The media continues to blame the "big oil" companies for overpricing Americans while they collect record breaking profits, meanwhile the windfall profits raked in by the Federal Government from energy tax revenue actually makes the oil companies' look like a mom and pop quick stop.
The press sounded the alarm in 2005 when the largest U.S. oil company, Exxon Mobil Corp, announced profits of $36 billion. But according to the Tax Foundation, the biggest price gouging profiteer was the U.S. government, cashing in to the tune of $54 billion in oil and gas taxes.
CNN calls their "Big Oil" bashing "keeping them honest". I say it's time to keep "Big Brother" honest first.
According to the Department of the Treasury and Office of Management and Budget the Federal Government brought in a $2.6 Trillion dollars in total taxes raised in 2007.
General Revenue and Expense Overview for 2007:
* Revenue Received *
Individual Income Taxes - $1.2 Trillion
Corporate Income Taxes - $370.2 Billion
Social Insurance and Retirement taxes - $869.6 Billion
Other - $152.3 Billion
Total - $2.6 Trillion
Expenses
National Defense - $552.6 Billion
International Affairs - $28.5 Billion
Health - $266.4 Billion
Medicare - $375.4 Billion
Income Security - $366 Billion
Social Security - $586.2 Billion
Net Interest Payment - $237.1 Billion
Other - $318.1 Billion
Total - $2.7 Trillion
My fellow Americans there is a billion dollar deficient in these numbers and we are paying $237.1 Billion in Interest. Notice the "OTHER" expense of $318.1 Billion? That my friends are the Earmarks, give away, hand outs and playing money used by our politicians to get themselves re-elected and make us feel good.
I have a simple 4 step plan to solve all Americas problems. We need not worry about how much profit those Americans are making running their oil companies and supplying vital goods, services and jobs to our country.
Step 1, to solve the energy problems, we must do it all including drilling.
Step 2, take that $318.1 Billion from the Big Brothers spending pocket and divide it equally among all Americans above the age of 18. Considering that there are only 300.5 Billion people in the United States we could all be millionaires with change left to pay off that high interest loan.
Step 3, Set caps on the amount of taxes that can be raised by the Federal Government.
Step 4, Create laws to force Congress to balance the budget and set mandatory jail sentences for congressmen who go over budget.

Obama says knocking off 18 Cents a gallon of the Federal Gas Tax is just a gimmick that would not save Americans any money. Let gas prices go up 18 cents a gallon over night and see what he has to say then.

It's not the Americans who own a part of the "Big Oil" companies fleecing America.
It's the Federal Government.