[an amused spectator]

"In 2007, Exxon disclosed income taxes of $30 billion on revenue of $390 billion and net income of $40.6 billion, a new record. Including income, sales-based and all other taxes, Exxon paid $105.7 billion in 2007 taxes, or about 44% of its revenue. Averaged out from 2003-07, the company calculated that it paid about $13 billion a year in U.S. taxes."

http://ewastedisposal.blogspot.com/2008/03/big-oil.html

My buddy is cringing at the thought of tanking up his truck and equipment @ $4.50 a gallon for diesel. He pays enough to the government to keep the stuff on the road and "safe" from the eagle eyes of the nitpicking DOT revenooers.

Big Oil gets a chunk of change for its product - I'm not arguing that. The media spotlight never seems to fall on Big Thug Government, though.

Why is that? ;-)

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

We ought to label Debbie Stabenow and the rest of the No-Drill Caucus as oil profiteers. They make three or four times more than the oil companies on the same product, and they do nothing to get the $$$.

Actually, there’s another word for people who sponge off other people’s money without doing anything. They’re called slackers!