Well, the election's over and gas prices are going back up again!
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9327)
United States
November 8, 2008 10:51am CST
That's not a prediction, although my daughter said that would happen weeks before the election and I agreed with her. That's actually what's happening less than a week after the election. 
They don't even try to hide the connection. Prices began to drop around the same time banks began having problems. It wasn't hard to make a connection between the impending election and the negative effects the financial collapse would have on the GOP's chances. So, gas prices began to fall - and pretty quickly at that. As the economy worsened, gas prices improved. And, then...there was the election. 
The GOP lost handily. And now gas prices are beginning to climb. The economy is still crap, but their team lost. And, despite barrel rates, the gas companies made RECORD profits over the last quarter, more than ever before. Yet, they blame barrel prices for the increases at the pumps. Uh huh. Barrel prices are just an excuse. They don't need an excuse. It's obvious to anyone whose eyes are open and whose brain still registers on an EEG that they are raising prices far more than they need to in order to compensate for barrel prices. They raise prices simply to make more money. They don't make more money by selling more - they make more money by charging more. 
Does anyone else here think the same thing I do? Even my diehard Republican gentleman friend agrees that gas prices dropped because of the upcoming election. Is there anyone who doesn't think there's a connection? If you don't, then what reason do you think it is that the prices fell until the election was over and now they're going back up?
They don't even try to hide the connection. Prices began to drop around the same time banks began having problems. It wasn't hard to make a connection between the impending election and the negative effects the financial collapse would have on the GOP's chances. So, gas prices began to fall - and pretty quickly at that. As the economy worsened, gas prices improved. And, then...there was the election.
The GOP lost handily. And now gas prices are beginning to climb. The economy is still crap, but their team lost. And, despite barrel rates, the gas companies made RECORD profits over the last quarter, more than ever before. Yet, they blame barrel prices for the increases at the pumps. Uh huh. Barrel prices are just an excuse. They don't need an excuse. It's obvious to anyone whose eyes are open and whose brain still registers on an EEG that they are raising prices far more than they need to in order to compensate for barrel prices. They raise prices simply to make more money. They don't make more money by selling more - they make more money by charging more.
Does anyone else here think the same thing I do? Even my diehard Republican gentleman friend agrees that gas prices dropped because of the upcoming election. Is there anyone who doesn't think there's a connection? If you don't, then what reason do you think it is that the prices fell until the election was over and now they're going back up?2 people like this
14 responses
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
8 Nov 08
I don't know where you live, but I live in Tennessee and our gas prices are continuing to fall. The economy is on such a roller coaster right now I don't think this is the time to be making snap judgements about prices.
3 people like this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
8 Nov 08
Prices are continuing to plummet here in Miami. Perhaps you just drove by an expensive gas station. Seriously though, you should look at the trends before making accusations. Gas prices typically go up around tourism seasons when demand is up. We're nearing Thanksgiving so you can expect a bit of a rise. The biggest climbs always happen around summertime though and prices typically drop heavily afterward as they did in record numbers this year.
2 people like this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
18 Nov 08
That's cool. It was quite big of you to admit the mistake. I know we're all paranoid about gas prices after the record high we hit this summer. I'm just hoping we stay low. I would be thrilled if it could go back to the way it was when I first started driving and gas cost 97 cents a gallon... for Premium.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
18 Nov 08
Actually, this was from a news article and took place in a town on the western outskirts of Philly. I'm just East of Philly and usually what they do, we do. We didn't. And, I was wrong. Pooh! (I'm happy, but just plain hate being wrong! 
)
Ours here hadn't dropped below $2/gal, but are now hovering near $1.70/gal. So, it was a false alarm and I should have not allowed my cynical little heart to be so quick. Some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouths - I was born with my foot. 
)
Ours here hadn't dropped below $2/gal, but are now hovering near $1.70/gal. So, it was a false alarm and I should have not allowed my cynical little heart to be so quick. Some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouths - I was born with my foot. 
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
8 Nov 08
Our prices at the pumps have not gone up yet. Last week when we left town to go visit our daughter the price here for the cheapest was 2.03 a gallon, when we come back last monday it was down to 1.97 a gallon and today it is down to 1.91 a gallon. Will just have to wait and see how long it takes to go up here but the way they are talking on the news here it is still going down.
2 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
8 Nov 08
Gas prices in Florida are continuing to fall...down to $2.19 is my area. My sister in Maryland just paid $2.09 this morning, which is down from yesterday. I guess it depends on where you are. I am very irritated that the fall in price has not matched the rise we saw earlier...but I never bought the oil companies's excuses in the first place. 
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
8 Nov 08
Me either. Plus, when barrel rates do go up, they raise prices immediately, even though the gas they're raising prices on was from the lower barrel rates. They don't even wait until they're processing the higher priced oil to make us cover it.
1 person likes this
@dreamweaverjan (3471)
• United States
8 Nov 08
Hey There Girlfriend: I've been saying the same thing and expecting the gas prices
to rise again after the election, but shhhhhh!!! I am "whispering this" ours
here in Missouri where I live are still at $1.93 per gallon, that's the lowest
its been in many many months...When I got my check on payday on the 3rd, it
only cost me $27.00 to fill up and I was running on fumes believe me [b]I nearly
cried with JOY...[/b][i][/i][u][/u] What a nice change that was compared to my
highest gas payment to fill up was at $54.00 OUCH!!! That one really hurt me!
but so far, ours is at the lowest its been in many many stinkin months
but I do expect it to rise again if I had money I'D BET ON THAT ONE!!!!![i][/i][u][/u]
2 people like this
@baxton123 (17)
• Canada
9 Nov 08
Hey, all I gotta say is when Gas Prices go up so does the Canadian dollar, being a Canadian Citizen it we cant really win or lose with gas prices. Depends I guess.
2 people like this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
9 Nov 08
Um...typically the oil people pay the people in politics, not the other way around.
And I've been monitering the news on thigns related to gas prices for awhile and let me say this: they've been panicking about how the prices are going down and have stated, long before election day that they won't tolerate prices under 60 dollars a barrel.
They WERE looking for excuses to hike it back up.
Maybe some of them are using the election, but right now the most common excuse I've heard is that "demand is rising"...even though it wasn't til a couple days ago! (Because, people, afraid thatthe prices would soon go back up...bought a little more in a panic on this news. *sigh*)
At least you and I can agree that, the reasons for the prices are usually imaginary and they're greedy SOB's.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
18 Nov 08
Yeah - even my diehard Republican friend thought that prices were dropping to help influence the election outcome. I have no idea if they were or not - but the event I wrote about appears to not be universal. It was in one town to the West of Philadelphia. Ours have dropped 30 cents since I wrote that. 
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
9 Nov 08
I think the prices in my area are on the way back up as well but I won't swear to it since I don't have a car at the moment and haven't been getting out too much these days. I sure did notice how they fell before the election and I don't think it's a coincidence at all.
You know, I'm tired of being attacked for being against the greedy oil companies! Sure, everyone who owns a business wants to make a profit, a nice BIG profit even and that's fine, but there's a point where big turns into obscene especially when it's on the backs of working people who can't afford it.
Annie
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
18 Nov 08
Yeah - this was supposedly some town just to the west of Philly. I'm across the Delaware, but we usually follow the trend. Of course, because I posted this, prices have dropped here by 30 cents! Go figure. I'm glad though - just hate chewing on my foot. 
1 person likes this
@twallace (2675)
• United States
9 Nov 08
You could be right about that with the gas issues but remember one thing. I have read that the US is in a recession right now and they are not really yelling it out. I have read it in articles right here in my lots. That is nothing the prices might be going down but they will be going back up again. That also in an article i read here in my lots.
There is so much in formation from the news in mylot that it's not even funny. So take the time to read some of the article that they have listed. YOu will find some thing out.
@kdhartford (1151)
• United States
8 Nov 08
I think that in the United States, we need to do a better job of educating people regarding the economy. I'm always flabbergasted when people blame the oil companies or other big business when they make money. Here is a secret: don't tell anyone, companies are supposed to make money. I guess your perspective would change if you worked for an oil company. If you were told that you were going to loose your job, because the government is going to tax the company more. The oil company should make alot of money, because they fund research, they explore for more sources of oil, and drilling a well in a big gamble. Would you put your money into those things, if you were not going to make a hefty profit.
You can blame congress and the President for many of the issues relating to the economy, but blaming the oil companies is not a good strategy. Barak Obama is going to need these companies to get the economy back on track. Oh, and we are going to need oil for a long long time.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
8 Nov 08
What you seem to have forgotten is that the profits they announce are AFTER they've funded research. Profits are what's left AFTER all expenses, donations, payroll, etc. They don't need that much profit. Of course they and others WANT profits. Who wouldn't. But, they don't need that much. And, they blame the price increases on barrel rates when they've actually jacked the the prices far more than the barrel rates increased. I am not against making a profit. I am against lying about why prices are up when you're actually raising them just to make a bigger profit. That's simply not ethical.
1 person likes this
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
11 Nov 08
It will probably go up eventually, but so far our gasoline prices are still going down. This morning my sister stopped by for a visit and said the price at the foot of the mountain was under $2.00. I have no doubts it will go up for the Thanksgiving Holiday, though. Since the petroleum companies have shareholders who are often average citizens, I have no problem with them making a hefty profit. Besides making record profits, the petroleum companies also paid record taxes. However, you never hear about what they pay in taxes, nor do you hear about the capital gains taxes that the shareholders have to pay. Also, we all pay enormous Federal taxes at the pump.
@mocrene (2)
• United States
9 Nov 08
I for one do not see any connection. Gas prices are dependant upon two things: 1)the price of crude oil and 2)the balance (or lack there of) of supply and demand.
Oil is currently at the lowest its been in over a year (approximately $60 per barrel) and demand is also at a record low because of the predicament that we are currently at in this recessionary environment. Hence gas prices continue to go lower. Here in Minnesota gas prices have actually continued to drop recently (even after the election). I filled my gas tank up today at $1.95 per gallon.
1 person likes this
