OT - Gas I gasped!

[hoffsoco at luther.edu]

> NYTimes:
>
> By any measure, Exxon Mobil's performance last year was a blowout.
>
> The company reported Friday that it beat its own record for the highest
> profits ever recorded by any company, with net income rising 3 percent to
> $40.6 billion, thanks to surging oil prices. The company's sales, more
> than $404 billion, exceeded the gross domestic product of 120 countries.
>
> So let's see.... Hmmm, I wonder who is getting rich....
>
> Terry Farrell


Hmmmm, yourself.

That looks like a little over 10% profit from sales. How much mark-up do
you do on parts?  Shall the government, in it's infinite wisdom, declare
that anything over, let's say, 5% is exorbitant profit?

Would YOU want to be limited to a 5% markup on your sales?

I didn't think so.

The only difference between Exxon/Mobil's 10% and yours is scale.  What if
Exxon recorded profit equivalent to the normal markup that piano techs
regularly take on parts? What a hew and cry there would be.

If the guv'mint gets a reasonable profits committee to determine what is
and what is not reasonable profit, what makes you certain they will stop
at just the oil industry?????


BTW, why isn't there a "None of the Above" option on the ballots?

Conrad
-who likes to be able to set his own prices.