Windfall profits?

Microsoft reports a net profit of 29.3% (5 year average of 27.9%) Industry 5 year average 16.3%
Coke reports a net profit of 18.4% (5 year average of 21.2%) Industry 5 year average 16.2%
Gannet (Newspapers) reports a net profit of -22.8% (5 year average of 15.8%) Industry 5 year average 7.2%
BP reports a net profit of 7.3% (5 year average of 8.2%) Industry 5 year average 10.9%
Exxon reports a net profit of 9.2% (5 year average of 9.6%)
Conoco-Phillips reports a net profit of 7.6% (5 year average of 6.7%)

So who's making more on their investment and which company are you going to invest in? Who is making more off the consumer? The "profits" are distributed to the investors, the stockholders. I.e. Mutual Funds, 401-K's, Pension funds and individual investors. Tax these "excess" profits and who are you taking the money away from? Vanguard, Washington Mutual, College Retirement Equities, Fidelity and 1624 more mutual funds and institutional funds hold 52% of Exxon alone.

Research the other oil stocks and see who is holding them, the majority holders include your next door neighbor, maybe even yourself. So before you demonize, know what it is you're demonizing.

The politicians are merely playing into the ignorance of the American, public school educated, people. It takes work to know the facts. Try it, it's empowering.

"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson