Quote Originally Posted by artcarney_agr View Post
I really don't understand why people get so hung up on BP profits.

With any business it's the margin that they make, not the amount, that matters.

I would like to see what percentage that $20 billion is. Does that reflect them only making a 1% margin? 5%? 10%? The media never puts it in that perspective, so that they can push their skewed agenda. If they're only getting 1% then that's a pretty bad year and shouldn't draw the reactions that people are so quick to give.
BP was mentioned just because they are the one reporting profits today. I would wager that Exxon Mobile, Shell and Chevron will be reporting similar profits.

As far as margins go we could be shocked it they were to report margins.

My comment refers to the fact that gas is still over $3.50 a gallon, there are no disasters affecting market price (hurricane, flooded refineries, ect.) and crude oil is relatively low +/- $100.00. The last time crude was at this price (without other market stressors like huricane) gas was in the $2.25 range and there was pleanty of profit with that.

When gas went up to $4.00 in 08 every major oil company had RECORD BREAKING profits for any business not just heir business.

Big oil companies profits rival the GDP of several states.

I think its greed and we and our economy are hostage to them until we can build infastructure for alteritive energy sources.