POST SCRIPTS

Nick, a pretty smart guy once said, "When everybody thinks alike, that just means somebody is not thinking." It's ok to disagree, but in fact we agree with most points here, if not all of them. I am fully aware of the risks involved when government "helps" and I share your concerns.

Nick, I wish I had gotten the name but I read that a republican was also talking up the idea of added taxes.
I agree with you, I do not think any good will come of the government stepping in.
Politicians are always going to look out for #1 first, you and I are far off second. That's both GOP and DNC when it comes to money thay are the same animal.

You know, everyone wants to look at the top for the cause of the problem. Have you looked at the bottom? Have you ever noticed a gas station getting a delivery say on a Monday and before its next delivery of fuel, the gas in that tank has gone up 3,4, or even 5 times?
If price gouging means to jack up the price of gas just because you can, I would say the station is the first place to start looking for answers.

I don't have much confidence in a government investigation, especially since I used to be a government investigator. I even did an investigation of gas price fixing one time. When I presented the prosecutors with ample evidence of price fixing, since every station charged exactly the same price and raised prices on exactly the same day, they would not accept the case on the grounds that it may have just been a coincidence. They demanded a witness, preferably a station owner who would testify that he got together with a group of other owners every week and they agreed upon the price. I got so desperate that I argued for a case of false pricing. Have you noticed that every gas station advertises gas for $2.96 and 9/10 per gallon, or $2.97 and 9/10, whatever. There is always that 9/10 on the end of the price. Of course, the USA has no such denomination as 9/10 of a penny, so you cannot actually buy a gallon of gas for the advertised price, anywhere, ever. Needless to say, the prosecutors did not jump at that investigative theory either.

Maybe the question for the gas station owner isn't how much can I make today, but instead, how much must I make today so I can fill my tanks tomorrow. The station owner has price concerns too, as well as a budget that isn't determined by a single day or even a week. It's not wise to anger customers nor would it be wise to invite government examination, more regulation or a higher tax on gasoline. Profits are the "fuel" that companies use for expansion and growth. So how would gouging the consumer help oil companies or station owners? Also...

What is so unbelievable about the circumstances of higher demand (China), weather related shortages(multiple hurricanes affecting gulf drilling), blocked expansion of sources (new refineries and new drilling sites by environmentalists), formula changes and multiple formulations around the country, and the blocking of nuclear facilities. All of these contribute to higher gas prices in the long or short term.

Life is hard. We are involved in a war, we are recovering from weather and terror related catastrophies, and we have overcome a recession in the midst of all that turmoil. For heavens sake, compared to the WWII folks, we're sounding like ungrateful wimps!

Tina

Tina, yes, people are angry over the high price of fuel, but getting angry over things is often how change occurs, if it can be changed.

I think being angry over a perceived wrong is not wimpy; it's just the opposite. Of course, that doesn't make us right, only time will tell that, but at this moment there is reason to suspect something is fishy. The President agrees it looks suspicious, the head of the Senate thinks so and the head of Congress agrees and so do both minority leaders. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...

There you have it, I stand corrected. Thank you Tina, you are right. Things could be worse we could be French.

Toby, Great comeback...for me things are a bit worse, I am at least 1/4 French! But Grandpa was a Civil War Vet who fought for America and just happened to be French, so I guess I'm OK.

Tina

My absolute favorite idea is taxing profits...boy, that'll fix 'em!

The very people who will need the money to expand to produce more gasoline (if our esteemed politicians and the nutter citizenry would get out of the way and let it happen)would be required to hand the needed cash over instead to a government that already takes about half of every dollars worth now. The pols think we are that stupid...unfortunately, they may be accurate.

Tina

From a stockholder's point of view, I think these guys are worth every dime. I guess some people would be much happier if big oil were run into the ground and left in ruin. The name of their game after all is what's bad for America is good for the Left.