So... Exxon made $39.5 billion last year

[Flannel Boy]

[Mupepe]

That's pretty awesome.  I should start investing in Exxon.

[Flannel Boy]

That's pretty awesome.  I should start investing in Exxon.

You should have invested years ago.

[Mupepe]

Years ago I was broke, young(er) and stupid(er).

[Tauntaun]

Did anyone else's sphincter tingle, not in a good way, at this number?

[Phoenix Dark]

And?

[Tauntaun]

And?

You don't feel your wallet crying out in pain from the fisting?

[Phoenix Dark]

It's actually not a lot of money for Exxon

spoiler (click to show/hide)

When you consider the billions they lost a few years ago

[close]

People who fall onto the "ohhh a company is making TOO MUCH monies" annoy me. How much money is "too much"? 

[Tauntaun]

When they jack the price and make record profits.

[Phoenix Dark]

Is that a fact or an opinion?

[Tauntaun]

I believe all the major oil companies had record profits last year.  I'll get some facts for ya though.

Edit: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11098458/

[Phoenix Dark]

Why is it so unfathomable to people that oil companies would make - gasp - huge profits? I don't understand this way of thinking. There are 300 million people in this country and most of them rely on their car to get them to work as well as other places. In order to go to these places, they need gas. When compared to other nations the US has a low record of car pooling and bus riding...

[Tauntaun]

Yes but that's been true for a long time.  The only factor that changed in the equation was the price of gas.

[brawndolicious]

For those that use the ignore feature, PD's last 4 posts were about distinguished mentally-challenged.

Does Exxon have to pay restitution to all the people they screwed over (not californians, but investors and employees)?

[Catz]

I think people look at that number and think that Exxon could have afforded to cut a couple billion or so from that profit and bring the gas price down a few cents more.

But that won't solve the root of the problem. What we need to do is stop depending so much on energy imports from foreign nations and become a more self sufficient nation with fuel alternatives, like Brazil. They are almost completely energy independent now by using home grown ethanol fuels.

[Tauntaun]

I think people look at that number and think that Exxon could have afforded to cut a couple billion or so from that profit and bring the gas price down a few cents more.

But that won't solve the root of the problem. What we need to do is stop depending so much on energy imports from foreign nations and become a more self sufficient nation with fuel alternatives, like Brazil. They are almost completely energy independent now by using home grown ethanol fuels.

And also a cleaning out the lobbyists in D.C.

[Mupepe]

I think people look at that number and think that Exxon could have afforded to cut a couple billion or so from that profit and bring the gas price down a few cents more.

But that won't solve the root of the problem. What we need to do is stop depending so much on energy imports from foreign nations and become a more self sufficient nation with fuel alternatives, like Brazil. They are almost completely energy independent now by using home grown ethanol fuels.

You're so smart and I love you so much.


Anyways, it doesn't really bother me and I don't get outraged because we're still the morons putting all this money in their pocket.

[Phoenix Dark]

I think people look at that number and think that Exxon could have afforded to cut a couple billion or so from that profit and bring the gas price down a few cents more.

But that won't solve the root of the problem. What we need to do is stop depending so much on energy imports from foreign nations and become a more self sufficient nation with fuel alternatives, like Brazil. They are almost completely energy independent now by using home grown ethanol fuels.

Finally someone who's above knee jerk reactions and realizes the root of the problem, which has nothing to do with Exxon

[Mupepe]

I think people look at that number and think that Exxon could have afforded to cut a couple billion or so from that profit and bring the gas price down a few cents more.

But that won't solve the root of the problem. What we need to do is stop depending so much on energy imports from foreign nations and become a more self sufficient nation with fuel alternatives, like Brazil. They are almost completely energy independent now by using home grown ethanol fuels.

Finally someone who's above knee jerk reactions and realizes the root of the problem, which has nothing to do with Exxon

Just quit it, PD.  My baby isn't going to let you in her pants.

[Phoenix Dark]

Unlike you I'm not into being involved with other people's girlfriends/wives

[Diablos]

Instead of being a crybaby and saying Exxon should have drove fuel prices down by a buck or something, I'll just say that with all the money they're sitting on, they could invest in alternative fuel sources. Not just some here and there bullshit, I mean SERIOUSLY investing in a future in alternative fuel source(s).

[Vizzys]

When I think exxon I think oil spill.

[Phoenix Dark]

Instead of being a crybaby and saying Exxon should have drove fuel prices down by a buck or something, I'll just say that with all the money they're sitting on, they could invest in alternative fuel sources. Not just some here and there bullshit, I mean SERIOUSLY investing in a future in alternative fuel source(s).

Why should they? Is it their responsibility as a business to do that, or is it government's responsiblity?

[Mupepe]

Unlike you I'm not into being involved with other people's girlfriends/wives

Holy shit, that's hurtful.

[Flannel Boy]

Diablos that's like asking the tobacco companies to invest in products that help smokers quit smoking. Even if the companies make some money with a patch or something, it will be nowhere the amount they lose in tobacco revenue. Exxon is not going to make as much money with some alternative system as they will with oil.

[Phoenix Dark]

Why do people expect businesses to...not act like businesses? It's sad that so many Americans have a negative attitude towards business in general and aren't willing to give them the respect and benefit of the doubt they deserve.

A business's main function is to generate profit, while following the rules and not illegally blocking competition. They are not supposed to live up to your opinions on what they "should" be doing with their profits, and you are in no position to decide how much profit is "too" much profit.