Classic Rant #455 (March 2, 2011): Gas Prices Giving Me Gas

Have you noticed how gas prices have been rising at a dramatic rate recently?

Where I live, the best price that you can get is $3.59, and a lot of stations are pushing the $4 mark.

Gas has seemingly gone up in a skyrocket fashion the past few weeks, or ever since all the hub-bub in the Middle East was taking place (see recent post about Egypt--I told you so!).

Anyway, it seems that the price rise has been going on at every gas station on the map, but the question I have is:

WHY?

Again, we receive minute percentages of oil from both Egypt and Libya, so why should gas prices be rising at such a ridiculous rate?

I would call it price gouging, but being more to the point, gas prices are rising because once again, I believe that the oil companies are taking advantage of the situation.

Why aren't our legislators calling for an investigation into the recent rise in prices? Why aren't hearings being set up so gas company executives can once again plead their case to a wary public?

The gas lobby is real strong in Washington, and I believe that with all the money they are funneling into our nation's capitol, the green stuff is keeping those we have voted into office quiet on the subject.

It shouldn't be that way, of course, but I don't hear any clamoring from anyone in Washington about being raised like 20 cents in price in a week's time.

And what are we to do? Are we to put away our cars and ride bicycles?

No, that won't happen.

There is really nothing you can do.

The only thing I have done is to never fill up my tank. I put in $20 and that is it.

Of course, it speeds my way back to the gas station, because, obviously, I have to make more visits because the gas runs out quicker.

But the days of driving just for relaxation are over, and actually have been over for years. I now drive when I need to, and that is it.

And that's the way it will be, because once we break the $4 mark, you know $5 will not be out of the question.