Reporting the profits of big oil

Here it comes again: The Democrats' and drive-by "news" media's semi-annual "record profits for big oil" report.

Maybe it's ignorance, or maybe it's a carefully crafted plan to get government involved in yet another facet of our lives. Why else would they use dollars instead of percent in their reporting? A million dollars profit? Yeah, that's the ticket! Sounds big, like "windfall." Yet, a $1 million profit amounts to one-tenth of 1 percent in a $1 billion industry.

Last I heard of the so-called price gouging by Exxon, its profit amounted to about 6 percent. No, we can't report it that way! Let's use dollars instead; that'll be more eye-grabbing!

If 6 to 9 percent profit by "big oil" is such an evil, then why not hit your local businesses who are dragging in 15 to 40 percent profits?

"Big oil" is big business because they are selling products that are in great demand. I suppose they could opt for 15 percent, like so many small businesses. Then the price of gasoline might be closer to $5.

And to those of you who dream that an alternate energy source is the answer, let me ask you this: If you were the one to discover such a source, would you sell it for the equivalent of, say, $1 per unit? Of course not. You'd sell it for whatever the market demand called for. So if the Gore Carbon Credit Co. could find enough idiots to buy his snake oil, he'd be happy to draw down a mere 5 percent profit on billion-dollar annual sales. Then do you suppose the drive-bys would be reporting his $50 million profit? Calling it "windfall," "exorbitant," etc.?

When belittling businesses for the profit they are making, let's remember to use percent, not dollars. And if people want to pay less for gasoline, they should trade that SUV gas-hog built on a 3/4-ton truck frame for a Volkswagen.

D.D. Todd

Kempner