Norm is right. After all these years, we have no sensible energy policy.
Even as an oil company retiree, I am among the first to agree that we need to focus our future needs on non-oil & gas energy sources. I am I favor of pursuing everything, including wind, solar, electric, biomass, etc. etc. etc., as aggressively as economically feasible.
In the meantime, however, let’s not leave ourselves exposed to the whims of the hostile OPEC countries. We have lots of oil and gas reserves in this country and we should develop them while we wait for the “green” sources to become viable. Or we can continue to do nothing, which is what we’ve been doing for the last forty years.
It was not my intention for this discussion to focus on how much tax ExxonMobil does or doesn’t pay. As a highly successful and profitable company, they should and do pay billions of dollars in taxes in all the countries in which they operate, including the USA.
Rather, the intent of my column was to make the case that there is an anti-business sentiment that is all too prevalent in this country. The overall tone of many of the replies here should leave little doubt that that is true. When those anti-business sentiments are held by those who are in a position to influence government policy, the result is a weakening economy, high unemployment and a worsening government fiscal situation. If we want to solve those problems and create American jobs, the best way to do that is to create a more favorable business climate. I rest my case.
That would be true if the numbers in Roorke's comment we were correct, which they are not. I would suggest that CNN is the not the best place to find accurate financial results for any American company.
The amount of taxes paid by ExxonMobil and all other public companies is a matter of public record, reported in their audited financial report. Contrary to what some of you obviously believe, ExxonMobil pays a large amount of taxes every year. But don't believe me, I only worked there 35 years. What do I know?
I find it very interesting that the negative attitude towards business which is reflected in several of your comments is exactly what I was talking about in my column. You have made the point of my article far more eloquently than I did. Unfortunately, this is the same negative instinct towards business which is held by many in our government including our president, many in congress, government bureaucrats and labor unions. As long as these attitudes persist, our country’s industrial decline will continue. That is exactly the point of my column.
You might at least go to the trouble of getting your facts straight. In 2010, ExxonMobil paid $21.5 billion in income taxes, which is a net effective tax rate of 40.7%.
Boom. Roasted. Very Cute. If you're assuming I am a supporter
of Sarah Palin, you are wrong. Brian Deaton's note was a shot
at Geoff Cutler, whom I do support. Boom. Corrected.
JRowerdink 1 year, 10 months ago
No End in Sight for Gas Guzzlers
Norm is right. After all these years, we have no sensible energy policy.
Even as an oil company retiree, I am among the first to agree that we need to focus our future needs on non-oil & gas energy sources. I am I favor of pursuing everything, including wind, solar, electric, biomass, etc. etc. etc., as aggressively as economically feasible.
In the meantime, however, let’s not leave ourselves exposed to the whims of the hostile OPEC countries. We have lots of oil and gas reserves in this country and we should develop them while we wait for the “green” sources to become viable. Or we can continue to do nothing, which is what we’ve been doing for the last forty years.
John Rowerdink
JRowerdink 1 year, 10 months ago
America No Longer Makes Business Feel Welcome
It was not my intention for this discussion to focus on how much tax ExxonMobil does or doesn’t pay. As a highly successful and profitable company, they should and do pay billions of dollars in taxes in all the countries in which they operate, including the USA.
Rather, the intent of my column was to make the case that there is an anti-business sentiment that is all too prevalent in this country. The overall tone of many of the replies here should leave little doubt that that is true. When those anti-business sentiments are held by those who are in a position to influence government policy, the result is a weakening economy, high unemployment and a worsening government fiscal situation. If we want to solve those problems and create American jobs, the best way to do that is to create a more favorable business climate. I rest my case.
John Rowerdink
JRowerdink 1 year, 10 months ago
America No Longer Makes Business Feel Welcome
That would be true if the numbers in Roorke's comment we were correct, which they are not. I would suggest that CNN is the not the best place to find accurate financial results for any American company.
JRowerdink 1 year, 10 months ago
America No Longer Makes Business Feel Welcome
Jim, you are dead wrong on this. You need to get your information from somewhere other than MSNBC.
John Rowerdink
JRowerdink 1 year, 10 months ago
America No Longer Makes Business Feel Welcome
The amount of taxes paid by ExxonMobil and all other public companies is a matter of public record, reported in their audited financial report. Contrary to what some of you obviously believe, ExxonMobil pays a large amount of taxes every year. But don't believe me, I only worked there 35 years. What do I know?
John Rowerdink
JRowerdink 1 year, 10 months ago
Arestorer
This is a matter of public record and is reported in their audited financial report. But don't believe me; I only worked there 35 years.
John Rowerdink
JRowerdink 1 year, 10 months ago
America No Longer Makes Business Feel Welcome
I find it very interesting that the negative attitude towards business which is reflected in several of your comments is exactly what I was talking about in my column. You have made the point of my article far more eloquently than I did. Unfortunately, this is the same negative instinct towards business which is held by many in our government including our president, many in congress, government bureaucrats and labor unions. As long as these attitudes persist, our country’s industrial decline will continue. That is exactly the point of my column.
You might at least go to the trouble of getting your facts straight. In 2010, ExxonMobil paid $21.5 billion in income taxes, which is a net effective tax rate of 40.7%.
John Rowerdink
JRowerdink 1 year, 11 months ago
GOP Debate: Riding a Hot-Air Balloon
Nice work, Deb.
John Rowerdink
JRowerdink 1 year, 11 months ago
Minds That Think Alike
mcg2010: Boom. Roasted. Very Cute.
If you're assuming I'm a supporter of Sarah Palin, your are wrong. However, Brian Deaton's note was a shot at Geoff Cutler, whom I do support.
Boom. Corrected.
JRowerdink 1 year, 11 months ago
mcg2010
Boom. Roasted. Very Cute. If you're assuming I am a supporter of Sarah Palin, you are wrong. Brian Deaton's note was a shot at Geoff Cutler, whom I do support. Boom. Corrected.