More about oil

Don't get me wrong, I hate paying high gas prices just as much as anybody, but let's not look for a scapegoat, and tax ourselves into a worse situation...
I realize I already posted my gripes about people (the media) villianizing the oil companies, but I found some more info that was interesting.
We hear the media talking everyday about "big oil's" "windfall profits", and how congress is considering taxing these windfall profits. I'll be honest, and state that I had no idea what "windfall profit" actually meant, but it still ticked me off, knowing that oil companies profit margins are not out of line when you look compare to other industries. So, I looked up what "windfall profit" really is.
Basically, a "windfall" profit is one that politicians decide wasn't an expected profit, and was not a result of efforts of the firm. The definition is not well defined anywhere, so politicians are free to call any profit a "windfall" profit. The idea is that since the company didn't "expect" the profit, they should share those profits with the government at a higher rate than the normal corporate tax rate.
The question is, "Who is being taxed, when Congress decides to tax these profits?" The answer is, "Me and you." Anyone who holds any stock whatsoever in the oil company is paying for making a sound investment. If you have a 401k, it is a virtual certitude that you have money invested in "big oil" (shame on you, you sellout!!!)
Some people argue that the oil corporations are already receiving huge tax breaks... The reality is that they are receiving tax breaks, just like all U.S. manufacturers are receiving tax breaks. I can't state the values of the tax breaks for oil vs. the tax breaks for other U.S. manufacturers, but the way the media portrays it, it seems like "big oil" is the only industry receiving them... By the way, Congress isn't looking just to end tax breaks for oil companies... they want to take that money and use it to subsidize alternative energy companies. How is that fair?
I did some more research on profit growth for different industries (for 2007, since 2008 data isn't available). Here's my source (Fortune, again).
Below are some standouts, with their ranks... remember this is PROFIT GROWTH in 2007:
5. Airlines 33.8% (poor airlines. Fuel $ is killing their margins (rolls eyes)
8. Entertainment 25.6% (everybody loves celebs. telling them how to think)
10. Household and Personal Products 20.3%
18. Real Estate 10.5% (even in a crap market, real estate has growing profits
22. Beverages 7.6%
35. Petroleum Refining -0.7% WHAT?! Their profits are actually shrinking!!!!
39. Mining, Crude-Oil Production -9.1% Oh! The Humanity! We're being robbed!!!!!
Are we really going to let Congress, the media, and Alec Baldwin tell us that they are experiencing "windfall" profits when their profits are actually shrinking? Are we suggesting that they shouldn't "expect" to beat last years profits? That they should run a failing business? That will really help investment...

Don't get me wrong, I hate paying high gas prices just as much as anybody, but let's not look for a scapegoat, and tax ourselves into a worse situation...