No Gas Here...
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No Gas Here...
| Thu, 09-01-2005 - 11:36am |
I live in an average sized town here in South Carolina, and our gas stations have run out of gas. The news keeps saying that it will be about a week before the lines are running here again, so I just payed $3.62/gallon to fill up so I could get back and forth to work. The lines at the stations around here were incredible yesterday, and in Greenville some stations were charging almost $5.00/gallon. They say it's not price gouging because our state is not in a "state of emergency". Nevertheless, I feel guilty complaining about a few dollars when so many in the Gulf area have lost everything they have. But, I can't help and worry about what will happen to my family if my DH and I can't get to work. We have no public transportation here, and we work about 20 miles from home.

Who says it isn't price gouging? Price gouging goes on, even in states that aren't in a "state of emergency." It is when businesses take advantage of a situation to jack up their prices. I understand that gas prices have gone up because the wholesale price of gas went up. However, the prices that are being charged are absolutely out of line with the supply/demand. I do know that the governers of TN and TX have set up price gouging hotlines so that people can report situations like this. GA has also set up a hotline I think.
I saw a report on the news Tuesday about a hotel in Houston that was charging $200 a night and when confronted by a reporter the manager said that she was quoting a rate of $199 but only charging $99 to keep out rowdy people. Pretty surprising even at $99 a night since the hotel's own website was pricing rooms at $79 a night.
We as Americans need to come together, tighten our belts, take a deep breath, say Thank God it wasn't me or my family and then ask how can we help and then get in and help. We don't need to take advantage of the citizens of our country just because people are frightened and that is the reason why the gas prices have risen. People are scared we are going to run out of gas and be forced into gas lines like in the 1970s. If we settle down and impose self-rationing, there will be enough gas to go around until the situation can normalize again.
There are stations that are running out of gas, but that is because every one is filling up out of fear. People who would normally let their tanks go almost empty are filling up because they are scared gas is going to run out before they can get gas. So there is a higher demand right now.
I know this doesn't help your situation right now and I sympathize with how much you had to pay, but stations are taking advantage of our fear and that is price gouging. The sad thing is is that you don't have a choice. You have to have gas to get to work and don't have a choice to take public transportation.
I do have a choice. I walk DD to school and am combining trips. I have to go to Wal-Mart this weekend and just found out that a store I need to go to for gymnastics shoes for DD is only open Monday thru Thursday, and located in the Wal-Mart vicinity. So, instead of waiting until Saturday or Sunday, as I normally would have, I will go this afternoon.
I know it may not seem like it, but everything will normalize and we will come through this.
Good luck and stay strong.
Kellie
My DH just was talking to one of the guys he works with, who is down in Shreveport, Louisiana. The guy said that many of the gas stations are runing out of gas, and will be closing at 6 P.M. tonight. And if that wasn't bad enough, it's like $6/gallon! Holy cow!
Keep on hanging on.
Lisa