At one time in my life it was not such a chore. Our newspaper had a number to call if you became aware of price gouging on gasoline following the hurricane. I drove around town and decided to turn in all of the gasoline sellers I saw. The prices were ridiculous. Gasoline dropped before the hurricane ever hit (102 dollars a barrel), but the prices at the pump continued to rise. So, all those who chose to leave to avoid the storm were charged more for the journey. Now, this is before the first oil platform was abandoned or the electricity at any refinery was shut down. When it comes to price increases, the old adage, "What goes up must come down." doesn't apply. The price yesterday was at 94 dollars a barrel, but I have yet to see one penny drop at the pump. Even if the refineries (in the Houston area) were off line for a week or so because of the loss of electrical power, other refineries should be able to take up the loss of production during this short shutdown. When you combine this with the drop in crude oil prices, we should be seeing significant drops at the pump. The same thing happens just prior to every holiday. Everyone in the production chain has someone else to blame for the increase. The excuses are endless. I for one don't believe any of them even if Snopes says they are telling the truth. Many other prices are affected by these artificial rises every day. Other businesses are raising their prices too in response to the Oil Industries' actions. Do you think the price of anything will go down if the price of gasoline drops? Let me answer that - "No." Once any item goes up in price, it very rarely comes down. It seems that everyone is greedy to the max these days. As long as I get mine, everything is alright. It won't last. When are we going to wake up and stop trading with these thieves? I'm running my vehicles down to the last drop. The reasons for not being able to produce enough gasoline to meet demand are complicated but everyone has a hand in the fray. Our government would rather spend 4.9 million on a study of the Grizzly Bear population in Montana than find out whose responsible for the high prices at the pump. I hope you contact your elected representatives and let them know about your displeasure with the way we are being cheated. Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. - Edgar Allan Poe
