Our pain is their plan for profit

From my "local" NBC station, KCRA in Sacramento:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A Chevron memo is raising suspicion that oil executives intentionally reduced refining capacity in an effort to boost profits. The 1995 memo, obtained by Consumers Union, reads:

"If the U.S. petroleum industry doesn't reduce its refining capacity, it will never see any substantial increase in refinery profits."

In the last 20 years, 18 of California's 32 refineries have shut down (my em). The industry is now seeing record prices and profits at the pump.

Our 'pain at the pump' looks like it has been carefully engineered for the profit of a few. Naturally, they also have a PR program to blame everybody but themselves.