Exxon's Profits

[Justin24]

This is not suprising. In the last three months, Total earning's are
8,400,000,000. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/04/27/D8H8DJD03.html we must want to pay the retiring CEO his salary.

 

[hiphop]

we still remember the exxon valdez disaster.

these bastards are not investing enough in the security of their fleet.

 

[YBORCITY]

No wonder American Businesses and Americans are so hated around the world. How much profits are sufficient? I would think 8.4 Billion would be enough.

 

[ntalwar]

Hmm - the same company that is sponsoring Bono's upcoming speech in Texas. He should milk some of that cash for foreign aid.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Oh who cares, the Republicans are going to give people $100 for gas.

 

[MsGiggles]

Oh who cares, the Republicans are going to give people $100 for gas.

I think Exxon should give us a lot more than that

 

[deep]

Oh who cares, the Republicans are going to give people $100 for gas.

how stupid are they?

or should I say

who is stupider?

the Republicans?
or
the public (really just the conservative base they are trying to shore up)?

 

[verte76]

This is outrageous.

 

[YBORCITY]

how stupid are they?

or should I say

who is stupider?

the Republicans?
or
the public (really just the conservative base they are trying to shore up)?

Great post........ I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[deep]

Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks

Under proposal, most U.S. taxpayers would get one

From Dana Bash
CNN
Thursday, April 27, 2006; Posted: 2:38 p.m. EDT (18:38 GMT)





WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most American taxpayers would get $100 rebate checks to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.

"Our plan would give taxpayers a hundred dollar gas tax holiday rebate check to help ease the pain that they're feeling at the pump," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Thursday. "

Frist said the rebates would go to single taxpayers making less than $125,000 per year, and couples making less than $150,000.

"A lot of these other things we're talking about today, supply, like ANWR, have had Democrats oppose them in the past, when gas was $1.25, $1.50. Gas is now $3," said John Thune, R-South Dakota. "I would expect that there would be a lot more bipartisan support for proposals that would increase supply in this country."

"We have been trying for years to do something about supply without their help. I hope now that we'll have their help," he added.

But Democrats seemed unimpressed.

"It's designed to protect Big Oil while mistakenly believing that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will solve America's energy problems," Jim Manley, a spokesman for Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, told The Associated Press.

The energy package, sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, will be offered as an amendment to an emergency spending measure now before the Senate funding the Iraq war and hurricane relief, according to a senior GOP leadership aide.

 

[Se7en]

INSTEAD OF DRILLING FOR MORE OIL WHY DON'T WE UTILIZE ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES????? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST@!#@#$%

 

[INDY500]

I doubt the shareholders are complaining. If your 401K shows a healthy increase in value this year because your fund is diversified into oil, aren't you gonna keep it?

Myself, I'd like to see oil become expensive enough that ethanol becomes an economically viable alternative and we can tell OPEC to keep their oil.

 

[A_Wanderer]

yay capitalism and yay the oil industry.

 

[dazzlingamy]

agree with se7en...

why do we keep going after this stupid oil. What is wrong with wind power, water power and electric cars?! I can't believe people are so greedy and stupid to rather be pathetically rich (like what can you do with all that money anyway? it doesnt make you super human) to want profits over a better world for our children etc. This short sightedness makes me SICK!

 

[Lila64]

 

[A_Wanderer]

INSTEAD OF DRILLING FOR MORE OIL WHY DON'T WE UTILIZE ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES????? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST@!#@#$%

Because it is cheaper and more efficient!

We use hydrocarbons for all manner of things, but the trend of decarbonisation is continuing anabated.

 

[Irvine511]

you know what?

i'm secretly excited about these high gas prices. i hope they go much higher.

if they don't, i'm going to demand a big-assed gas tax. only now do we have consumers whining enough to finally jump-start the new, greener technologies everyone says they want, but never really demand. i'm glad that our car-obsessed culture is finally waking up to the fact that, hello, things have a cost. i know it's always difficult when reality intrudes on our sacred lifestyle, but the only way people will stop using SUVs and buidling more sprawling exurbs is when they actually have to pay for their ecological destruction and energy inefficiency.

and before people get mad at me because i have a car-free lifestyle, let me remind you that i pay for this lifestyle, dearly, in what i do pay for public transportation (less than you pay for gas, i'm sure, but it's hardly free, probably $20 over 10 days) as well as the astronomical COLA in a big, east coast city.

i have to pay for my lifestyle, those living in suburban sprawl who drive tanks to work should have to pay for theirs.

 

[verte76]

I do have a car, but it's a gas-efficient second-hand Ford Escort. I can't depend on public transportation because my stupid politicians won't give us a decent public transportation system. Plus, too many idiots don't want to pay their fair share of property taxes. These jokers do things like cutting back on library services and turn right around and spend fortunes on Rolls-Royces for the mayor's staff. As long as we have idiots like this in City Hall we're going to have one hell of a problem on our hands. This pisses me off big time.

 

[nbcrusader]

Profit margins for the oil industry are actually lower than other major industries. We can get all bunched up over a big number, but it really hasn't materially changed people's spending habits.

As for the idea of a gas tax, I believe New York already pays over 63 cents a gallon in taxes. California is up there as well.

 

[Irvine511]

As for the idea of a gas tax, I believe New York already pays over 63 cents a gallon in taxes. California is up there as well.

it should be $1.63.

 

[anitram]

In Canada we pay about $2/gallon in taxes, so the 63 cents in Texas - boohoo, cry me a river!

 

[ntalwar]

Profit margins for the oil industry are actually lower than other major industries. We can get all bunched up over a big number, but it really hasn't materially changed people's spending habits.

Yes, but oil prices are manipulated and controlled by the big oil companies on the NYMEX and IPE markets. Unlike other goods and services we consume, oil prices are not determined as much by demand and supply. Oil refineries sit idle to help boost the profit margins of the companies. The oil companies have figured out the "sweet spot" of oil prices that maximize their profits, and they keep the price in that range. Right now, that range for the summer is between $70 and $75 a barrel because they know that people drive more in the summertime. Oil was $58 only a couple of months ago.

 

[Maggie1]

INSTEAD OF DRILLING FOR MORE OIL WHY DON'T WE UTILIZE ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES????? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST@!#@#$%

Alternative energies and conservation are, in my opinion, the best way to get back at the oil companies and protect our environment. Drilling for more oil will only continue to fill the pockets of oil execs.

 

[randhail]

Alternative energies and conservation are, in my opinion, the best way to get back at the oil companies and protect our environment. Drilling for more oil will only continue to fill the pockets of oil execs.

Amen to that. More drilling and refineries is like putting a band aid on a severed artery.

Alternative energies is a dagger to the bastards killing the Earth right now.

 

[Irvine511]

Amen to that. More drilling and refineries is like putting a band aid on a severed artery.

Alternative energies is a dagger to the bastards killing the Earth right now.

(just wanted to continue the streak ... and i wholeheartedly agree)

 

[nbcrusader]

In Canada we pay about $2/gallon in taxes, so the 63 cents in Texas - boohoo, cry me a river!

Has higher gas taxes resulted in higher use of altenative fuels?

 

[nbcrusader]

Yes, but oil prices are manipulated and controlled by the big oil companies on the NYMEX and IPE markets. Unlike other goods and services we consume, oil prices are not determined as much by demand and supply. Oil refineries sit idle to help boost the profit margins of the companies. The oil companies have figured out the "sweet spot" of oil prices that maximize their profits, and they keep the price in that range. Right now, that range for the summer is between $70 and $75 a barrel because they know that people drive more in the summertime. Oil was $58 only a couple of months ago.

Are you kidding? Have you heard of OPEC? Do you realize that, adjusted for inflation, gas prices today are actually cheaper than in the '70's? How much has China's demand for oil increase since then?

There are many reasons why refineries shut down for short periods of time. Interuption of the profit flow is not one of them.

 

[Irvine511]

Has higher gas taxes resulted in higher use of altenative fuels?

i think it does result in the decreased consumption of fossil fuels -- do you think the average western European uses his car as much as the average North American? owns 2 or 3 cars? drives an SUV?

innovation in such areas, generally, starts in the US, and the low cost of fuel in this country has stunted the demand for alternative fuel innovations.

this stuff is exactly what we used to be good at -- thinking up new things, innovating, being creative.

i'd love to show the world that we haven't lost our mojo.

 

[nbcrusader]

i think it does result in the decreased consumption of fossil fuels -- do you think the average western European uses his car as much as the average North American? owns 2 or 3 cars? drives an SUV?

innovation in such areas, generally, starts in the US, and the low cost of fuel in this country has stunted the demand for alternative fuel innovations.

this stuff is exactly what we used to be good at -- thinking up new things, innovating, being creative.

i'd love to show the world that we haven't lost our mojo.

While in principle I agree with you that higher gas costs (through taxes) will result in lower consumption, the politics don't work. Republicans don't want to raise taxes. Democrats, while they love to raise taxes ( ), like to raise taxes on wealthy people. A gas tax is regressive, so the poor get hit the hardest. (Which makes a $100 check more valuable to those who struggle the most).

 

[anitram]

Has higher gas taxes resulted in higher use of altenative fuels?

I don't have the statistics.

However, Canadians do drive less SUVs than Americans. For example, when SUVs are produced, we are able to purchase smaller, more fuel efficient ones which are actually mass produced for European consumption (like the Nissan X-Trail). These are not available in the US, because according to Nissan, Americans "like their cars bigger and more powerful."

I do know Canada is the home of the largest cellulose ethanol producer in the world (the plant is in Ottawa), but as for how much this has affected daily consumption, I would guess at this stage, not as much as I would hope. The thing is, until recently there wasn't much incentive to move to alternate technologies since gas was relatively cheap.