States is locally owned and independently operated. Money spent at local stations goes to independent business owners who supply jobs to hard-working Americans in their communities and pay taxes to support local, state, and federal programs. In addition, owners and operators of local CITGO stations give a tremendous amount back to their communities through charity and community programs. Those communities are who would be hurt if people stopped buying gas at CITGO stations. And that’s not good for anyone.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:16:42 +0000

Thanks for that comment, goldenrail – I found it very interesting.