I keep hearing Ed Schultz talking about the price gouging. I have read diaries referring to it at the Daily Kos. And it certainly feels like price gouging when I fill up the tank on my car. I drive a 1998 Neon. I do not take good care of it. I am really uninterested in car maintenance.
But I am concerned about gas prices and their affect on my disposable income. However, I am even more worried that the rising fuel costs will keep people from traveling. I am the Director of Sales of a hotel near the Mall of America. We are depended on travel from feeder cities. People come from all over the five state area and they drive to stay with us. I am very frustrated knowing that George Bush and other Republicans are all under the control of big oil companies. Our government is not going to do a damn thing about this price gouging and it is going to have a negative affect on our economy.
I am very glad to see Democratic Senator Schumer speaking out about the price gouging.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer The wild pump prices that followed Hurricane Katrina are not the result of supply and demand according to U-S Senator Charles Schumer.
"Something is rotten in the state of the oil industry and we have to get to the bottom of it once and for all," Schumer said.
However, talking to reporters today in Cheektowaga, Schumer says he's not blaming station owners.
"It goes to the huge oil companies...it goes to the pipelines...and they are making record profits. They're laughing all the way to the bank," Schumer said.
The New York Democrat says it could continue during the upcoming home heating season. Schumer is sponsoring legislation that will grant the Federal Trade Commission power to investigate. And he wants the FTC to set up a website and toll free number for consumers to report price gouging.
"This is a crisis and this going to effect the entire economy," Schumer said.
Schumer's also calling for a break-up of the "big four oil companies." He says competition is what keeps prices down.
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wned/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=820499
I completely agree with him. The huge oil companies are laughing all the way to the bank. Peopl keep complaining that Democrats are not speaking out. Democrats are speaking out. It seems to be falling on deaf ears a lot of the time. The Democratic Party leaders are not in power in any branch of the government. Of course, they have trouble getting their message out. This is what we have been seeing time and time again.
I would really like to help Schumer get the message out about this price gouging. I want it taken one step further.
Republicans are responsible for our high gasoline prices. They are the people beholden to the oil companies. They are the people who lead this government and have not sought alternative fuel sources. They could do something about the price gouging. They do nothing.
Ahhh. . .the free market econmy. Gotta love it! No, I don't. Just because we have capitalism does not mean the government cannot take a role in regulating industries. They certainly jump at giving corporate America tax breaks whenever possible. How about giving Americans a break at the pump?
Back on September 1st Bush warned against price-gouging.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush warned Thursday against price-gouging of gasoline in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and said looters should be treated with zero tolerance.
"I think there ought to be zero tolerance of people breaking the law during an emergency such as this, whether it be looting, or price-gouging at the gasoline pump or taking advantage of charitable giving, or insurance fraud," Bush said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."
Gasoline sellers have been fast to raise prices in the wake of the storm. Prices have risen above $3 a gallon and in some places are higher because of a sudden drop in oil supplies.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/01/news/bush_gas.reut/?cnn=yes
Wow. What a powerful leader. He warns the individual gas station owner. You want to look to price gouging, President Bush? Talk to your buddies with the big oil companies who funded your campaign and the campaigns of other Republicans. Don't start shifting the blame to individual owners right off the bat. I am sure there are some individual gas stations who have done their share of price gouging but it pales in comparison to the money the oil companies are raking in.
Thanks to Senator Schumer for speaking out about the price gouging of gasoline.