Editorials

It amazes me, especially since I live in Florida, that the gas prices have such a large fluxiation. I understand, that with the onslaught of the multiple hurricanes, along with the price increases from the middle eastern suppliers, that prices will rise due to these impacts.

What amazes me, is the immediate at the pump increase when the media alludes to a potential disaster or a major price increase. I would assume that the existing gas within the storage tanks has already been purchased at the lower price. So, this immediate increase has no merit except to legally "gouge" the customers.

Since the media has reported that several major oil companies have posted record profits, one would speculate that the oil company income, when balanced against the expenditures, would enforce the premise that the profit margin would remain the same as incurred with the prices prior to the multiple disasters. And we now understand that congress was investigating???

The local paper reported that some economists considered the higher gas prices to be good for the economy, where it was an artificial methodology to enforce a lesser gas consumption, as well as adhering to the laws of supply and demand. This is a typical 'blue sky' approach, where the persons making those statements, usually well off financially, have their heads in the sky, and not down to earth, where the "rubber hits the road", where you and I reside. 

What about the married couple, both working, with several children, and have to face this impact of doubled gas prices, just to get to work and take the kids to school and the doctors?

What about the single parent, who is struggling to make ends meet, and this impacts an already stretched budget?

What about the students, who need a car, abet an older model, just to struggle on a shoe string budget just to pay for  their classes and try to make if to college on time?

What about the retirees, the senior citizens or the infirm, who have a very fixed income, and are already skipping meals to afford medication?

What about the states like Florida, who derive a large portion of their income from tourists, and the impact the increased gas prices have to the whole economy?

The president and vice-president have ties to big oil, BUT, so do many members of congress and the senate on both sides. We the people, need to demand an accountability for all expenditures like this, from our elected officials from both parties, to make our existence affordable for the average person. My opinion only.