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Yes

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I would say no if oil company profits were not increasing, but instead their profits are increasing a hundred fold while their supply is slowing down. It is the same thing with water scares in local counties. They begin warning people a month before summer that water levels are low, but in actuality, there is no problem. There is plenty of water, it is just a way to limit use of water and raise prices for a short duration in case the next two years are really bad droughts, but the current year has no problem.

Gas companies are doing the same thing. They are raising salaries, closing down more plants, and working less all the while passing the buck on to us. One example, California Gas prices. There are dozens of refineries in California producing for California and other states. When Katrina hit our prices went through the roof, why? We have our own refineries, we use more than any other state, and our lines were not affected. Another example, mid west states pay cheaper gas, given they don't have the same EPA regulations, but they still pay less. This is not economically possible. They require a refinery in another state to produce it, ship it over, then pump it, it is very expensive. Whereas most of California is just a short drive to a Refinery in the Bay Area!?

So, yes, they have huge profits and terrible service. Gas companies have so much money they can afford to lock in gas rates for months at a time and wade things through. They need to take their profits and plan to better serve their customers, instead they don't. So taxes would be useful to better use what they unjustly take from us.

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