Exxon CEO: ‘What Good Is It To Save The Planet If Humanity Suffers?’

[Iterate]

13. Words that could only be spoken by one who has never, himself, suffered.

I know nothing of his personal life but can say that with some confidence. His is the statement of a spoiled child: arrogant, self-serving, and indifferent. Suffering wrings that out in short order.

But, now that Exxon has obviously chosen to end world suffering as part of its new business model, I'm left wondering what kind of suffering the end of Exxon would bring. Not the complete end of oil use mind you, just the kind of massive use that can only be supported by a massive and aggressive corporation like Exxon.

No 40-mile exurban commute, with a race home through the drive-thru to shuttle kids, mow an acre, and save some weekend time for the jet-ski? Would it be suffering if that ended? The horror of a walkable city with a small local market that didn't carry apples flown in from New Zealand? Can people possibly stand the soul-killing pain of cutting the cord from their beloved freezer and garbage grinder?

Given that he's addressing the shareholders who flew into Dallas, I suspect he's referring to that life and the suffering of a life without Hiltons. Clearly, they aren't interested.