gas prices

[sabbat hunter]

can anyone explain to me why gas prices are still so high. the average price here on long island for a gallon of regular gas is still $1.89. i thought that the prices would drop after labor day, but here it is 3 weeks later and no significant drop.
now they are blaming the blackout for the continued high prices. what a crock!!
and now not only are they not going to go down, they are going to go up?


http://www.newsday.com/business/printedition/ny-bzgas193461049sep19,0,6864111.story?coll=ny-business-print



peace
david
:hippie:

[Brucey]

1. When Wellstone was around,

he stood up to these price-riggers and threatened to hold hearings... gas prices fell. There's no one around anymore. No one with guts, charisma, and a voice.

[stopthegop]

2. it's a free market and people are willing to pay it...

nothing more...would be higher except for the public outcry that would cause

[sabbat hunter]

3. no choice

i have no choice but to pay for it. My job requires that i drive to clients (With computer equipment). there are many others who are in the same boat.
and unlike NYC which has a fine public transportation system of buses and subways, long islands public transportation is a joke, so that isnt an option for many either.

i am not willing to pay the high prices, but i am forced to.

peace
davi
:hippie:

[stopthegop]

4. in an economic sense you choose to pay it

rather than leave your job...it's the rational economic decision you make...if the price went to $10/gallon you would probably not pay in order to keep your current job (guessing it would not make sense then...don't know your salary)

[sabbat hunter]

5. no mass transit

well like i said since there is no real mass transit here on long island no matter what job i work, i am forced to drive. so the big oil companies in their efforts to gouge the consumer have a captive audience, one that has no choice but to pay what they ask for.


peace
david
:hippie:

[stopthegop]

6. they're all economic decisions...

what job to work at...where to live...how to travel...whether to travel..

living in the Sierras is great, but you trade off the convenience of SF transit for higher heating costs...

livning on Long Island is probably nicer than Queens (never been to either) but you trade off transit for a nicer place...

actually..working any job is a choice (once you find it)as opposed to 'poverty'

they're all choices..

[mastein]

7. Economic decisions

This is where there is a real need to regulate in our economy, utilities and other "needed" services. If the shrubbery had its way the free marketeer hawks would be creating CA energy crises weekly. If gas becomes too unaffordable people lose their jobs, and the economy skids more. The price fixers know this and know it is better to drain someone a little bit every so often than to kill them once.

[rapier]

8. notes

First I will say, again, that gasoline is cheap here in America. Cheap relative to most of the developed world. Mostly that is due to far lower taxes but on a relative basis we get off cheap. Adjusted for inflation as well gas here is cheap, compared with our prices since 73. We all know of course the vast waste tha comes from our cheap gas. The giant SUV's etc. etc. etc.

All that said the rise in prices of gas was coincident with the blackout. There was probably a solid reason for the rise then as NE refineries shut down. However that is now ancient history. Which makes your question good.

I have a hunch about this. Since a year ago or more I think the oil companies and refiners have bent over backwards to keep the refineries going all out in order to keep prices low. I think that restraint has evaporated now.

During the month since the blackout oil prices have fallen sharply, over $4 bbl. Margins are very good for refiners right now. It's all well and good to keep the pressure off Brother Bush but the lure of profit is more fundamental. Besides, for the most part there has been very little focus on the higher gas prices and certainly not anything that would reflect on The Leader. So it's payoff time. Baring some external event to raise oil prices I predict that come next summer and fall gas will be really cheap, pre election.

[SixDegrees]

9. I agree that gas prices will be low

leading up to next year's election.

[Lefty48197]

10. They're getting rich while the getting is good

Just like all of corporate/rich America - they are trying to grab as much money as possible, before Shrubbie is fired.