A very astute businessman and owner of a very successful Petroleum Distribution Company (also an AWE customer, of course) recounted a recent event when purchasing oil.   He said I was just notified by Exxon that I could no longer purchase any product for the rest of the month.  Curious, I said “What?” and he finished the story.  Apparently with Exxon, the large quarterly profits were a problem and the new President and Congress made it even worse.  The only way to stop making profit is to stop selling oil but doesn’t  that sound a bit extreme.  Then, there is the economy and the automobile industry failing miserably and how about this for a rescue plan.  Exxon could buy a GM, Ford, and Chrysler with just one quarters profit.  What a deal, save the automobile industry, and be able to buy a Chevy, Ford, or Chrysler at your local Exxon gas station.  Of course, this is not going to happen but it is amazing how we threaten a profitable company like Exxon with a windfall profits tax and at the same time provide billions of dollars to companies that fail.   I think Exxon is on a better path than GM and can you imagine if the restrictions on drilling and shale oil research were removed?  Just my opinion, Gary Sullivan.