How much did Microsoft make when oil was $11/barrel in the mid-1980's?
How much did GM make when gasoline was 29 CENTS a gallon?
When the vast majority of your raw materials come from countries other than your own and you compete on the open market for those resources with rising economies such as those in China and India, why are you suprised and why, EXACTLY, do you think it's unfair that companies have invested hundreds of billion of dollars are not entitled to make a profit? A profit, BTW, that is all over the map historically as oil prices fluctuate with supply and WORLD demand? Are you really naive enough to believe that Exxon controls crude oil prices on the world market? And if you do, how do you possibly explain why crude oil prices were "allowed" to drop from nearly $40/barrel in 1982 to $11/barrel in 1986?
Dam.n the logic and facts ... but full speed ahead with the conspiracy.
GM, Ford and Chrylser's issues have a LOT more to do with incredibly lousy management and American's buying Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans than it does oil prices. All three were in DEEP doodoo when oil was $40/barrel. I've never owned a Japanese car and I don't plan on buying one anytime in this lifetime.