A year later ... same old story

Religion editor’s note: John Hatcher was unable to write a column this week. The following is an encore from May 18, 2005. Given the topic, it could just as well have been written this week.

It’s highway robbery! At your local gasoline station, that is. And what’s more, we are willing participants. We’re inserting our credit and debit cards into those little slots and big CEO of big oil company is making off like a bandit. Just two weeks ago, Exxon Mobil Corporation posted a 44 percent rise in quarterly profits for the first quarter 2005. Their net income rose to $7.86 billion for the first quarter, resulting in a $1.22 net income per share for the first quarter.

Da! There’s more: according to the April 28, 2005 report by Reuters News Service, “Awash in cash thanks to record energy prices, the Irving, Texas company said it would buy back $3.5 billion in stock in the second quarter, up from $2.5 billion in the first quarter.”

Why is it that every time we are confronted by another oil crisis, the oil companies come out smelling like fine perfume and Dom Perignon Champagne? Why is it that when our gas prices have almost doubled in a year and everyone says no one can do anything about it that the oil companies are positioned to buy back stock?

It may be legal, but someone is stealing from us and The Word of God says clearly in Exodus 20, “You shall not steal.” This corporate raid is going after the little guy. You have to admit that the oil crisis has not hurt the corporate executive who is making a cool $500,000 or more. He’s even buying premium gas to go in his high performance engine. No sweat off his white collar. But it’s the little guy who is making less than $50,000 who is sweating this one out.

But no one cares! Massive theft happening in America and no one cares that the little guy is being ripped off of his small change. The Bible says, “You shall not steal.”

Stealing is taking what does not belong to you. The outlandish profits garnered by the oil companies in the last several quarters do not belong to them. They have been taken from the people. They know they have got us by the fuel injectors. No fuel into the injectors and no go on the interstate. No go on the interstate and no make wages. No make wages and no feed or house family. No feed or house family and out on the street.

No national personality, no major political figure, no national talk show guru dares to stand and say, “This is wrong.” They all are drunk on what crude oil can do for you. They all are on the drink. Gluttony is known as one of the seven deadly sins. There’s a whole socio-economic tier of folks who are gluttonous on the swill of oil. The Arabians don’t know what to do with all the cash. They are keeping their architects busy 24/7 designing new buildings and cities just to spend the dough of which you and I are being robbed.

Remember, the definition of stealing: taking what does not belong to you. “They” know you and I don’t believe we can live our lives without oil. So “they” can raise the prices and no one will raise their voice. Why has not the President of the United States said, “Stop hitting the poor and the middle class. Stop gouging the price of gas. Stop making inordinate profits.” Why can’t he use his “bully pulpit” to stand against this economic gluttony?

Yes, this economic theft has caused people to start stealing gasoline from other people’s tanks. More and more people are filling up and driving off. That’s stealing too. But do not the major national corporate members of our society have a responsibility to admit their theft?

Oil companies probably say the market is simply driven by supply and demand. I say it’s probably driven in this case by demand and intimidation. Commandment number eight: “You shall not steal.” Whoever you are!