Gasoline Prices
Supplies, Current Events, General
Gasoline Prices
If there is one thing that I hear almost everyone I know talking about it is gasoline prices. These went up so high this summer that some people I know cancelled trips in which they had planned to drive across a few state. This didn’t stop me, but I’m not everyone. I still took my trip, but I ended up paying a lot more for gas then I had originally bargained for. It seems there is no answer anyone can come up with as to why they are going up so high.
There are obvious answers of course. Hurricane Katrina had a huge effect, but that was understandable. What I don’t understand is why the oil companies are raking in huge profits. You would think the prices would go up to maintain profit, not add on to already huge profits to begin with. Gasoline prices seem to have no rhyme or reason now, and it can leave most people scratching their heads. Even worse, gasoline prices seem to vary from state to state by more than fifteen or twenty cents and no one seems to know why.
You will find that the gasoline prices in your area will go up during the summer months when more people take trips and vacation in their vehicles. Once the fall comes, the prices mysteriously seem to fall. This leads to only one conclusion on my part. There is something to be said for supply and demand, and you know gas is in bigger demand in the summer. Thus, the oil companies know that you are going to pay more for it. The government, for the most part, doesn’t seem to give a rip about it, even though it is hitting many families right in the wallet.
I have heard a lot of talk about how to avoid high gasoline prices. Many say that you should ride a bus to work. Well, I hate to break it to these folks but that isn’t possible for everyone. Many smaller communities do not have bus service, and even carpooling is not a good option. Riding a bike to work to avoid paying high gasoline prices seems like an easy answer, but it is just not doable for some people. Some of us have to live with the higher gasoline prices, and you better believe that we will have this on our minds the next time there is an election.
chief @ December 20, 2006