Gas Prices

I was going to write my first blog about the Vice Presidential candidates debate but I decided to write about somehing that REALLY affects us.

I know everyone here feels the crunch on their wallets and purses from the rise in gas prices. Most Americans feel helpless and do nothing to fight big oil. When word of rising gas prices reaches their ears they run to the gas station and do exactly what the oil companies want: buy all the gas. Free enterprise works mainly on supply and demand. When fearful Americans purchase a vast majority of the supply, the price goes up because the demand is still as high or higher than it's always been. The best thing Americans can do is sit at home on the weekend and enjoy some quiet time or family time and DON'T USE GAS therefore increasing the supply. Of course there is more to it than just this.

Oil futures...or speculation on the value of oil. Speculation should be done away with completely. I'm sure everyone noticed when Ike was coming so called "experts" said it was going to shut down the refineries and cause a shortage. Gas jumped $0.50 in one day. Now did the current supply of gasoline already in the gas stations' tanks magically cost more? No. That gas was already paid for but because of a lack of regulations in the oil industry, your Exxons and Shells can gouge us over bunk speculation. When the price of oil goes up, gas prices immediately go up. However, take notice when the price of oil drops. Gas prices stay the same for a while or slightly decline and the oil companies' reason for this is the gas currently in the stations' tanks was refined from the higher priced oil. Now why doesn't that theory go both ways? MONEY!

Look at the graphs of Exxon's and Shell's stock values. Put that alongside a chart of rising and falling gas prices. Start around 2003. The billions in profits these companies have turned in coincide with the rising in gas prices and in their stock value. Can you blame them? It's free enterprise at its best. They're racking up. We need regulations on speculation and collusion. When Exxon and Shell and Chevron raise their prices all the others do the same because oil is a necessity that can't be replaced immediately.

Their are several solutions to the problem. First, the American people have to REALLY stand up for themselves and demand some action. Second, car manufacturers need to stop taking kickbacks from oil lobbyists and start producing cars running totally on alternative fuels. Such as compressed natural gas. I suggest you check it out online at cngnow.com. You can actually purchase cars that run on this and they get great gas mileage. You just can't get CNG at many gas stations and the car companies don't mass produce them. By driving more cars that run on CNG we can save $10 billion on foreign oil. Which can be used for the greater good here in the states. I have a cousin that came up with a device made out of pvc and stainless steel plates that when filled with water pumps hydrogen into your fuel. He added 9 mpg to his diesel truck. That's over a 50% increase! He's not a highly funded scientist in a lab. He's a mechanic. The technology is there but the right people are being well taken care of to keep the oil companies in charge.

Lastly, we're a democracy. Let's stop taking it for granted and letting others fight for our rights and take a stand. Stop wasting gas, stay at home more. Carpool. It's not that hard. We are stuck with gas for a while so let's fight back. Wouldn't you like to se $2.00 a gallon again? Figure how much you would save in a month. Factor in cheaper flights, cheaper milk and groceries, cheaper soft drinks. They've all gone up for one reason: higher gas expenses.