4.22.2008

Oil Companies

Would you have a moral issue working for an Oil Company?

As I slowly approach my thirtieth birthday, there is a slight panic. I am guessing that I'm not alone in this panic. For some reason 30 is this "BIG" number. I think it's when we start to question everything that we did in our twenties. Start asking "what if I had done this, it's too late for me to do that."

In one of my "where am I and where do I want to be," pensive moods, I questioned, maybe I'm not living in the right city. Alternatives came to mind...DC or Houston. (Don't want to go further north than DC). I could consider Charlotte, but I feel like it's an ATL in training. DC was ruled out because I'm not a zillionnaire, nor do I have a double income household. I want a similar quality of life that I have now...meaning that I want to buy a place greater than 1000 square feet in the $200k-240k price range. That leaves Houston as a viable option.

Next thought was.. okay with my skill set (finance/accounting) what industries and/or fortune 500 companies are prevalent in that area? Of the top 10 fortune 500 companies, oil companies account for 30%. There is one located in Houston, and I checked out the website and was impressed about the earth-conscious message on the company website. BUT - I paused thinking to myself, EWWW work for the very type of Company that I loathe each time I gush out $45 for a tank of gas? The Companies for which people are dying in Iraq? The Companies in which I abhor the underlying reason why our president is such a moron on international affairs? Eeek - I have a moral dilemma.

Maybe I should keep my happy ass where I'm at.

Is this panic/anxiety over turning 30 common?

1 comment:

Brannon said...

Funny...I'm having similar feelings of anxiety as my 30th bday approaches. I'm just wondering when I'll figure it all out because I've worn myself out - I'm exhausted! lol

Not sure how I'd reconcile working for an oil company with myself. How many ppl DON'T work for a company they don't (if they knew of ALL the conflict of interests) have moral conflict with? Oil companies just smack you in the face with conflict, while others have conflict not so easily identified.