On behalf of myself and the American public, I wish to thank the oil companies for allowing us to assist them in their record profits for the second year in a row. What makes their feat even more impressive this year is that they did not have to receive a $19 billion tax break from the government to break the record, as they did in 2006.

The only thing that saddens me is that they still haven’t made enough money to fix the refineries that haven’t been worked on since 1973 and which are the reason that they are struggling with providing the country with reasonably priced oil. Perhaps we should insist on paying more for their products and help them achieve their goal.

This is precisely what makes it so hard to argue with those free-market folks, when these large corporations put the needs of Americans above their own greed. Just think how bad it would be if the government stepped in, made oil affordable and kept these people from honestly making their money. The heck to all those who use the word gouging.

By the way, when officials in Washington tell people that the recession is partially caused by higher oil prices, people should not dare try to draw a connection to those record profits.

It doesn’t exist.

Wait a minute. My master is calling.

What’s that Mr. Exxon? Roll over and play dead? How’s this?

Bill Giasson, Lewiston