Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Sunday, May 11, 2008
Outrageous oil profits
In recent days, revenue and profits for various Fortune 500 corporations has been released. Wal-Mart headed the list with $378.8 billion in revenue, realizing a profit of $12.7 billion. Exxon-Mobil had a revenue of $372.8 billion, with a profit of $40.6 billion. That figures to be three times more profit than Wal-Mart — on slightly less revenue. We, the public, are being gouged to maintain these outrageous profits for the petroleum industry.
Apparently we in Wisconsin may well be headed for another “do nothing” session in Madison. Budget problems are being blamed. Once again, our elected representatives will dawdle around, wasting time and money. Yet their paychecks continue; their health insurance coverage continues; and their retirement rights continue to build. For the rest of us, we’d be fired if we did that.
Yet, amazingly, there seems to be no one complaining — or even discussing — these things. What kind of responsible citizenship is that?
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