Kaye Grogan
Gas gouging...creating piggy bank era
By Kaye Grogan
Even during hard times some industries are of the notion that they still have the right to make huge profits, irregardless of the state of the economy or the burden it is causing consumers to endure.
No one wants to admit they are taking advantage of the people by ripping them off — so the buck will be passed from one to the other hoping the money trail will not be found. Gas prices were rising long before the current seasonal hurricanes entered into the picture. Congress needs to step in and regulate the price of gasoline. Power companies are under regulation and fuel companies should be regulated as well.
Price gouging is certainly nothing new, but when an entire nation is practically paralyzed from the greed of the fuel industry, somebody needs to step in and curtail their avaritia appetites.
Gas is essential and vital to Americans, so it's an easy target for money vultures to set their own gouging prices.
I find it absurd that many are pondering charging more taxes on gasoline for the drivers of "sports utility" vehicles. Are they trying to put the large vehicle manufacturers' out-of-business? It's a little scary wondering what the next suggestions to circumscribe consumers will be. Can "rationing" gasoline cards allowing just one fill-up per week be far behind? Since we seem to be moving closer to a communistic country — look for all types of restrictions ahead.
Next the speed limit will probably drop from 65 mph (on interstates) to 40 mph. If my memory serves me correctly, during the last gasoline gouging era the speed limit dropped to 50 mph. But the claim during this time focused primarily on a vast fuel shortage. And many logically minded people didn't bite into that claim, especially after gas and crude oil prices skyrocketed.
The government has certainly earned their reputation of being untrustworthy. And they don't seem to be too concerned or motivated to change or at least to paint (temporarily) over their leopard spots, that is until it is time for reelection. Politicians have one goal in life, and that is to get in office and stay there until "Father Time" sends them out decrepit. So, don't expect any constructive help from them.
When you observe many people (especially senior citizens) counting out their pennies to pay for two or three gallons of gasoline, it is obvious many have broken open piggy banks to aid in paying for their expensive gas.
Joy riding except for the rich is becoming a thing of the past. A popular email making the rounds contends that if everyone would not buy gasoline for one day, the gas companies would lose around $4. 5 billion, but the gas companies maintain this strategy would have little impact on the economy. Boy, is this type of attitude arrogant or what? But if you stop and think logically about this statement they may be right. If you don't buy gas for a day and then buy it the next day — you haven't accomplished much with your boycott. Because if you buy gas one day, you're not going to buy it the next day anyway, unless you do a lot of traveling. Now, if the boycott last for a week or month, this will certainly make at least a sizable dent in the profits of fuel companies. It's the truckers who will suffer the most out on the highways trying to make a decent living. Let's face it — the only way not buying gasoline is going to eventually hurt the gas companies, is to find other means of transportation or for scientists to get their minds off of cloning and inventing an alternative to gas and crude oil.
Many elderly people who are still driving are being forced not only to choose between whether they eat or buy essential medications — now they have the headache of trying to scrounge up enough money to buy a gallon of gasoline just to get to the doctor's office or grocery store and back.
Since those involved in price gouging don't have a conscience it is up to the leaders to step in and quit making mundane excuses about whose to blame for the out-of-control fuel costs and come up with a workable solution to get the prices under control.
People need food and vital medications to survive — so, if all else fails in trying to reason with fuel companies to lower their cost, maybe it's time to invest in a horse and buggy. Maybe we need to observe how some of the "Amish" communities manage to function without gas-guzzling automobiles.
Just think of how much cleaner the environment would be if gas-free forms of transportation were resurrected. Oh . . . but just think of the inconvenience as well.
So...it looks like they have us strapped over a barrel — at least for the time being.
And that's just my opinion!
© Kaye Grogan
Even during hard times some industries are of the notion that they still have the right to make huge profits, irregardless of the state of the economy or the burden it is causing consumers to endure.
No one wants to admit they are taking advantage of the people by ripping them off — so the buck will be passed from one to the other hoping the money trail will not be found. Gas prices were rising long before the current seasonal hurricanes entered into the picture. Congress needs to step in and regulate the price of gasoline. Power companies are under regulation and fuel companies should be regulated as well.
Price gouging is certainly nothing new, but when an entire nation is practically paralyzed from the greed of the fuel industry, somebody needs to step in and curtail their avaritia appetites.
Gas is essential and vital to Americans, so it's an easy target for money vultures to set their own gouging prices.
I find it absurd that many are pondering charging more taxes on gasoline for the drivers of "sports utility" vehicles. Are they trying to put the large vehicle manufacturers' out-of-business? It's a little scary wondering what the next suggestions to circumscribe consumers will be. Can "rationing" gasoline cards allowing just one fill-up per week be far behind? Since we seem to be moving closer to a communistic country — look for all types of restrictions ahead.
Next the speed limit will probably drop from 65 mph (on interstates) to 40 mph. If my memory serves me correctly, during the last gasoline gouging era the speed limit dropped to 50 mph. But the claim during this time focused primarily on a vast fuel shortage. And many logically minded people didn't bite into that claim, especially after gas and crude oil prices skyrocketed.
The government has certainly earned their reputation of being untrustworthy. And they don't seem to be too concerned or motivated to change or at least to paint (temporarily) over their leopard spots, that is until it is time for reelection. Politicians have one goal in life, and that is to get in office and stay there until "Father Time" sends them out decrepit. So, don't expect any constructive help from them.
When you observe many people (especially senior citizens) counting out their pennies to pay for two or three gallons of gasoline, it is obvious many have broken open piggy banks to aid in paying for their expensive gas.
Joy riding except for the rich is becoming a thing of the past. A popular email making the rounds contends that if everyone would not buy gasoline for one day, the gas companies would lose around $4. 5 billion, but the gas companies maintain this strategy would have little impact on the economy. Boy, is this type of attitude arrogant or what? But if you stop and think logically about this statement they may be right. If you don't buy gas for a day and then buy it the next day — you haven't accomplished much with your boycott. Because if you buy gas one day, you're not going to buy it the next day anyway, unless you do a lot of traveling. Now, if the boycott last for a week or month, this will certainly make at least a sizable dent in the profits of fuel companies. It's the truckers who will suffer the most out on the highways trying to make a decent living. Let's face it — the only way not buying gasoline is going to eventually hurt the gas companies, is to find other means of transportation or for scientists to get their minds off of cloning and inventing an alternative to gas and crude oil.
Many elderly people who are still driving are being forced not only to choose between whether they eat or buy essential medications — now they have the headache of trying to scrounge up enough money to buy a gallon of gasoline just to get to the doctor's office or grocery store and back.
Since those involved in price gouging don't have a conscience it is up to the leaders to step in and quit making mundane excuses about whose to blame for the out-of-control fuel costs and come up with a workable solution to get the prices under control.
People need food and vital medications to survive — so, if all else fails in trying to reason with fuel companies to lower their cost, maybe it's time to invest in a horse and buggy. Maybe we need to observe how some of the "Amish" communities manage to function without gas-guzzling automobiles.
Just think of how much cleaner the environment would be if gas-free forms of transportation were resurrected. Oh . . . but just think of the inconvenience as well.
So...it looks like they have us strapped over a barrel — at least for the time being.
And that's just my opinion!
© Kaye Grogan
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