Exxon caught red handed raping the public!!!!!!

[Jeremiah]

You just don't get it, (snip).



I will love to hear all of you big oil supporters crying the blues when the country goes into a depression and you lose everything, I bet your tune about big oil and their fat cats will change then.

Folks, it isn't about whether it's right or wrong for someone to make this much money. It's whether you want to live in a country where someone or the government can come in and take money away from them.



Remember: if they can take it ("it" being money, property, job, papers, inventions, whatever) away from one person or company by taxes or outright confiscation, they can take it away from you.



Surely, you don't want this. If you do, then you are a socialist and your efforts to "spread the wealth" have failed in every country that experimented with this wretched form of government.



Capitalism isn't perfect - and in many cases it can be downright cruel and a way for the greedy to succeed - but it's the best system the world has ever seen because it allows the have-nots to succeed if they have the initiative and get up and go to do it.



Socialism stifles individualism, initiative and the desire to do better. There is no socialist government on earth that has worked or prospered. Do a bit of research or study history and you'll find out.

 

[KennethS]

I want his job.

After about 2 months I will retire and let someone have the job. Bush will want the job If he can get someone to fill out the form? :-laf

 

[PKitzman]

You just don't get it, it not about stopping someone from going out and making a good living, but come on no one could even spend his 51 million for one year salary in their life time and that would be living very good, let alone some one needing a retirement package of 400 million.



The only thing these inflated wages have done is drive up prices on products that every day Americans have to buy to live.



Further what seems to happen is everyone in this clowns family from now on will just be getting the money passed down each time one of them dies and they never amount to anything because of it.



Lets see he got 400 million, that would last good lord at least 12 to 15 life times of his siblings wasting away the fortune.



It is clear that Exxon is no longer investing their vast fortune back into the company, they are just wasting money, and that is money that could have been used to lower the price of the product.



I will love to hear all of you big oil supporters crying the blues when the country goes into a depression and you lose everything, I bet your tune about big oil and their fat cats will change then.

Is Exxon ******* their money away with this guy??? Maybe... I don't know what he has done for them. I do know that these greedy corporations don't just go throwing away bags of money for nothing. I personally don't understand what is so special about these CEO's that earn THAT kind of money.



However, if they could go down to the gas station and drag you or I away from our truck and throw us into the board room and get the same results for oh say $500,000/year (and no retirement bonus) don't you think they would do it?



Do you really think that they just have huge stacks of cash lying around the board room and every time one of the big shots retires they toss them a few? These companies are squeeky tight with their money. I'm sure that guy had something in a contract that specified what he would get.

 

[Heavyweight]

Jeremiah,,,This is all about capitalism. The crooks at the top "DO NOT PAY TAXES"! The little pissant tax payer does not get this... . They shield their money,,, if they dont,,, they better fire their accountant. Our system is so corrupt,, you can be a millionaire calling white people racist! like Jesse Jackoff.



The problem is,,, freedom does come at a price, and there is a limitations for "SANE" people. Greed screws the whole thing up. If you think Big Oil plays by the rules,,, You are an idiot. . Do not reply to this response,,, and check yourself in to a mental institute. Why does the California Air resource board balk at Nuclear power? Yes, they are fools,,, but who is being paid off? Who is in who's backpocket... That's right,, kick backs, and regulation and laws to slant the playing field. Is that what Capitalism is? Go greedy pigs,,, we as a Nation are letting the politicians and big companies drive us into the GROUND!

 

[Jeremiah]

Jeremiah,,,This is all about capitalism. The crooks at the top "DO NOT PAY TAXES"! The little pissant tax payer does not get this... . They shield their money,,, if they dont,,, they better fire their accountant. Our system is so corrupt,, you can be a millionaire calling white people racist! like Jesse Jackoff.



The problem is,,, freedom does come at a price, and there is a limitations for "SANE" people. Greed screws the whole thing up. If you think Big Oil plays by the rules,,, You are an idiot. . Do not reply to this response,,, and check yourself in to a mental institute. Why does the California Air resource board balk at Nuclear power? Yes, they are fools,,, but who is being paid off? Who is in who's backpocket... That's right,, kick backs, and regulation and laws to slant the playing field. Is that what Capitalism is? Go greedy pigs,,, we as a Nation are letting the politicians and big companies drive us into the GROUND!

And your solution is?

 

[AMink]

Maybe the guy who retired negotiated to get 1% of the profit for the last year he was there. That's about what $400,000,000 is to $36,000,000,000. Is it a lot? Heck yeah. Should I, or anyone else, decide what a PRIVATE company can pay it's employees? I don't think so. If something is illegal, should the gov't step in? They better. My . 02 worth.

 

[DOWG]

Oops! There you go again, asking for facts and and logic to support the position that the government and big business are keeping the man down... ... ... ... .....

 

[Sled Dog]

Jeremiah,,,This is all about capitalism. The crooks at the top "DO NOT PAY TAXES"! The little pissant tax payer does not get this... . They shield their money,,, if they dont,,, they better fire their accountant. Our system is so corrupt,, you can be a millionaire calling white people racist! like Jesse Jackoff.



The problem is,,, freedom does come at a price, and there is a limitations for "SANE" people. Greed screws the whole thing up. If you think Big Oil plays by the rules,,, You are an idiot. . Do not reply to this response,,, and check yourself in to a mental institute. Why does the California Air resource board balk at Nuclear power? Yes, they are fools,,, but who is being paid off? Who is in who's backpocket... That's right,, kick backs, and regulation and laws to slant the playing field. Is that what Capitalism is? Go greedy pigs,,, we as a Nation are letting the politicians and big companies drive us into the GROUND!

Well said!

 

[Heavyweight]

Jerimiah,,,, These need to be enforced, otherwise,,, we are dead in the water.



1) Term limits... . Boths sides of the isle are screwing us blind.

2) Tax law... This needs to be overhauled bad. . NO LOOP HOLES. . period.

3) The courts... No Judge should deviate from the constitution. No judge shall over throw we the peoples votes. Unless it directly effects the bill of rights,,, no judge shall overturn or defer we the people.



This is the nuts and bolts of it. Unless we uphold these keystones,,, we are screwed.

 

[john3976]

What is the tax % on 400 million anyway? On our $250k it's a touch over 45%...





Merrick

You can bet it is all placed into accounts that will give him maximum tax shelter, heck that is what all the Democrats do, just look at Teddy Kennedy and Al Gore and good old lurch, or is that John Kerry.



Yes the Republicans do it as well. I brought up the Democrats because they claim to be for the little guy yet every one of them rich fools hide every dollar they can from the feds while demanding higher taxes on the working class.

 

[john3976]

Folks, it isn't about whether it's right or wrong for someone to make this much money. It's whether you want to live in a country where someone or the government can come in and take money away from them.



Remember: if they can take it ("it" being money, property, job, papers, inventions, whatever) away from one person or company by taxes or outright confiscation, they can take it away from you.



Surely, you don't want this. If you do, then you are a socialist and your efforts to "spread the wealth" have failed in every country that experimented with this wretched form of government.



Capitalism isn't perfect - and in many cases it can be downright cruel and a way for the greedy to succeed - but it's the best system the world has ever seen because it allows the have-nots to succeed if they have the initiative and get up and go to do it.



Socialism stifles individualism, initiative and the desire to do better. There is no socialist government on earth that has worked or prospered. Do a bit of research or study history and you'll find out.

You still don't get it, it is not about the Government going in and taking the money Exxon just gave him, it is about Exxon being a responsible company and reinvesting in the company and keeping prices as low as is profitable.



It is clear that is not in the Exxon corporate papers, they seem to want to rape all of us and then hand out 400 million dollar pay outs while working class America is struggling to fill the tank each week.



No one has said the government should step in and and take way anyones money, but Exxon has acted very irresponsible with this pay out.



Exxon just rubbed everyones nose in the mud and said what are you going to do about it? In the mean time they are raising prices even farther and are projected to make yet another record quarter of profits.



I again ask you how much is enough? how much money is enough?

 

[john3976]

Gee the Democrats get one right for once:



Gasoline prices across the United States have seen a sharp hike in recent days, and experts are predicting that vacation travelers in July and August will face pump prices that are about 25 percent higher than last year.



Democrats -- who say the price hike is due in large part to price-gouging by oil producers -- are calling for strong consumer protection measures. They also urged aggressive programs to develop biofuels, alternative fuels and energy-saving technologies.



Lets see 25% higher then last year, god help us if there is a storm, we will see price hikes 50% over last year so you can look forward to Exxon and the others charging us at least $4. 50 a gollan at the pmup in the next three to four months.



I predict that Exxon will make a profit of 58 Billion this year with no price help for their customers. I wonder how many 400 million pensions they will hand out at the end of the year.

 

[PKitzman]

You still don't get it, it is not about the Government going in and taking the money Exxon just gave him, it is about Exxon being a responsible company and reinvesting in the company and keeping prices as low as is profitable.



It is clear that is not in the Exxon corporate papers, they seem to want to rape all of us and then hand out 400 million dollar pay outs while working class America is struggling to fill the tank each week.



No one has said the government should step in and and take way anyones money, but Exxon has acted very irresponsible with this pay out.



Exxon just rubbed everyones nose in the mud and said what are you going to do about it? In the mean time they are raising prices even farther and are projected to make yet another record quarter of profits.



I again ask you how much is enough? how much money is enough?

What is your solution John? You say Exxon is charging to much... if they lower the price we will run out of fuel and you will be standing in line at the pump to fill up... PERIOD. The refineries are making every last drop that they can make. They would be foolish not to since it is so profitable right now. If they lower the price and usage goes up as a result WHERE WILL THE EXTRA FUEL COME FROM? PLEASE answer this simple supply and demand question.

 

[Shrimpy]

That's the problem PKitzman, john has NO IDEA WHAT HE IS RANTING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has ZERO KNOWLEDGE of supply and demand. He has proven it time and time again on this thread. Why do you guys keep trying to convince this UNCONVINCEABLE person that what we are experiencing is market forces... ... .....



Good luck john, you are going to need it... ... ... ... .



Jim

 

[Coalsmoke]

I guess you should become an oil executive, or better yet start your own oil refinery. Or wait, even better still, sit around, and complain about it.

if you think that most of those execs worked their way up from the bottom and rightfully earn that pay, think again. If you think they were born to the situation, now you are on the right track. 400 million and the gov't can't even increase social programs that much to help those that really need it. I'm thinking htere needs to be an 80% tax after 100million Oo.

 

[john3976]

What is your solution John? You say Exxon is charging to much... if they lower the price we will run out of fuel and you will be standing in line at the pump to fill up... PERIOD. The refineries are making every last drop that they can make. They would be foolish not to since it is so profitable right now. If they lower the price and usage goes up as a result WHERE WILL THE EXTRA FUEL COME FROM? PLEASE answer this simple supply and demand question.

Where is the proof that we will run out of fuel?



The oil company says so?



I don't believe a word they say any more.



With the obscene profits they are making they can afford to build new plants to process fuel, the old argument of it costs to much is out the window, when they are making profits as big as they are now and can afford to start tossing 400 million pensions around like nothing, what would it matter to Exxon if they took 3 Billion of their 38 Billion of profit last year and built two new processing plants. Chevron who made 26 or 28 billion in profit could do the same thing, shell with the 26 billion in profits could also do it, heck there are six new processing plants right there and guess what, each company still made over 20 billion in profits with Exxon still at 35 billion in profit.



heck with the other big oil companies profits I bet we could get a good 12 to 15 new processing plants started, now that would sure go a long way to solving the problems. But there is a catch, if Big oil does that their profits will go down and we can't have that can we.



Your tired arguments supporting the Big Oil companies are old, stale and no longer carries any merit.



We have yet to run out of fuel other than when the Big Oil companies plan for it which just runs up prices that never go back down.



If the refineries are making every last drop that they can make then even the smallest upswing in demand would result in instant lines at gas stations and would also result in stations sitting with empty fuel tanks.



Have you seen any stations sitting with empty fuel tanks? I sure have not.



Please read the following:



Gasoline prices across the United States have seen a sharp hike in recent days, and experts are predicting that vacation travelers in July and August will face pump prices that are about 25 percent higher than last year.



Democrats -- who say the price hike is due in large part to price-gouging by oil producers -- are calling for strong consumer protection measures. They also urged aggressive programs to develop biofuels, alternative fuels and energy-saving technologies.



Now please tell me why with billion and billions in profits each quarter and year they have not even attempted to build a single new processing plant?



The ball is in your court, I just gave you the answer, will you just continue to defend why Big Oil does not build new plants?

 

[Sled Dog]

What is your solution John? You say Exxon is charging to much... if they lower the price we will run out of fuel and you will be standing in line at the pump to fill up... PERIOD. The refineries are making every last drop that they can make. They would be foolish not to since it is so profitable right now. If they lower the price and usage goes up as a result WHERE WILL THE EXTRA FUEL COME FROM? PLEASE answer this simple supply and demand question.

If they lower the price, we WILL NOT run out of fuel PERIOD!

Perhaps they could restart some of the refineries sitting idle in Calif. You know the one's they closed down in the 70's.

I'll just bet that, 400 million dollars would go a LONG way building a new refinery.

During the Katrina SHORTAGE, The local refineries tanks were completely Full, when they cut a Love's supply from 4 tankers per day to just 2 tankers per day.

Demand is less now than it was 18 months ago, crude price per barrel is down $15.

I see your point Supply & Demand.

They know the Demand,(and do nothing to prepare for it) then they Tell you there is no Supply.

Now they sell you the same thing for Twice the Money.



It will stop when someone Goes Postal at Exxon Headquarters.

That's when you'll see the price Drop quickly, When it costs them something.

JMHO



P. S. Then they want to open up ANWAR for drilling, Why?

They keep telling us they don't have enough refining capacity for the wells they already have. WAKE UP!!

 

[john3976]

For the last 5 years I have heard nothing from Big Oil except they are refining at maximum levels, yet to listen to some on here Demand is up so if that were true 1. Big Oil is refining at maximum levels for the last five years and 2. demand is up each of those five years why have we not run out of product?



Hummm, maybe because Big Oil has lied to everyone?



You see you can't continue to cry wolf each year by claiming that you are producing at 100% yet each year demand is going up.



That would mean that Big Oil could not produce enough fuel starting at least five years ago, so how in the world do they produce enough now five years later and not a single new plant has been built and in fact because they are dragging their feet there are still plants on the gulf coast not up and running.



Gee has Big Oil and their board supporters been caught once again red handed with their pants down around their ankles?



It sure looks like it to me.



The ball is back in your court please do explain how fewer plants that were all at 100% five years ago are now making even more fuel each year for this new demand?



This should be good.

 

[john3976]

If only congress had the you know whats to follow through with this:



Senator rips ex Exxon CEO's retirement package By Tom Doggett

Tue Apr 18, 4:53 PM ET







WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amid record oil prices and soaring gasoline costs, Exxon Mobil's $400 million retirement package to its former CEO is a "shameful display of greed" that should be reviewed by Congress and investigated by federal regulators, Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan (news, bio, voting record) said on Tuesday.



Dorgan said he wants Exxon Mobil officials to appear at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing to explain how the corporation "justifies" giving its former boss, Lee Raymond, such a huge retirement package.



He also said the Securities and Exchange Commission should investigate the deal that "appears to shortchange" shareholders.



"There can be no more compelling evidence that the price gouging and market manipulation which has produced record oil prices is out of control, and is working to serve the forces of individual greed and corporate gluttony at the painful expense of millions of American consumers," Dorgan said.



Dorgan's criticism of Raymond's financial package came on the same day that U. S. crude oil prices hit a record high of more than $71 a barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange.



Higher crude oil prices are helping to push of up gasoline costs. The Energy Department reported prices jumped 10 cents over the last week to a national average of $2. 78 a gallon, up 55 cents from a year ago.



President George W. Bush said on Tuesday he was "concerned" about the impact high gasoline prices were having on families and businesses.



Exxon earned the wrath of many lawmakers when it reported more than $36 billion in profits last year as energy prices paid by consumers soared.



Dorgan said he will push to win passage of his legislation that would impose a windfall profits tax on big oil companies and rebate that money to consumers, unless the companies used their earnings to explore for and produce more energy.



"I think a sensible public policy would insist that the big oil companies either invest those windfall profits in things that will increase our own domestic energy supplies, or we should return some of that money to consumers," Dorgan said.



"Using them to drop $400 million dollars in the pocket of a big oil executive is simply unacceptable," he added.



Exxon Mobil has defended Raymond's retirement package, saying it was pegged to the rise in the company's profit and market capitalization that occurred during his tenure.

 

[JUeckert]

i could be wrong ,but here's one for ya. when a couple of buses pull into a burger king and unload about 70 passengers each,would it be fair for them to raise the prices because the demand for a whopper just went up that particular day?i really dont see the difference with this supply and demand thing. for as long as i remember the more a person buys in general,the less he has to pay on average. big trucking outfits generally get a better price on fuel than the average joe,whats the difference?i live within 40 miles 4 different refineries,one shut down 10 years ago,another 2 years ago and the other 2 are still in buisness. while i wont say a refinery has never been shut down by the epa,neither of the 2 local one's were shut down for epa reasons. the oil companies have used the refinery capacity excuse many a time,why not spend about half the money they are paying the fat cats,and invest in refineries. i live in the heart of the e. tex oil patch,while i'am not a tree hugger,i can somewhat understand why many oppose drilling in many regions that have abundent oil supplies. there are numerous old abandoned wells in my region,one thing most have in common is that they are very messy and unsightly. seems some of that fact cat money could get spent there cleaning up as well. maybe then the tree huggers/epa wouldnt be causing them so much grief then,when it comes to drilling. .