Big Oil Vs. Big Green

One thing that has been in the spotlight for the last few years with liberals is their constant complaining of big oil. We are told by them that big oil is the reason for all the problems surrounding so many issues: the economy, corruption, the environment, global warming, foreign policy, ect. Oh, if only we didn't rely on oil and we all went "green" our lives would be so much better.

The fact is, we do rely heavily on oil. Oil is used for practically everything from the plastics we buy to the shoes we put on our feet, and it's needed for our vehicles. It is extremely versatile. Yes, we do get a lot of oil from foreign countries and, I often hear about how we need to not be so dependent on those foreign sources yet, these same people never want to hear of drilling on our own soil.

What I still do not understand is how someone finds big oil to be so horrible but, somehow big green will be benevolent? All the supposed "evils" of one big conglomerate will simply be replaced by another.

I'm not worried about energy sources at all. I know for a fact that there are many ways to obtain energy besides oil. Oil just so happens to be one of the best forms. There is nothing wrong with exploring other options but, to say that big oil is somehow evil because they make a profit is ridiculous. Any energy that is made will be sold and that company will want to profit from it. It doesn't matter if it comes from solar energy, wind, or some other alternative source like hemp, someone will seek to make a profit.

Also, let's consider the difference between profit and profit margin. Profit is the amount obtained through sales but, the margin of profit is sales minus the cost of the product. When we make comparisons of the profit margin, we begin to see an entirely different picture.

Link here

I decided to look up the profit margin for Siemens, which is a company that deals with wind energy. Their gross profit margin is 32.5%, where as Exxon Mobil is reporting their gross profit margin as 28.2%.

Now, I ask again, how is big green going to be so much less evil then big oil when, they appear to keep even more money in their pockets then big oil?

No one, no matter what, is in business for the motivation of giving and never receiving. Profits are necessary to any company. Profits are what motivate people, all people. It's not evil. It's how the world operates.

There is no harm in us looking to other sources of energy but, let's make sure we keep our facts straight. There is no reason to fool people into thinking that these other companies that supply alternative sources of energy will somehow not make profits themselves. Vilifying big oil companies for making profit is absurd.