Point of View
Toxic Gas Prices
By Trevor Roberts
Feb 23, 2013 - 6:37:11 AM

UNITED STATES—If you drive a vehicle get ready to buckle down on what is prepared to be a year full of high gas prices.  It’s hard to fathom that we’ve just begun the New Year and gas prices have already reached unbelievable heights.  The price of gas is averaging close to $4.00 a gallon in most states; unfortunately for some patrons depending on where you live those prices are a bit higher. 

My big gripe is just why in the world are gas prices so high this time of year considering that the driving season is not in full force?  To receive a clear answer from the oil tycoon, the President or Congress would be like pulling straws, but the American people are continuing to be sold the same crap.  The unrest in the Middle East, the price of a barrel of oil has gone up; Hurricane Sandy has had an impact on gas.  Let’s be honest.  The oil tycoons are GREEDY!  Yes, I said it, perhaps what everyone else is saying to. They are charging outrageous prices on gas because no one has intervened to prevent them from doing so. 

You cannot give me the argument that more people are traveling on the roads in the months of January and February because let’s face it; it’s a load of crap.  The summer season doesn’t officially kick-off until late May with Memorial Day.  These tycoons are making millions, perhaps billions of dollars each year on gas prices and why isn’t anyone in the legislative branch seeking to assist those of us barely making ends meet to get to work because of the high prices. 

I see more and more everyday people placing the bare minimum in their gas tank to get work and to get home.  The days of people filling up are slowly coming to an end because who can afford it.  You’re less likely to travel knowing that gas prices continue to creep up overnight.  It doesn’t make things easier that some gas stations are gouging customers on the prices, charging a bit more than others.  How often do you really see people nowadays go into the gas station to purchase something besides gas?  Not often, you know why, the extra cash they had to spend on a soft drink, bag of chips or a candy bar is now going into the gas tank. 

If the government’s goal is to get the American people to invest more money into the economy they have to be willing to address the fact that prices for everyday essentials continue to climb, while hard-working citizens are continuing to make less and less money.  The gas prices currently are not only toxic, but worrisome.  If gas is close to $4.00 a gallon, right now where will they be come this summer: $5.00, $6.00 maybe $7.00 a gallon.  I can assure if gas prices get to over $5.00 a gallon it will not only be a sad day in America, it’ll be a time where you see the economy get a jolt of reality as people cut back on eating out, going to the movies and other miscellaneous activities.