Oil doesn't want focus on big profits

[rpannier]

(Set your stomachs on vomit)


Now, even as high gasoline prices continue to anger motorists and aggravate financial problems at General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., the oil companies have begun to report record quarterly profit. Yesterday, British energy giant BP PLC reported $6.5 billion in third-quarter profit, up from $4.9 billion in the same period last year. And tomorrow, analysts expect Exxon Mobil Corp. to show that it earned nearly $9 billion over the past three months -- the largest corporate quarterly profit ever....

To deflect the damage, the energy industry is relying on an ad campaign that was escalating even before hurricanes Katrina and Rita blitzed Gulf Coast petroleum refineries. The print and television ads are designed to educate consumers and lawmakers with a "we're all in this together" tone.

The rest of this article can be read in full at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9819463

[rocktivity]

1. Let's set it on a windfall profits tax, then.

Not to mention alternative energy resources.

:headbang:
rocknation

[ClintonTyree]

6. Surely, you jest........

the energy companies are getting TAX BREAKS from the new "energy bill" that was recently passed. I imagine the government will OWE them money when all is said and done.

[baldguy]

2. This winter, I'll be chipping ice in the toilet to take a piss in the morn

They'll be lighting up their cigars with $100 bills on the beach in Barbatos.

[Turn CO Blue]

3. "the largest quarterly profit ever..."

RANT ON

Exxon Mobil - 9 BBBBBBBBILLION DOLLARS IN ONE QUARTER! In 3 months, they profited (that's net, not gross) 9 BILLION DOLLARS! Holy Kee-rist! This is obscene. Just effing obscene.

Thank you BushCo - nice job, you f&ckers!

/rant (still fuming, though)

[Nordmadr]

11. Well, that's $ 9 Billion, divided by, let's see, 300 million people...

I'll expect, as will every single American in he country, my check for $30 in the mail...then we are all in it together.

I'll expect a similar check from each oil company, for each quarter of the year...then we are all in it together.

For as long as a relatively small number of people for each of those companies are getting to split up all that loot, WE ARE NOT IN THIS ALL FUCKING TOGETHER!


Olaf

[ClintonTyree]

4. So instead of cutting prices........

they'd rather spend the money on an ad campaign telling us how glad we should be that we're being gouged? In bushamerika that makes perfect sense I guess. They get to write the cost of the ads off their income tax so they can receive MORE Corporate welfare in the future.
:banghead: Yet no one will investigate or stop these MF'ers. We need to nationalize our energy industry, we REALLY do! :grr:

[rpannier]

5. Fortunately

Dorgan is trying. How much help he'll get is anyone's guess.

[ClintonTyree]

8. It seems that every year there is a Senate investigation.........

into the price gouging by oil companies and SURPRISE.... they never find any evidence of price gouging! Shocking, isn't it? No siree, these oil companies are as honest as the day is long and just happened to fall into all of this money. Year after year, that is. Nope, NEVER any wrongdoing, they're ALWAYS clean as a whistle!

[Karmadillo]

7. Wait until the Democrats get hold of this issue. Talk

about fireworks! Think of the constituency to be won by going after large, greedy corporations bilking the American people in a time of scarcity.

[400Years]

9. you must be joking

they won't do jack-shit

[Karmadillo]

10. No!

They wouldn't ignore such a devastating issue! I know they wouldn't! You just wait! Joe Biden's sharpening up his claws even as I type.

[Nordmadr]

12. Update: Joe Biden was sent to the vet and declawed. Now he

just hisses alot.

Olaf

[txaslftist]

13. What amazing windfall profits they've reaped...hmmm.

What does that remind one of? A windfall profits tax, perhaps?