Monday, May 2, 2011

Gas Gasp

Gas prices are high, we all know that. However, if you search for gas prices in my community, you'll see that they look like they're "only" right around $4 per gallon.  To see who is MOST getting screwed, check out this map.  (Sorry, the map doesn't show Hawaii and Alaska)

Now here's what bugs me.  I know that the people who work at these gas stations don't make very much money. And the people who own them struggle to stay afloat. But Exxon just reported RECORD profits.

I took Economics in college, so I know that the price of commodities goes up based on supply and demand. If there's less oil available, or if the supply line is interrupted, it makes sense that there would be some rise.  And I can live with the idea that a company has to cover that rise with a slight increase in price.

But then, I would expect the percentage of their profit to stay the same -- after all, they're "ONLY" covering their costs, right?


Yeah, they're laughing all the way to the bank. It really irks me that we have just rolled over on this and they're trusting that we're too addicted to our cars or too stupid to change. There's no thought of "we're in this together." It's all about their profits.  The oil companies have conditioned us to EXPECT a price rise due to instability of the producing countries, oil spills, bad weather, sunspots, etc.  So we gripe, but we STILL PAY the price at the pump.

Yes, I know they're a business and responsible to their shareholders. But an honest ad would go something like this:

WE ARE A BIG OIL COMPANY
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE MONEY
FOR OUR SHAREHOLDERS AND
OUR UPPER MANAGEMENT
WE WILL DO IT BASED ON YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO BE FLEECED.
THERE IS NO 'TOGETHER' IN THIS RELATIONSHIP
UNLESS YOU ARE ONE OF THE PEOPLE
MENTIONED ABOVE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

So while I drive a hybrid, and I try to be smart about combining trips, I think my bike is going to see even more activity than in the past.  My own little personal protest.

But first, for Mother's Day, would someone tell my family I need a new gel seat for the bike?

Thank you very much.

5 comments:

The Bug said...

I totally agree about the gas companies - it's really nuts.

If you give me your address I can send an anonymous letter :)

SouthLakesMom said...

A friend of mine sent this to my e-mail instead of posting a comment -- but it bears reading:

I certainly understand your point and riding your bike is the best thing you can do. However, do you realize that Exxon/ Mobil own Glad and Rubbermaid (or at least they did when I worked for them. They own real estate development firms and home builders that "create" planned communities. Exxon used to make adhesive pellets that were used to glue every cereal box. They also make the absorption material in disposable diapers, plastic for happy meal toys, and I could go on. Certainly, the price of gas is high, partly because of OPEC, partly because a lack of energy planning in this country (no refinery has been build since the early 1970s and current refineries have been expanded about as much as they can), and as an attorney you should look into the distribution network between the refinery and the gas station. I'm not saying the oil companies couldn't drop their profits a bit but just be careful when you hear their financial figures. Not all of their profits are from the pump.

SouthLakesMom said...

Thanks, Dana -- I think my husband reads my blog. ;-)

quilly said...

That map doesn't show our little island, but our gas prices are off their scale anyway. I paid over $4.50 per gallon last Thursday. Time to walk. I need the exercise anyway.

Mary said...

Just thinking about not having a gel seat makes my butt hurt!
It's absolutely crazy how much gas is these days. Sure wish I worked close enough to home to ride my bike, but I have a 15 & 20 minute car ride to my schools, and it's not in traffic.