I’m sure everyone has visited the fuel pump over the past month and said, holy mother of sweet Pete, gas is up again! Personally, I’ve had to visit the fuel pump a few times over the past few weeks, in this country and in another. Fuel costs have definitely risen over the past year and the odds of the $1 mark ever hitting our local fuel stations marques is very, if anything, dim as that new planet outside of Pluto.

You must ask yourself, why are these prices going so high? Why am I trading in my Benz for a hybrid Honda? It is because you have corporations such as B.P. sucking the life and blood from this country. Imagine if you would, making $55,000.00 a minute. The only person I can think of that performs this type of income minute by minute, day after day is Bill Gates. The good boys from Microsoft work their humps off to be creative, daring and spiteful. However, John Browne over at B.P. is making his multi-hundred million dollar a year salary, day in and day out just by feeding the pipe lines with something they’re not even drilling any more!

B.P. reported an income of over $7 Billion dollars. That is over 30% more than last year to date income for the corporation. You want to try and explain to me, that isn’t a simple cause for fuel costs? Let us put this income into perspective if you have a moment.

BP Exec John BrowneThe current population of California is somewhere near 34 million people. Lets say that we’re feeling mighty generous with our $7 freaking billion dollars and we decided we wanted to buy all 34 million citizens of california a tank of fuel, say 15 gallons? Wow, that is an incredible deed. If anyone did that, they would surely be broke right? The cost of filling up everyone, even the tiny tikes in California would be less than 1.6 billion dollars. That is outstanding! That would still leave me enough money to buy my $24 million dollar island in the tropics somewhere. Pay out the winnings personally of every state lottery in the country. Give 100 million dollars to my favorite homeless assistance charity such as Midnight Moon in Los Angelos, oh and still pay for my god-awful huge yacht!

I could think of numerous vulgar, profain and offensive statements to throw the direction of these corporations, but I will refrain and keep them to myself. I am still having a difficult time with the numbers I just threw out at everyone. I find it hilarious how I could do so much for people and still have over 3 billion dollars left over to, say, I don’t know.. something good! Why not, its tax deductible right?

I cannot lay claim to how I would be if I had 7 billion dollars. I have never even dreamed of having that amount of cash in the bank. I have however dreamed of having roughly 100 million and let me say, it would go a long way! They should rebuild the WTC, granted it will cost more than the 1.6 billion it cost America back in the late 60s, but it could be done right?

You must remember, this is this year to date only. Imagine the 7 billion less thirty percent BP grossed last year. I’ve noticed the content of the post has changed directions as my emotions have come out into my context.

Anyone who isn’t upset by this, well, I don’t understand how. We are all paying out the rear for fuel, while corporations suck the money dry. We have a bad economy, hah.. wonder why!

Additional Resources
BP Profit Statement
NY Times Article on CEO of BP
BP, largest profit in UK

This article has appeared on digg.com and is gaining a bit of attention.  I received a comment in a thread over at digg.com that referenced this article on a San Diego paper, titling, “Gush of oil exploration is on tap!”  When in fact, the only thing on tap is the higher amount of expenses being deducted before profits calculated.  I really hope people are not using this type of material to, make it okay, per se.

Granted, this post has had some great comments from individuals voicing their concerns and opinions.  That is the point of discussion.  I am pleased to see some of the points people are making, especially to my statements above.  I realize 7 billion isn’t pure profit, but its a huge amount of money, a sum that most individuals are not even capable of visualizing in their wildest fantasys.