Another Reason To Raise Gas Prices

The oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that exploded and burned last week continues to leak oil at a rate that is five times greater than originally thought.  Latest reports say 5 thousand barrels of oil each day is being leaked into the waters of the gulf.  Ideas are being taken from all levels on ways to stop the leak and to clean up the growing oil slick that is threatening wildlife and the fishing industry in that area.  You have to figure that among the other consequences of this disaster will be even higher prices for gasoline (which are already closing in on 3 dollars a gallon).  Oil companies seem to use any excuse they can to continue to jack up the price while, at the same time, reaping in obscenely large profits.  Just today, Exxon-Mobil reported a first quarter profit of 6.3 billion dollars, up 38 percent from a year ago.  I would hope they would use some of those profits to increase the safety features of off-shore oil rigs, so that this kind of disaster won't happen again.