Why Do Higher Gas Prices Anger You?

I get mad whenever anything goes up in price. Who in their right mind wants to pay more for things? Oh, thank you very much, I really wanted to pay an increase in taxes. I love the fact you increased your insurance rates - you deserve more money and I will happily hand over my hard earned cash to you - I have nothing better to spend my money on (like food for my children).

However, I wouldn't blame the gas attentants - they are usually low paid hourly workers - like they have any say.

Yeah killing a gas station owner? That's the stupidest thing I've heard some1 do- just b/c of gas prices. I wonder why no1 killed a politician for rising taxes?

even hybrids use oil and gas.
if we all resort to using those cars,then the gas price would triple.
If the usage goes down, the price goes up to ensure the same percentage in profits..
Granted... we would only have to buy a few gallons at a time with a hybrid instead of 12 + for normal cars.. wich wouldnt be an up front pain in the pocket book like it is now.

But the price would still reflect huge profits for oil companies.

Naah, I think the lessening of demand for their product would keep the price steady. If it kept getting higher in response to decreased consumption then we would start to see cars using alternative fuels very very quickly. And the oil and gas companies don't want that.

BBB
The barrel price of oil is only one factor in the price increase of gas. The US does not have enough oil refineries, which creates an artificial shortage of gas leading to higher prices. This is partly their fault and partly the NIMBYS who don't want refineries in their areas. Why is it that existing refiners have a strange habit of shutting down some of their refineries during the summer months for "scheduled" maintenance? Further creating a gas shortage and higher prices at the pump. Clever devils, aren't they. Remember Enron and some of the other energy company's rip off of consumers in California? Same, song, different singers.

http://www.kansasinc.org/pubs/working/OilRefineryWhitePaper.pdf

BBB

Good point, BBB.

cant get close enough.....

I have a feeling the guy in the article took the heat because of his nationality given his name. Just a feeling that it was a contributing factor, unfortunately.

I agree we should be using less gas, should have other sources of energy developed, should have more concern for public transport and the environment, should have more hybrids.

I agree it's typical business practice to take the price of a product to the maximum amount consumers are willing to pay. Of course, that's the way business works.

However, as with the insurance example Freeduck gave above, there are government controls applied to certain goods that are important to the economy and general populace. There are insurance commissioners in each state that keep insurance companies somewhat in line. There are controls on the prices of certain utilities, and some utilities deemed too important to be left to private industry that are in the hands of the government such as water and sewer. We have a federal entity that deals with limits on interest rates that control the real estate and development businesses, charge card industry and banks.

Why is the oil industry allowed to gouge consumers beyond reasonable profits without concern for the effect it has on other things like getting food to market? As far as shorter routes for supplies, that limits most people in their choices. For example, I'm pretty sure we don't raise enough banana's in the south to supply the southeast.

hmm.. good point FD.

The price will only go down if supply exceeds demand and at the moment supply and demand are equally matched. That is there is always a buyer at whatever asking price. If there were a major shift worldwide to other energy sources, the price would go down, or the oil producing cartel would reduce production to match demand. As that cartel is not global in its control of production, there are non member producers, the price would still go down. But probably not as fast or far as it would if there were not a cartel.

Exactly Tico. Why take accountability when there is is "government" out there to blame for everything.

My interest in politics at this point in my life is less than nil.
If Bush hadnt' been elected, everyone would be bitching about whoever was in office.

I seldom even look at the politics forum because all I hear is "whine, whine, whine"
All right Mr. Smart Guy who knows every single thing that's wrong with the world, what exactly would YOU do?
I mean, in detail, how would you save the world, you obvious must know, you bitch enough.

<stepping off my soapbox>

Getting back to the gas prices. Hey! I've got a great idea, why not stop buying SUV the size of a one bedroom apartment? I feel if you drive one of these behemoths you have absolutely no right to complain about the cost of gas. It's your fault for needlessly buying that obsenity so you can go buy a gallon of milk at the 7-11.

On I think GMA the other day, they were showing a "typical" mom with her SVU, driving the toddler and her around on her "typical" day errands.
Basically going to the supermarket, buying the kid some shoes, and going to the gas station. They made a big deal of reporting "now, she's driving 3 more miles down the road to the pediatritians office.

At the end of the day, she bought $25.00 dollars worth of gas to cover what she'd used that day.

That is the stupidest sh*t I have ever seen.

It's just her and a 3 year old.

You always hear about all the soccer moms and whatever out there. There's another load of crap.
Like as if they're transporting 20 kids and 800 pounds of equipment twice a day.
Oh, but it's roomier - please, even if you have 3 or 4 kids, how far are you going? 10 miles?
Sit down and shut up, we'll be there in 15 minutes, you will somehow live having only a seat that accomodates your body and a few feet of air around you.

Gas prices, it is what it is.

Some solutions in addition to driving a normal size automobile......

News flash: if you take your foot off the gas pedal, your vehicle will NOT come to a dead standstill, you do not need to accelerate up to the light at 50 miles an hour, braking in the last few yards.

Guess what! If you are driving DOWNhill, guess what, the vehicle will coast down on it's own! AMAZING!

When orbiting the parking lot of the damned, for crying out loud, park and walk the extra 20 yards!

I see people sitting in their gas guzzlers for 5 minutes waiting for someone to move from a space, other guzzlers lining up behind them, all so they don't have to part 10 parking spaces down. You lazy so-and-so, get out and walk.

When I see someone take off like a bat out of hell, only to drive 4 blocks before coming to a rear raising stop at the next light, all I can think is "Boy I hope you don't make love like that"

I want, I want, I want..........well, now the piper wants to be paid.

You talkin' to me?

<looking around>

I MUST be talkin' to you, I don't see nobody else here.




No tico, that was a whatayacall? an everybody you.

I think she was agreeing with you, Tico.

Re: BBB


Maybe summer is the only time they can 'maintain' their refineries
. How convenient that most people are out driving on vacations during summer.

Oh, yeah? Ok. Didn't want to have to whip my gun out of my sleeve and go all Bogart on you. (Whatever that means).

hahaha, ChaiTea, you're right. I saw this guy on the news once driving a hummer complaining that the gas prices are too high. That guy was a bachelor! HUMMER!

you gonna go all -Tico- on'er ??

It really doesn't matter if one is spending 15, 20 or 50 dollars to fill their tank depending on the kind of vehicle they drive. No matter what they drive, the price has had to have affected what they budget for gas. Even those driving a ford escort have had to double their gas budget over the last couple of years. At the same time, many have had stagnant or minimal wage increases that have not kept up with the increased costs of basic needs.

Another way to divide the have's and have nots? Record the daily outing of an upper middle class mother with a 3 year old all you want and blast it across the tv to show how self indulgent we Americans are, but lets not ignore those really impacted.

very true.
there are some of us who have to budget gas money, We cant just pay for it as we need it.

im a great example.
I have to now budget 80 dollars a month up from 60 just to cover mister getting back and forth to work. bean to the doc. me to class..

we own a corolla..