Excuses for high gas prices: proposed letter to the editor

[meow2u3]

The excuses oil companies come up with to justify another spike in gasoline prices are outrageous. They claim that the blackout in New York, the burst pipeline in Arizona, and the usual suspects-short supply and increased demand-are what caused gas prices to skyrocket overnight. Do they really think we're as stupid as they are downright greedy? I have news for these oily robber barons: Americans were not born yesterday, and aren't buying the silly nonsense these companies routinely shovel. It takes a fool to accept the supply-and-demand spin at face value.

The unflattering fact remains that the surge in gasoline prices has little to do with economics, blackouts, or gas pipelines; rather, it has more to do with naked greed and even more to do with raw partisan politics. The real reasons for the hike in gas prices: price gouging, along with Congress-of which the Republicans control both houses, and the Bush administration, deciding to look the other way while Big Oil robs American consumers at the pumps instead of reining in the thieves.

Anyone who refuses to believe me should look back to 2001, when gas prices spiraled out of control-topping off at about $1.75 for a gallon of regular unleaded-until former Republican Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) became an Independent, turning over control of the Senate to the Democrats. Overnight, gas prices steadily fell to a reasonable $1.25 a gallon, and only rose slightly the following summer, allowing for supply and demand. When Republicans took control of both houses in January, "coincidentally" the prices started climbing yet again. It's no accident that high gas prices and one-party Republican rule came about simultaneously.

[leftyandproud]

1. question:

If they really wanted to gouge us, why wouldn't they leave the prices at $1.80 all year?

seems like we always see a spike in the late summer...seasonal shift in the number of drivers

[meow2u3]

2. $1.80 is still exorbitant

My point is that all the Democrats need to do is control one branch of the government because the oil companies know they can't get away with gouging consumers. Since the Repukes control all three branches of the government, Big Oil knows they can not only gouge us at the pump with impunity, they also know they can get away with the lame excuses they make for ripping us off.

[leftyandproud]

3. compared to europe...

we are getting the deal of a lifetime...at least we don't have a $4 tax on every gallon..

besides, I think the prices will be going down after labor day...they always do.

[BlueJazz]

4. I like your letter.....

Anything that puts a dark spotlight on the Re-flub-agains is dandy with me!

[Martin Eden]

5. Maybe gas prices are too LOW

Maybe we'd be better off in the long run if prices started rising toward what they pay in Europe. Maybe then fuel economy and air quality would improve a little bit. Maybe if we had less demand for cheap gas, we wouldn't have to pay such a high price to retrieve OUR oil that somehow got under Iraq's sand.

As long as Americans demand cheap gas, very little progress will be made to loosen the stranglehold that big oil companies have over our economy and our government. The current price-gouging is a drop in the bucket compared to how we're getting royally screwed in so many other ways because of our addiction to cheap gas.

[foreigncorrespondent]

6. Oh you got me to thinking...

...you said:

They claim that the blackout in New York, the burst pipeline in Arizona, and the usual suspects-short supply and increased demand-are what caused gas prices to skyrocket overnight.

If that is the case, then how does that explain the high prices in Australia? Considering Australia produces 95% of its own oil.

Currently we are paying almost $1.00 a litre (4 litres to a gallon) here in Melbourne. Which means we would be almost $4.00 a gallon.