> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Oil companies should pay
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/oil-companies-should-pay-editor/
- Published: 2008-08-06T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:33:25.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Bruce Joffe Piedmont, Calif.*

Quarter after quarter, and year after year, the oil companies post record profits that are even higher than ever before. If they were just passing the high cost of crude oil on to the consumer, their profits would be constant. No, they are squeezing us for excessive profits simply because they can.

Sure, this hurts us consumers. It is also wrecking havoc on our country’s economy. And still, they receive billions in tax breaks. These must stop. Instead, the oil companies should pay a windfall-profits tax. Let’s use their profits to fund solar and wind energy alternatives. Then we could drive plug-in electric cars with no carbon footprint on the environment.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 6, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080608.pdf?ref=smdp.com)