I don't see the difference. There are costs in doing both (there are costs in getting the oil out of the ground just as there are up-front expenses that the farmer incurs before he has access to the processable raw material). The costs are different than each other, but nevertheless they are costs. What difference does it make at what point in the process the expense occurs. Again - I'm really missing the point there.
And there is expense in the taking just as the farmer has expense before he has access to his raw material. Again - what is your point there?
Sorry - I'd have to look back at what it was I was initially taking issue with. I'm just having trouble getting the point of some of your statements about the oil just sitting there for the taking, as if there are no costs involved there in contrast to the farmer who has up front expenses before he can harvest his wheat.
Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')