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record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what do y... - 10/27/2005 1:04:08 PM

girl4you2

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it's been reported that exxon mobil corp. posted a quarterly profit of $9.9 billion thursday, the largest in U.S. corporate history, raking in from soaring oil and gas prices. oil companies are having record profits while we are paying record prices for gasoline. for the third quarter in a row, they have had huge raises in profit margins. exxon's quarterly profit was up 75% from a year ago, with revenues of more than $100 billion. those are huge amounts of money. should they pay some sort of windfall profits tax or other penalties for making obscene amounts of money while we all pay hideously high prices?

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 1:08:40 PM

sub4hire

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That is our government, what can we do?

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 1:18:48 PM

girl4you2

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sub4hire

That is our government, what can we do?

i don't have the answers, only some ideas. voting and reading into who one might vote for might be a start. so many vote without reading the whole of the laws or looking into the background and voting record of those they vote for. also writing to one's local, state, and federal representatives and letting them know how one feels is another idea. sometimes not much is done, but sometimes it's heard.

one might also vote with their money, i.e. boycott all products of exxon mobil (although they aren't the only ones raking in the money, they are the most offensive). if one carried it further, one might boycot all possible oil/gas products that one can. it was done years ago with the buses and it had a large impact on civil rights. i don't have any ultimate answers, just a lot of questions. it's yet another example of how capitalisic our society is, rather than anything else. good question: what can we do?

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 1:25:45 PM

Quivver

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Makes me wonder if the Oil Companies are close cousins of Insurance Companies. The both seem to hold us by the short hairs.

Q

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 1:26:02 PM

girl4you2

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sub4hire
That is our government, what can we do?

i did find this in the news:
In addition to calls for a windfall profits tax or other penalties, lawmakers & consumer advocates have been urging oil companies to expand refining capacity & take other steps to help bring down gasoline prices.

Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said Thursday that oil firms have a responsibility to boost refining capacity in times of record profits. Marathon Oil said it would do just that, announcing a $2.2 billion expansion of its Garyville, La., refinery.

"We're already seeing some companies yielding to pressure," said Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Fadel Gheit. "But everybody is waiting for the big lady to sing, which is Exxon."

i still have always believed in voting with my money. i will wear layers of warmer clothes this winter as i have in more dire years, i will use solar heat with curtains open during the day to the sun and closed at night, i will park my car unless i abolutely have to use it, and i will walk more or use the bus (yes, we do have them here in so cal). just a few of the things that i plan to do, in addition to letting my lawmakers know where i stand on this and other issues.

< Message edited by girl4you2 -- 10/27/2005 1:31:05 PM >

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 1:54:45 PM

Aileen68

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It's sad when you drive by a gas station and see $2.45 a gallon and say to yourself "Oh look how cheap it is." We are so conditioned by the government, the oil companies and the media to think we are getting a deal if it's less than three dollars a gallon. Remember when it was $1.29. Or how about $.79. I cringe to think what it will cost to heat my house this winter.

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 2:20:30 PM

girl4you2

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aileen68

It's sad when you drive by a gas station and see $2.45 a gallon and say to yourself "Oh look how cheap it is." We are so conditioned by the government, the oil companies and the media to think we are getting a deal if it's less than three dollars a gallon. Remember when it was $1.29. Or how about $.79. I cringe to think what it will cost to heat my house this winter.

dang, i'd love to find gas under $3.00/gallon! but yes, i recall within the past couple of years when it was under $2.00/gallon. my kids and i are gonna wear lots of layers this winter!

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 4:05:04 PM

sub4hire

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quote:

In addition to calls for a windfall profits tax or other penalties, lawmakers & consumer advocates have been urging oil companies to expand refining capacity & take other steps to help bring down gasoline prices.

I read something similar to that today as well. Apparently it takes a minimum of 10 year's to build a refinery. I guess if you add in the red tape...etc..etc government bureaucracy as well it could be 30 years down the road.

Too much red tape and not enough action. Personally I’m starting to think it is high time for a revolution.

I live in So Cal myself, last time I bought gas I believe I paid 3.01 a gallon.
IF it made it to 2.50 I’d be celebrating.

(in reply to girl4you2)

Post #: 8

RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 4:10:47 PM

MissDiandSirHugh

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From: Goondiwindi ( Qld )
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Here on the bottom side of the world in our state its $1.27 au a ltr and 50 miles away in another state its $1.37.
even in our town that only has 4 service stations there are two with one price and two 1c less.
So its the same the world over and companys as well as governments are making to much mony to stop it happening

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 4:20:09 PM

mnottertail

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The shortages are just not there if you wanna pay 9 bucks a gallon or any other number you can get all you want and for your buddies too.

This was called profiteering in the other 'wars'.

But a scam is nevertheless a scam no matter what the hook is presented as.

_____________________________

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 5:10:38 PM

BlkTallFullfig

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A lil positive update today.
Myers is out of bid for supreme court.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/27/AR2005102700547.html M

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""Touching was, and still is, and will always be, the true revolution" Nikki Giovanni

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 5:13:26 PM

girl4you2

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sub4hire

quote:

In addition to calls for a windfall profits tax or other penalties, lawmakers & consumer advocates have been urging oil companies to expand refining capacity & take other steps to help bring down gasoline prices.

I read something similar to that today as well. Apparently it takes a minimum of 10 year's to build a refinery. I guess if you add in the red tape...etc..etc government bureaucracy as well it could be 30 years down the road.

Too much red tape and not enough action. Personally I’m starting to think it is high time for a revolution.

I live in So Cal myself, last time I bought gas I believe I paid 3.01 a gallon.
IF it made it to 2.50 I’d be celebrating.

sounds like we really need some oil from the east. guns, butter and oil; basic economic concepts. only sometimes, things don't happen as planned, i guess.

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/27/2005 10:24:27 PM

DesertRat

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From: NM/USA
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I think the high fuel prices are a good thing, overall, but the energy companies raking in these enormous windfall profits should be forced to pay enormous windfall profits taxes so that we get some benefit fed back to us. Hopefully, people will start to conserve now, though our government prefers to cater to our desire to consume, consume, consume.

The Bush administraton will use the current energy crunch as an excuse to open up the Alaskan wildlife refuge to drilling. Think that will lower your gas costs? Really? Think again. Think it will mess up the environment? Well, the Earth won't exactly blow up, but some pristine and fragile habitats will be irreparably altered. For what? The oil companies will make more money, but even after we've trashed Alaska we'll still be paying at least 2.50/gal for gas. I'd like to see it get back to 3.00/gal and stay there. Looks like for once I will get my wish.

Anyway, pardon the rant. I just wanted to donate my 2 cents worth.

Bob

< Message edited by DesertRat -- 10/27/2005 10:25:51 PM >

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/28/2005 10:21:02 AM

girl4you2

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Joined: 8/4/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertRat

I think the high fuel prices are a good thing, overall, but the energy companies raking in these enormous windfall profits should be forced to pay enormous windfall profits taxes so that we get some benefit fed back to us. Hopefully, people will start to conserve now, though our government prefers to cater to our desire to consume, consume, consume.

i guess all those hummers and range rovers, not to mention the suv's will keep on guzzling in the spirit of america; seems there was a time when the u.s. government was putting a tax on their houses to enforce increased gas mileage. i'm not sure what happend to that bit of legislation.

quote:

The Bush administraton will use the current energy crunch as an excuse to open up the Alaskan wildlife refuge to drilling.

they already have; that little dollup of legislation was passed earlier this year, in direct response to our not getting oil out of iraq and the $70/barrel as a result, or so they say.

quote:

Think that will lower your gas costs? Really? Think again. Think it will mess up the environment?

yes, but will anyone care? or will they just say it's for the good of america, or will most people not even be aware of it until something happens. i'd bet a dollar on the latter one.

quote:

Well, the Earth won't exactly blow up, but some pristine and fragile habitats will be irreparably altered. For what? The oil companies will make more money

and this is a democracy, not a country run by corporations, gosh.

quote:

, but even after we've trashed Alaska we'll still be paying at least 2.50/gal for gas. I'd like to see it get back to 3.00/gal and stay there. Looks like for once I will get my wish.

yep, but it won't make a rat's tail of a difference other than to make a bunch of fat cats richer, and some politicians, too. god bless america.

quote:

Anyway, pardon the rant. I just wanted to donate my 2 cents worth.

and that goes for me as well; pardon mine and i added my .01 cents worth

Bob

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/28/2005 11:33:23 AM

SadistDave

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Just a thought...

Oil companies are like any other. They are a business designed to make profits for their share holders. Why is there no moral outrage when McDonalds, or WalMart report record profits?

Oil companies will sell their products at whatever price the market will bear. It's as simple as that. Translation: They charge what they think you, the consumer, are willing to pay. Clearly, they have a pretty good idea about how much that is...

Oh, they know everyone will bitch and moan about it, but they don't need to care because they have what you want. Driving gas guzzling luxury cars is America's real drug of choice, and these companies know it. They are fully aware that you'll eventually show up at the pumps to get your fix.

Those wicked, wicked oil companies!

-SD-

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/28/2005 11:51:50 AM

girl4you2

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SadistDave

Just a thought...

Oil companies are like any other. They are a business designed to make profits for their share holders. Why is there no moral outrage when McDonalds, or WalMart report record profits?

Oil companies will sell their products at whatever price the market will bear. It's as simple as that. Translation: They charge what they think you, the consumer, are willing to pay. Clearly, they have a pretty good idea about how much that is...

Oh, they know everyone will bitch and moan about it, but they don't need to care because they have what you want. Driving gas guzzling luxury cars is America's real drug of choice, and these companies know it. They are fully aware that you'll eventually show up at the pumps to get your fix.

Those wicked, wicked oil companies!

-SD-

i know i'm letting myself in for a beating here, and my fingers tell me to shut the heck up, but my somewhere else won't let me. nobody will freeze to death if they don't eat at mcdonald's or shop at walmart. they won't die of heatstroke if they nix shopping at nordstrom. no formerly pristine habitats will be sacrificed for the sake of another hat bought at bloomingdale's. no waters will be soiled by accidents if there is a blue light special at k-mart.

an interesting thing about wal-mart and markets they've gone into, though. they push out many smaller retailers, which puts people out of work and onto that line someone in another thread thought unamerican. we had a grocery workers strike out here a while back, and it had a great deal to do in some ways with wal-mart and their hiring and paying practices. some of us actually shopped at more blue friendly stores and didn't cross the picket lines, nor divert to wal-mart. a choice, to each their own.

i could go on for too long about corporate greed in many, many areas. some have resulted in human lives being lost or forever adversely changed. some have resulted in the ruination of economies of families, cities, or states in some cases. others have ruined lands for scores of years. is it okay? should it be tolerated and/or encouraged? i suppose that's where that writing and lobbying and boycotting stuff comes in. to each their own.

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maireann croí éadrom i bhfad. is maith an scáthán súil charad. is leor nod don eolach.
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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/28/2005 12:46:37 PM

SadistDave

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So, you take a stand for your beliefs by not doing business with a company you have a strong personal belief is in the wrong.

Good for you!

Sounds like you're a woodstove and an electric car away from inner peace.

Congrats.
-SD-

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Post #: 17

RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/28/2005 1:05:41 PM

DesertRat

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From: NM/USA
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girl4you2, and SadistDave: I can relate to both of your positions. I am no lover of oil companies, believe me. But when I hear someone criticizing those wicked gasmongers, and then watch them climb into their Chevy Avalance, Hummer, or Lincoln Navigator, I just have to roll my eyes and laugh.

Bob

ps: I do have a woodstove, but I don't have to use it much, since my house is designed to be passively heated by the sun. I also have a car that gets 25-30 mpg, not great but better than most of the guzzlers on America's roads. Plus, the shit that comes out of the tailpipe is probably cleaner than the air in LA....weird.

< Message edited by DesertRat -- 10/28/2005 1:09:38 PM >

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RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/28/2005 1:08:39 PM

sub4hire

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quote:

But when I hear someone criticizing those wicked gasmongers, and then watch them climb into their Chevy Avalance, Hummer, or Lincoln Navigator, I just have to roll my eyes and laugh.

All ugly cars in my opinion. I've never been one to buy something for other's to see. I buy what I happen to like.
Anyway, my next endeavor will be learning how to build a vegetable engine car. Unless of course I can buy one pre made. Need to look into it, been thinking about it a couple of year's now.

(in reply to DesertRat)

Post #: 19

RE: record profits by Exxon Mobil of $9.9 billion-what ... - 10/28/2005 2:47:15 PM

GoddessDustyGold

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From: Arizona
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I think what I find most interesting here is the comments about "that''s the governement..." This is not a direct quote, but I often wonder about the people who shrug and seem to think that all blame as well as all responsibility for a citizen's personal comfort level should be laid on "the government". In the USA, we seem to forget that WE are the government! As long as people don't come out in force and protest some of the ridiculous spending "the governement" is doing, it is giving tacit permission to be wasteful. We are not supposed to be wasteful, but "the government" can be? And can we really say, as a people, that we are not wasteful, and have some sort of sense of entitlement just because we live in the good ol' US of A?
As to the price of petrol in other countries...has anybody thought to check to see how much of that is taxes and where those taxes go? It is a trade off. Ya want social program such as socialized medicine, then you will pay for it at the gas pump. In the USA we still pay less at the pump, but we also have less in terms of certain expensive social programs. This is one case where you just can't have your cake and eat it too. The more you want or demand, the more you will have to pay for it, in some way or another. It ain't free! It's just a poorer quality and the customer service stinks. But you're still paying for it.
So think before you vote. You do hold the power, and we all should be asking some very hard questions and holding our representatives to a stricter standard. But we don't. Most of us don't even pay attention to what is being presented in Congress, how much fat has weaseled it's way into a bill, and who has or hasn't voted and how they voted.
On topic...it has been 30+ years since we have built a new refinery in this country. Why is that? Another hard question. I kind of know the answer. Perhaps encouragement for a windfall profits tax would be good. The plus side for the corporation is proof along approved guidelines that these windfall profits are, in fact, being plowed right back into new refineries which will benefit the corporation and the citizenry. That gets them a "windfall profits" tax break. Some regulation is good. Some tax breaks are good. The minus side is determining what constitutes a windfall profit. The trick is finding the right balance.
I say fire all the Lobbysits! But then I always thought the answer to cancer caused by cigarette smoking would be to just kill all the rats.
*Smiling as I type this...honest!*

< Message edited by GoddessDustyGold -- 10/28/2005 2:49:37 PM >

_____________________________

Dusty
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety
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Don't blame Me ~ I didn't vote for either of them
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