Thoughts on Debt

You do realize that we practically live in a virtual world, don’t you? The fact is nothing is what it seems and what you are being told is probably not the truth, so let’s look at the facts— The crude oil prices are dropping rapidly and the price on gas at the pump has come down some.  Did you know that it can take about 3-4 months for the pumps to have a decrease from a drop in the oil prices today.  Also, did you know that part of the reason for the increase in gas prices, aside from the economy and the war, is that the demand for gasoline has been rising and the supply has not.  The United States has not built even one oil refinery since 1976 which is 32 years of ignoring that we need more oil and not taking any action.  Also, in fairness to the average gas station, they make very little money on their gasoline sales and rake in a much bigger profit from keeping their gas prices competitively low, to encourage you to come to them and buy something to drink, cigarettes, lottery tickets and so forth.  It is the mini marts themselves that bring in the revenue in these places and not so much on the gas.

I still personally see a big difference from region to region on gas prices and in my travels this past weekend found gasoline prices that ranged from the highest price I saw at $3.39 per gallon for regular unleaded to $2.95 per gallon.  A savings of .44 per gallon is not laughing matter.  Especially when you consider, I didn’t go on a massive country wide trip, I only drove down the highway about an hour and that is how much the gas prices varied on a short drive.  I don’t care what they say in the news, I know that some of this must be price gouging, I don’t mind when the prices vary a little but when I can drive to the next town over and spend .20 less per gallon, something is rotten in Denmark!

These days it does seem that overall we are questioning everything and I want you to know that we are all doing it. Take for instance the fact that on Friday morning my car needed gas, so I stopped and put gas in the tank, regular unleaded of course, after all who is paying for the premium gas anymore. I paid $3.51 for a gallon of gas. Then it was Friday evening and I had to run out to the store and my boyfriend’s car was parked behind mine, so I took his. It needed gas, so I stopped to put gas in the tank at the same station and paid $3.99 per gallon. Then on Saturday morning we were out and the gas station sign said that same gas was now $4.09 per gallon and by Sunday morning it was up to $4.29 per gallon. Now I hear that the gas companies felt that this was warranted because there was a storm coming through Texas - Hugo I think, but who can keep them all straight anymore. You must think though, why must we pay for assumed potential future damage from a perspective storm? I mean it really doesn’t make any sense except as another excuse to hike the price of gas again. You must wonder how they can get away with this? I know I do especially when I hear that gas in Iraq costs about .39 a gallon. Maybe we should all move there, after all we own it now, in more ways than one.