Could the article be anymore shallow, innane and agenda driven? Of course, Exxon makes a profit. It's what corporations do to the benefit of their shareholders. Is EXXON supposed to be judged in a separate economic universe from Microsoft's or Dell's profits just because its an oil company?

It's not like EXXON hasn't paid $3.5 billion. Not exactly chump change. 17 years after the fact and these whiners haven't moved on to new sources of livelihoods? The fishing industry isn't exactly in great shape on the Atlantic seaboard either. Ask the unemployed fishermen in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

It would have been nice if this article presented a balance of both sides of the issues involved in this settlement.

What a truly disgusting travesty of justice.

Think about this story every time you fill up with gas.

And TALK about it with your friends, family, colleagues, etc.

The Exxons of the world will continue to get away with shameful, irresponsible acts such as this as long as most Americans remain blissfully ignorant.

Our government is apparently powerless, so it's up to us -- the customers, the little guys -- to hold these big greedy companies accountable.

It may not help much, but I will boycott Exxon. I don't want to add to their profits if they care so little for our world.

BOYCOTT EXXON

Whatever happened to accountability? I guess if you are big enough and have a product that is indispenable to the world, you can set your own rules and terms. What a lesson in ethics and justice!

Yes, Exxon as a corporation has a right to make a profit, but it might prove very interesting to examine the methods they have chosen to pursue that magical bottom line. Where much is given, much is expected...they should have to present an accounting to SOMEONE...the least it could do would be to exonerate them...the worst, to convict. What do they have to lose?

I guess exxon figures since their so big they cant be touched, their above the law and ever other matter..

I find it disturbing some readers would say Exxon has paid enough. Guess what, Microsoft and Dell haven't dumped 10,000,000 gallons of oil in a marine rich environment. Exxon keeps fighting to pay extra because incurring horrendous legal expenses doesn't phase them....They earned 8.5 billion dollars last quarter.

Exxon needs to pay. Just because I think $1.40 per gallon of gasoline is "sufficient" doesn't mean I don't have the pay the other $1.60.

I have been boycotting Exxon for years and will continue to do so. I think it's horrendous that they haven't payed yet! Get with it and do your duty!!!

"whiners that haven't moved on to new livelihoods"? I suppose it should be ok for Corporate America to wreck the livelihoods of other people in order continue their own livelihood. Why don't we all just finally stop thinking of ourselves for a moment, collectively turn our ears to the Globalist mouth, and listen and do what it asks of us? Sorry, forgot we were in the U.S. for a moment.

It is unfortunate that many of these corporate CEO's were taught right from wrong when they were children and when they start climbing the rungs of the corporate ladder they lose sight of what is right and wrong. I guess the view from the top is different from the average joe's that is on the bottom.

I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF EXXON WAS A FOREIGN OWNED COMPANY. YOU THINK THE "WHO CARES ATTITUDE" WOULD PREVAIL? PEOPLE JUST DON'T CARE! TYPICAL HUMAN BEINGS, THEY PUT A MORATORIUM ON WHALES WHEN THE LAST WHALE IS SLAUGHTERED. IT'S TOO DAMNED LATE! IT'S LIKE THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAN ATTITUDE, ME,ME,MINE. WHEN ARE PEOPLE GONNA TO WAKE UP AND STOP BEING SO SELF CENTERED!!!!

exxonmobil has paid a dear price over maybe 30 years to establish its company. The blood, sweat, tears, pain, agony, opposition, adversity, time, frustration, work, sorrow and other cost and Putting employees on payroll that are not worth the pay, double taxation of the IRS, unemployment insurance, Employing american people, contingency costs, foundations for college education and other donation incentives, then the Government wants to charge 4 billion dollars on working individuals who built their own empire from initial pursuits, as well as uninformed people who don't really realize that exxonmobil has propably worked for a great deal for what it has majority accquired here in the U.S.A I really wish that people would really reconsider and realize from the head of exxonmobil and his perspective and the empire that they have paid the price for and built. FYI - I have an actual employment pending claim with exxonmobil and have had to pay a price just to be considered but now after hearing these things that exxonmobil is facing and its unfairnesses I would dissolute from any other costs to its company and pursue other employment.

of course they dont "cant" pay and they won't pay. Their servant, VP Cheney, is their former boss and I'm sure the Republican administration will do anything to protect them. Wouldn't it be nice this Administration would you use the same concept of "protection" on the environment??

What most irritates me about this is the reaction of "penny"...as to why the "whiners" haven't moved on to other forms of employment. Gee Sherlock, maybe it has to do with the fact that the Valdez sound is right smack in the middle of one the richest fisheries in North America.

Someone is not a "whiner" when they have their livelihood destroyed by the criminal negligence of a corporation that by all accounts has the resources to both prevent and remedy a catastrpohe like the Valdez spill.

I just don't get this "cult of personality" surrounding Big Business. Hurray, they make lots of money, so let's worship them and never question any of their ethics or tactics! Any business, large or small, has an obligation to the community it operates within. Anyone who doesn't believe that is a sociopath.

Unfortunately nowadays nearly everyone thinks the end justifies the means, so once you get rich you are above the law and the acolytes of the Free Market Church of Wealth will defend your every move.

If you believe in a just God you might want to rethink your fanatical devotion to the almighty dollar folks.

Well said, e snyder!
And wasn't Exxon/Mobil just initiating a 'warm'n'fuzzy' PR campaign because the public as a whole considered them the epitome of the lawless plundering corporate monster? I guess in the end, winning hearts and minds isn't as important as stealing wallets and raping the ecosystem.

I don't understand people.We let the oil companys and the goverment do what they want,,then Bitch when I causes us discomfort. Oil companys don't pay royalties to any one but the politicans that seem to always have their hand out. but their bellys and their gas tanks are full. And we bitch>>
there is only two choices get rid of the rich politicans , Or join them and steal every thing you can , for tommorrow is going to be worse

If the IRS can seize ones property for not paying their taxes, why can't someone seize Exxon's obscene profits and pay these good people what is owed to them? Would you or I be permitted to "blow off" our debt? The arrogance of big business is appalling and the fact that they remain untouchable due to politicians is a travesty! I have also boycotted Exxon for years and will continue to do so, however, until all of America stands up and unites against this miscarriage of justice, nothing will change.

It’s sad when a company worth billions of dollars is selfish as they are. The oil spill was their fault, not society or inhabits living in those depths. It is Exxon’s responsibility to clean the mess and pay those fines handed to them.

Because it cost them more money to clean up doesn’t mean they should escape punishment of the fine of the spill. Those are clearly two separate issues.

Clean-up vs. Fines for spill = 2 accountability for one company that has the money to spend for their mistake, again not society or inhabits.

Someone in this organization is royally confused and feels they can over-veto a court decisions.

Or does Exxon, since are with wealth and power feel they can dominate, and over rule the court decisions, hand down their own term of negation when it is the principle of our courts to make this resolution, not the company at fault.

If our government turns their backs and eyes in this situation and goes along with Exxon, proves they too have a selfish agenda ahead.

God Bless

Why should they pay?
Exxon needs their money. I mean, they NEED that money to reinvest into the $180 million that oil and energy lobbyists throw at Washington every year. And we don't expect them to use their 8 billion in recent profits, or any of the 1.6 billion shelled out to oil and energy companies under our current energy bill.
But, until we start walking, cycling, or jump on a public bus, we don't have much of a choice, do we?