How Much is Enough?

DALLAS - A $69.7 million compensation package and $98 million pension payout to Exxon Mobil Corp.'s former chief executive and chairman Lee R. Raymond has some shareholders and economists asking, "how much is enough?"

The Irving company has drawn criticism from politicians and economists for becoming the most profitable company in history — at consumers' expense, they say.

Exxon benefited from high oil and natural gas prices and solid demand for refined products en route to earning $36 billion last year.

I don't about all of you, but gas is getting close to $3 per gallon by me. It seems thte oil companies are getting ready for the Big Summer Fuckfest again. I realize that many other countries pay a lot for gas and we have been spoiled. I don't think that the oil companies make as much profit as the American ones do (maybe I'm wrong, I hope so) I just don't understand that Exxon made over 36 BILLION dollars in profits while we are paying an arm and a leg for gas. I could see if they made a small profit, I mean that's why people go into business, to make money. I just don't like how this double chinned Fat-Cat is getting over 2 million dollars a year for his service fo Exxon. I also don't understand how we, as a nation, can invade a country to get it's oil (let's face it, that's why we are in Iraq) screw taht up, then have us pay more than ever before for fuel. Also, we've known since the 1970s that the arab world hates us, they control the oil, and we should be looking at alternatives. If we did that 30+ years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are now. Yeah, I know, buy Hess gas instead. Has anyone ever been to a Hess station? Talk about a sureal experience.