But you see, that is why I don't understand why people get so agitated with them making 40 billion when they spent way more than that.

Oh, I know. For 11% most business owners would close up shop. The ones that weren't smart enough to would run themselves into bankruptcy.

What they are saying is that it is ok for them to make 30% profit. But if Exxon makes 11%, it is a cardinal sin.

Profit = sin.

That is why government is virtuous. It is here to help you and protect you from people who make profits. Government is good. Happy, happy.

B

.

O yes, I see, Exxon is just like your small business.

You spend millions on lobbyiests to get government to do what you want.

You pay yourself millions and millions of dollars and have a huge retirement fund.

You are able to pay your friends a million dollar payroll.

You have tax lawyers that help you find every loopole so you pay a lower percentage of taxes than a middle income family.

You can cause a global catastrophy and get away with it.

___________________________

Sometimes its is hard to fathom the depth of stupidity of people.

If you think Exxon is just a great group of people, here to help you and the world, you need to be sent to live at Prince William Sound.

Exxon does not give a rats ass about you.
They dont care.

They are one of the most evil entities that exist.

Prove me wrong.

Jeez, shut up you liberal cry baby. If free markets cause you so much stress you need to move to a communist country. And when you get there, tell us how you enjoy you new found freedom of speech to bash the system.

Actually I am totally surprised on this thread how many are NOT anti-Exxon. Just this one clown who is pretty clueless.

I think I will go fill up at Exxon, just to annoy the 5hit out of my neighborhood marxists. Then, on the way back, I think I will stop at Wal-Mart and buy a "Support our Troops" window sticker for each car. :D

Exxon Mobil is not big enough to control the world's oil markets.

It is not even big enough to control the price of oil or gas in the U.S.

Their cost to pump oil out of the ground is fixed, regardless of the price of a barrel of oil.

When the price is low, they make very little money, but when the price of oil is high, like right now, they make a lot of money.

Economics 101.

___________________________

Hey ! calling me a liberal crybaby. Good one !

Why do you think this is a free market ?

The existence of the Federal Reserve in our economic system means this is not a free market.

Having government lobbyists makes it even less of a free market.

There is not a level playing ground for all businesses.

_________

It is people like me, and others that try to make changes that keeps this from being a communist country.

And we do not even have freedom of speech in this country anymore.
Go read the patriot act.
You can be imprisoned and tortured for what you say in the good old USA.
___________

Well if this evil entity doesn't take oil, refine it, and sell it to people and businesses, another evil entity will take its place. It just won't be called Exxon.

Energy and health care are just two of many controversial business areas. Almost everybody, like it or not, relies on them to some extent throughout their lifetimes. That's why they are good for the high-risk portions of my investment portfolio.

Yea, Brother. However, what you don't say is that I too do that function. Give me all your money and you will also get the same protection without the paperwork,

What's your point? That we should have different standards for every entity out there? Maybe that is why people are so adverse to going by principles. They cannot be bent and twisted for a situation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

And you were not please at being called a liberal crybaby. Hello Kettle. This is Pot here. Looking kinda black aren't you?

In every business, no matter what we say, we are there to make money. So, if you believe a company truely cares for you, guess who I think is the moron.

So what's your point? That you know of a company that really cares about you? You believe all the properganda? Grow up. A company only exists to make money. That you are helped is secondary.

So what are the "good" entities out there?

Exxon is stonewalling. Just because our system makes it possible for a stable full of lawyers to pull that off does not exonerate Exxon from their stinginess at paying up for their damage.

I hadn't realized that there was this much stonewalling, still in progress. Those bastards don't care about the natural world, at least the part of it beyond their ranches and estates.

When you buy stocks and shares, do you ask how they get the profit for you? Most don't. Most shareholders only give one directive. Make as much money as possible.

Congrats. You have neatly summed up the dark, sordid underbelly of capitalism: convert the natural world into cash flow and to hell with any possible downside that squeamish hippies complain about.

After all, who needs things like fish in rivers? With all the money my Exxon stock nets me, I can get all the fish I need at the grocery store!! Duh . . . .

But, to answer your question, more and more people are concerned with how their money is made. No doubt you are firmly in their ranks. :rolleyes: