Letters: What is enough money for the rich?

A recent television news report of Exxon Oil’s annual profit for 2022 was $55.7 billion. Wow! If I recall from college accounting classes, business profit is what remains of revenue after all business expenses have been paid. In other words, profit is the free money left over not obligated to any other expense. Reasons Exxon gave for this may be questionable: The economy is improving (strong markets); strong production; and the one that really had me baffled, they are doing a better job at controlling prices (good cost control). What?! I think they forgot one: Charging prices that seem like gouging. Of course, that one would be unpopular with the paying consumer. If they are doing a better job at controlling prices, why do they charge such high prices for the product they sell, such as gasoline? The same might be said for other big businesses like big pharmacies, big food/groceries, big electricity, big auto, etc. When I hear this sort of thing like businesses reporting unbelievable profits, or individuals accumulating billions of dollars in wealth, it causes me to ponder the following thought: Once the elites have all of the money, and there is no more money left to be had, will they still not have enough? Then what are they going to do?

Dan Unulock, Cloquet