I think I've caught on to the new Gasoline Racket

[Sandpiper]

They jack up the price for a gallon to a record high, leave it there for a month or so, then drop it slightly so that people will think they're getting a deal on gas that is slightly less overpriced.

For example:

Gas is $2.00 per gallon.

Within a few weeks, it shoots up to $2.50 a gallon...

A month later, they drop it down to about $2.30


The media then dutifully tells me what a bargain my $2.30 gas is.

[whistle]

1. By George, I think you've got it!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[kaygore]

2. No matter what...we need to conserve

It is our best weapon against the oil cartel of Bush-Cheney and against the Arab oil cartel

[KansDem]

3. Just like junk-food places...

I noticed a similar technique in junk food:

Offer a Big McWopper at $2 and a puny "no frills" at 99 cents. Then, instead of raising the "no frills" to $1.25 thereby creating the image of gouging, offer a new "Super Big McWopper" with 1/3 more meat at $2.75, then discreetly raise the "no frills" to $1.25 during the "Super Big McWoppers" marketing-blitz campaign.

Oh yeah, and raise the "Big McWopper" to $2.15...

At least that's how I think it operates based on observation, but then, I haven't been to one of these places for quite a while...

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. Yup. Just yesterday I noticed with relief that the cheap gas in

the area was down to $1.98.

Relief!

And this is before the summer crunch begins.

OTOH, the reserves are near an all-time high. Guess we've about finished stocking up in preparation for the Iran war.

[SoCalDem]

5. I said that when gas was going up LAST YEAR..

Remember folks??? gas USED to be in the 1.40-1.60 range, and then all of a sudden it was "nearing" $2.00?.. People were freaking out..so of course the "solution" is to raise it SO MUCH HIGHER than $2.00, so then when it "settles" back at $2, people will say.. "Whew, gas is 'only' $2.00"..

Sometimes the public is SOOOOOOOOOO DUMB.....and gullible.

Remember too, that oil companies are racking up RECORD profits in the BILLIONS per quarter..that's PROFITS..not SALES...


If they were making huge profits when oil was 45-50 (last year), why was it "necessary" to raise the prices even higher, if they were already making a killing??

If you own the only bakery in town and are making a nice living selling bread (a necessity) at $2 a loaf, should you be justified in raising the price to $4, just because you 'can'??

Most merchants struggle mightily to hold prices down , so they can not only make a living, but the like to keep their product affordable for the good will it creates with their customers..

Oh wait.. That was back in the day when people with a conscience ran businesses, and they often were neighbors to the people they served..
Conglomerates are ephemeral, and have no "neighbors"..