Lower Fuel Prices

We, the undersigned customers of public petroleum corporations and partnerships, hereby publicly proclaim indignation and anger at the callous attitudes currently put forth by the various aforementioned companies as evidenced by the rising prices of fuel with no obvious reasons for the higher prices except for profit taking.

As outlined by the statistics listed below, it's obvious that these companies (and surely their many competitors) are focusing on profit more than any other aspect of their business. While it is certainly understandable that a business must be profitable in order to remain viable, the huge numbers listed below are beyond the realm of ridiculousness.

The very nature of living in the United States precludes an outright strike against the fuel providers, as many citizens of the USA must utilize petroleum powered automobiles to get to work each day. We're locked into this relationship with the petroleum providers -- and those providers know it. As a result, prices for fuel rise in spite of the outrage of their customers because the companies know the customers have little choice in the matter.

Simply refusing to purchase fuel is therefore an impossible suggestion, hence the creation of this petition. The signatures listed below should be considered representative of "Conscientious Objector-Customers" -- customers who would gladly 'strike' or 'protest' if there were any viable means of doing so, but who cannot because of employment obligations and other unchangeable circumstances.

The following statistics are freely available to anyone via http://finance.yahoo.com and are provided through Yahoo! by various independent providers. Full details can be viewed at http://finance.yahoo.com/exchanges

Chevron (Texaco), numbers are all for trailing twelve months:
Revenue: $185.41 billion
Gross Profit: $57.30 billion
EBITDA*: $31.35 billion

Exxon Mobil Corp.
Revenue: $332.36 billion
Gross Profit: $157.68 billion
EBITDA*: $70.98 billion

BP PLC (Owner of ARCO & AMPM stations)
Revenue: $23.01 billion
Gross Profit: $35.80 billion
EBITDA*: $41.82 billion

*EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization

The various petroleum companies are therefore requested, by the undersigned, to do whatever it takes to help lower the prices of fuel. Failing that, the request reverts to the powers-that-be in Washington, DC to take the necessary steps to investigate the apparent racketeering that is taking place across our country.