Saturday, February 23, 2008

Gas, Gas...My Kingdom for Reasonable Fuel Prices

Exxon recently announced its history-making multi-billion dollar profit from 2007, which exceeded its multi-billion dollar profit from 2006.

I am not against making a profit, but I am against such wild profit margins--historical!--in the face of fuel prices that make the average person to make life choices.

Seem like an exaggeration? Consider the minimum wage earners who have to fuel up to go to and from work, let alone the many errands a household may require. Believe me, there are plenty of people who are scrimping where they can--usually in the areas of groceries and health care--so they can afford to drive to work.

Think prices of goods and services outside the fuel industry are already high? Wait until these high diesel fuel costs catch up with the trucking industry, the industry which moves the majority of product in America. As their costs rise, so does the price of their service. As it costs companies more to get their products from place to place, those companies raise prices as well. We cannot sit comfortably back and think these inflated fuel prices only affect "the other guy," because we are all that other guy to one extent or another.

I don't understand why our politicians are not addressing the fuel price issue in any shape or form, other than the power of the oil industry wields due to its combined wealth.

4 comments:

  1. You make a good point. Why is no one addressing this issue? Fuel prices, to me, seem to be a top priority for this country. In my own opinion, fuel prices are going to be what causes this country into a recession if there is one. Someone needs to stop feeding Exxon's pockets and start feeding the Americans pockets. Exxon is a company of greed and they will keep raising prices because they know the average American is going to do whatever it takes to be able to fuel their vehicles for work, personal, and family matters. Someone has to stand up for us!

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  2. @ Emmie:

    I appreciate you stopping by and adding your comments.

    I suggest letters to the editor of local newspapers, letters/emails/phone calls to elected officials as a way to make sure our voices are heard on this subject.

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  3. Well, first off, they are not seeing record profit margins. Record profits, yes, but not profit margins. The Federal Government makes more on a gallon of gas than the gas companies do...

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  4. @ Bill: Thanks for stopping by and for your thoughts. I will have to do some research, I can see, before I make such broad statements. Thanks again.

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