With all the outrage and talk about the current and rising gas prices, I figured I'd add my two cents to society.

It seems as though there is really only one question to come about of all this; 'What do we do about about both the current and rising gas prices?' (sorry about the redundancy)

There are seemingly an endless amount of options to take in action in order to counter gas prices right now. I've heard everything from the logical Alternative Fuel concepts to trying to create a new war to 'scare countries into lower gas prices'. We obviously won't go into the latter.

What I haven't heard though (not to say I'm the first nor last to think of this) is an idea that involves our government actually stepping in and helping. Yeah, I've heard how the government should start to enforce higher standards in the automotive industry and, for the most part, they have. Companies are required by law to have every car that is manufactured have at least 35 mpg (highway). Sounds great, if they didn't have until 2010 to do so.

No, what I'm thinking is more of a substantial act than anything I've heard of (Once again, I say 'I've' since this idea may already be floating around and some of you may have already heard this).

The bottom line is that the way everything is going right now, its inevitable that gas prices will continue to rise at an exponential rate. What we need is an answer; and here is mine.

I'll say it now to get it out of the way, I'm thinking of this suggestion as I write this, so please, don't judge or critic me too hard, for I know as well as many that there are going to be many loopholes in this proposal. I just hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

Whether we, or the government, realizes it right now or not isn't important, but the truth is that Oil companies have a monopoly; over not only oil, but most of society as a whole (Wow, what a run-on sentence). Exxon Mobil profited $11.6 billion in the first quarter of last year alone. That's a mind blowing $1, 300 a second. They booked over $39 billion total for last year. That's a third of the what Bill has made in his life with the Microsoft Empire in just one year. I think you're starting to see my point. The kind of money they are profiting is more than anyone can know what to do with.

Question: "Whats your advice to the average American who is hurting now, facing the prospect of a $4 gallon of gas?"

"Wait, what did you just say? You're predicting $4 a gallon of gasoline? I hadn't heard that."
-Our fearless leader, President Bush at a press conference Feb. 28, 2008.

It's time to wake up congress, you're letting the oil companies determine how many of your citizens run their lives.

Kudos, however, to the Middle Eastern oil producers who seemed to have taken an economics lesson about supply and demand. It's about friggen time you realize that you can jack up the price on a product that is inelastic!

Here's where my thoughts came in. Control the monopoly that oil companies have over the average American.

You cannot argue that we are spending more money on gas than every before (obviously, Tuck). Nor, can you argue that the rising in gas prices is due to inflation. Our inflation rate right now is at just under 4%. Pretty standard numbers for a solid overall economy. Until, of course, you throw in the fact that gas has risen 25% in just a year! It's bullshit to me. Simply put, for our countries sake, this cannot continue.

Step up to the plate congress. I feel that you need to start buying oil for your country. Maybe not 100% of it, but enough to help stabilize the economy. Gas prices are going to continue to rise so long as we keep on doing what were doing on the subject; nothing. We will soon be spending all of our money on gas and oil (I know I already spend about 70% of my paychecks on gas alone). Go ahead and tell me, congress (or anyone if this doesn't turn out to be rhetorical), how are we supposed to play our role in society and stimulate the economy by purchasing goods and services if all of our income goes to gas and oil?

How can we allow a handful of companies to rep the benefits of our struggle to pay simple bills day in and day out? It'd be different if it were just a few billion dollars in profit, that I could handle. But like I said earlier, they are truly making more money off us than anyone would know what to do with.

I feel that the government needs to step in and stop allowing this. Either start buying portions of oil instead of the oil companies or put a cap on the gas prices. I don't care how much the country is already in debt, in the long run it can only help with that too. If we as Americans have more money to spend on goods and services other than gas, how can that not help stimulate the economy and work towards relieving our national debt?

Who cares if you cut a profit from almost $40 billion to say $10-15? I won't. And I'll bet a gallon of gas that the majority of the population feels the same way. I don't give a rats ass if oil companies make $30 billion less to save me a buck or two at the pump. They are still going to make more money than 99.99% of the population can even imagine. Put me as CEO of Exxon, I'll gladly still walk away with billions of dollars in profit each year.

The last time gas was under a dollar was March 15, 1999 when it was $.98 a gallon. Some people would call it a coincidence that Exxon and Mobil merged together that same year and have never seen prices drop. I'd have to agree, to disagree.

Personally, I don't care how many of those pile of wrinkles in congress make money off the oil companies in the stock market; something needs to be done.

The last time I checked this was a country founded on the principals of equality. Oil companies are not abiding by this, rather they are exploiting their weaker country men.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

uh huh.....

I live in this country that is built 'of the people, by the people, and for the people,' and it is about god damn time that 'the people' in office do something to remind all of us that this is still the greatest on earth and that they truly have the citizens overall well being in mind.




Please leave any feedback, comments, or thoughts you have! I'd love to further discuss this with anyone.


Tucker