[Galveston1]

The problem isn't that we don't have the fuels. It is because of groups such as the Sierra Club, who have contributed to, and intimidated our elected officials into tying the hands of those in the energy business. The Eco-nuts have used false and/or distorted information to convince the gullible that we can't do what is necessary to preserve our culture and standard of living.
We've heard it all. You can't drill in ANWAR, you might disturb a caribou, don't drill offshore, we don't want to look at rigs off our shore line. Nuclear? Horrors! As far as I know, there was not one fatality at Three Mile Island, and that is the only glitch on the record of nuclear plants in this country. We have the technology to burn coal cleanly, and we have it in abundance. We could do any or all of these things if we can get the idiots out of the way.
Actually, I doubt that the leaders of this "green" movement are idiots. I suspect that they are "watermelons". Green on the outside and red in the middle. Do you suppose they have an agenda to bring this republic down by energy strangulation so that they can build their idea of a Socialist paradise on its ruins? Of course, they use the funds of the dumb masses to finance their program.
We need some of you out there who are good at organizing things to come up with some way to hold the feet of our elected officials to the fire on this issue. Otherwise, ALL prices will continue to rise dramatically. All ready, many at the low end of the pay scale can hardly afford the fuel it takes to get to work.

[tomder55]

I agree the issue has more to do with supply and demand . We have not built a refinery in years . So besides the importation of raw oil we are also an importer of refined product which is absurd.

On one side of the arctic ocean we cannot drill in a wilderness that very few people visit . On the other side of the Arctic is the Barents Sea where you could walk across all the rigs pumping oil by the Ruskies. We cannot drill off Fla. Even though the Chinese have leased Cuban space in the very same oil fields and are pumping away.

We have not built new nukes in years even though it is proven safe and clean and carbon neutral . Yes I know there is a long term issue with proper waste disposal ;but the nuclear genie is already out of the bottle so we might as well use it as a clean alternative. . WE have plently of coal and the ability to burn it clean .

Yes if I was inclined to believe in conspiracies this scenario comes closest to the truth . It is either that or a death wish built on good intentions.

[excon]

Energy costs are killin' us.

Hello Galveston:

Of course, you're wrong, as usual..

Seems to me the oil industry is playing its game of 3 card monte with you. They have you convinced the pea is under one cup, but it's really under another. While they were distracting you, Exxon Mobile, the most profitable company in the world, made its highest-ever quarterly profit, $9.92 billion, up 75 percent from the third quarter last year. That's the last THREE months only.

Other oil companies have reported soaring third-quarter profits this week too. Royal Dutch Shell PLC, based in the Hague, said yesterday that its third-quarter profit was not far behind Exxon Mobil's: $9.03 billion, up 68 percent. London-based BP PLC reported profit of $6.53 billion, up 34 percent.

Ain't no tree hugger responsible for that….. I don't see anything green in those numbers except the money they're ripping us off for with your fearless leader, the dufus in chief loving every minute of it.

excon

[NeedKarma]

Actually, I doubt that the leaders of this "green" movement are idiots. I suspect that they are "watermelons". Green on the outside and red in the middle. Do you suppose they have an agenda to bring this republic down by energy strangulation so that they can build their idea of a Socialist paradise on its ruins?

This is a recurring theme of yours isn't it. The extreme fear of anything smelling of the dreaded socialism. Yet your police force, fire department, highways department, education department are all examples of socialism at work.

[Galveston1]

Hello Galveston:

Of course, you’re wrong, as usual..

Seems to me the oil industry is playing its game of 3 card monte with you. They have you convinced the pea is under one cup, but it’s really under another. While they were distracting you, Exxon Mobile, the most profitable company in the world, made its highest-ever quarterly profit, $9.92 billion, up 75 percent from the third quarter last year. That’s the last THREE months only.

Other oil companies have reported soaring third-quarter profits this week too. Royal Dutch Shell PLC, based in the Hague, said yesterday that its third-quarter profit was not far behind Exxon Mobil's: $9.03 billion, up 68 percent. London-based BP PLC reported profit of $6.53 billion, up 34 percent.

Ain’t no tree hugger responsible for that…..I don’t see anything green in those numbers except the money they’re ripping us off for with your fearless leader, the dufus in chief loving every minute of it.

excon

Tell me, who do you think provides you with your gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, plastics, lubricants, gas or oil to run power plants? Our country runs on energy, and for the most part, that means oil or gas. You apparently hate the oil industry, but if they disappear, you are going to get cold and hungry. What would you replace them with? So I'm wrong as ususal. Get positive and offer some alternatives.

[tomder55]

Exxon Mobil paid federal income taxes of $28 billion dollars last year.

$9.92 billion was revenue, not profit.Their profits are around a resonable 10%
Exxon buys over half the oil they refine. Then there's the tax man. The profits after all of that goes to shareholders. In many cases the shareholders are large institutional investors that fund pensions and in other cases mutual funds that 401Ks are heavily invested in.

[excon]

Hello again, Galviston:

Let's see. You're sniveling about high energy prices but you blame the tree hugger. Huh?

I simply point out that the reason for high energy prices is that the companies that sell the energy are making record profits. To me, it's simple math. High prices = high profits. To you, it's tree huggers. I don't get the connection.

You say the tree huggers stop them from building new refinery's?? But, with profits like these, what would make you think they need them or want them?

I don't hate the oil companies. I'm a rip roaring capitalist. In fact, I AM the oil companies.

Indeed. It looks like you're the hater of anything connected with saving the environment. You've been listening to too much Rush Limprod.

excon

[tomder55]

In 2006 they paid $97.5 billion in taxes.
Sales-based taxes - $30.381B
Other taxes and duties - $39.203B
Income taxes - $27.902B http://exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Files/Corporate/fo_2006.pdf

The reason they want to build more capacity is the same reason any company wants to expand. There is a greater demand for their product that they can't meet with the current capacity . The reason we cannot build is because of silly environmental concerns. All it means is that Exxon has to bring in more imports into the US instead of manufacturing here...

Umm You are in favor of manufacturing jobs in the US aren't you ?

[excon]

$9.92 billion was revenue, not profit.Their profits are around a resonable 10%

Hello again, tom:

Nice spin - just not true.

High prices for crude oil, gasoline and natural gas helped Exxon Mobil Corp. to its highest-ever quarterly PROFIT of $9.92 billion.

This profit was based upon record sales for the quarter of $100.72 billion. This was the highest sales in a quarter by any U.S. company ever, according to Standard & Poor's.

excon

[tomder55]

Profit compared to gross revenue (% of each dollar of sales kept as profit) 2007 - 10.0%
2006 - 10.8%
2005 - 10.1%
2004 - 8.7%
2003 - 9.1%
2002 - 5.7%
2001 - 7.2%
2000 - 7.6%
1999 - 4.3%

http://www.exxonmobil.com/corporate/files/corporate/news_release_earnings4q07.pdf

[tomder55]

Compare those #s to Microsoft


2006 - 28%
2005 - 30%
2004 - 22%
2003 - 31%

[excon]

There is a greater demand for their product that they can't meet with the current capacity . The reason we cannot build is because of silly environmental concerns

Hello again, tom:

Demand?? What are you smoking?

I don't know about where you live, but they're meeting the demand here just fine. I haven't seen a line at my gas station in years. I DO see high prices, though.

excon

[tomder55]

They trade in a world market . They are meeting the demand in your neighborhood by importing refined products along with refining in the US.

[Galveston1]

And what part in oil prices do the Arab cartels and other foreign producers play? We have no control over those prices, and we can't do without them thanks to all the restrictions on our own producers. We must become energy independent in order to survive at any acceptable lifestyle level.

By the way, futures speculators aren't helping either, but there is absolutely nothing that can be done about that.

[Skell]

It seems pretty straight forward to me. Oil companies are making record profits. Fuel prices at record highs. Hmmnnn...

The one's intimidating the elected officials Galveston are the oil companies. They own them!