Battle at the Pumps: Is there a solution for increasing prices?

Remember when grandad apply to tell stories of how bumbleoline cost $0. 10 a gallon when he first started driving? We laughed at the thought of anything costing less than a dollar, but with todays national number for accelerator pedal sitting at $3. 00 a gallon, the 300% determine increase is no laughing matter (Benton, 2007).If the price for shove along continues to increase at the rate it is now, our children bequeath be the wizards finding temper in our silly rants of settleing $90. 00 to fill our SUV tanks. Gas hikes and price gouging argon issues that most Americans would rather non be associated with.Nevertheless, we all lock away shoot jobs to go to and errands to run. So, while whatsoever argue that the price increases argon just a part of inflation, thither be more arguing that screw up pricing is a game of politics. Either way, we all will continue to pay what we have to go get from direct A to point B. Targeting when petrol hikes became such a hot issue dates back to the infamous Katrina chance in August of 2005. In addition to the catastrophic storm, some claim that politics also dissemble a part in price determination.Whatever the reason, a solution must be desire. appreciatively, there ar a few solution-seekers come on there who be actively searching for ways to make spirit in the eld of $3. 00 plus per gallon a bit more tolerable, albeit still an, ah-hem, unpleasant issue. Collaborations surrounded by companies, innovations in vehicles, and vehicle purchasing incentives are all ways businesses are working together to none the bitterness at bay. Nevertheless, many of us wont be happy until we are in all dependent on our own resources for the precious commodity.So, while we will never see the same prices Grandpa paid for muff pedal in our life duration, reviewing the causes and finding solutions are the only ways we will avoid victorious out a second mortgage just to put gas in the cars. Immediately after(prenom inal) Hurricane Katrina, Americans panicked, and fearful gas retailers began a behave that was, for the most part, unheard of. Lines of petrol-starved automobiles passage of arms at the Pumps 3 set themselves at gas pumps, struggling to get every last drop of gas available onwards it was all gone.Rumors of depleted gas barrel supply sent small town gasoline retailers, as well as few big city retailers into gouging mode. Within hours, prices went from $2. 00 to just over $3. 00 a gallon in states such as Texas and Louisiana, the states closest to the disaster (AP, 2005). Another spark contributing to the gas fire blazing at the pumps is the claim that election years tend to send gas prices into a rollercoaster pattern land in the beginning elections, and up after elections. In fact, Joe Benton of ConsumerAffairs. com writes that pre-election gas prices averaged $2.50 a gallon, and that gas prices are sure to rise againright after the midterm elections (2006). Mr. Benton was cor rect. Just after the elections the national average for gas prices increased 12. 5 cents in December, and has steadily continued to rise. Though the decrease is unexplainable, rest guarantee that the elections have nothing to do with it. If they were the reason for the decreased gas prices, however, most Americans would vie for periodic elections Unfortunately, for the disgruntled, the days paying less than $2. 00 a gallon for gasoline are long gone.In fact, we drivers, bus riders, airline passengers and hack writer goers must continue the suffrage, as melees to locate the best gas source is continued. Until one is found, companies, manufacturers and even the organization are giving a go at attempts to soften the blows of outrageously priced petro. The battle of fair gas prices has produced an effort among many to seek ways around getting hosed at the pump. For example, John Wakefield of Murphy vegetable anele color smoke, states that Murphy USAs goal is to be a low cost pro vider to the communities they resolve (2006).To comply with this statement, Murphy USA has collaborated with discount retailer, Wal-Mart, in order to offer a minimum of a three-cent discount for those who purchase fuel with a Wal-Mart gift card. This allows Murphy USA to maintain its position in offering a below average price for Battle at the Pumps 4 gasoline passim the nation (Wakefield, 2006). Additionally, manufacturers, such as Ford and Chevy, have joined in the labors of providing an alternative for gas guzzle vehicles. Their answer to the gas price dilemma has been to increase promotion of hybridisation and flex-fuel vehicles. intercrossed vehicles, although in existence for many years, have cause a popular choice for saving dollars at the pump, as have flex-fuel vehicles. Hybrid vehicles combine both the gasoline-powered and electric powered sources under the hood in order to increase the remoteness between fill-ups, which, in turn, saves one from filling up as often a s with a purely gas-powered vehicle (Layton, 2007) Similarly, flex-fuel vehicles (FFV), which have been around for a number of years as well, are also intentional to combine power sources in order save on gasoline usage.In the FFV case, a combination of gasoline and E85 fuel work together to increase the number of miles driven between fill-ups, resulting in dollars saved (USDoE, 2007). The down side to both types of vehicles, however, is that they both cost a pretty penny, which brings us back to where we started angry nigh consumption mega-bucks just to drive. On the contrary, there is an up-side to the hybrid vehicle The government offers a tax identification to those who purchase a hybrid (USDoE, 2007).Thats greatif you can fall in the high price cover attached to the hybrid. But if you cant, what else is the government doing to ensure that we dont go bankrupt at the pumps? Though they sometimes seem like the bad guys, the government is making attempts to keep Americans fr om going into box matches with gas station attendants. Along with offering incentives to those who choose to finance or straight-out purchase hybrid vehicles, they are also looking out for the little peoplethose who cant afford to pay the $4.00 per gallon price tag that has become a frequenter of many gas stations crosswise America post Katrina. Price gouging, or pricing above the market when demand increases, was a practice few were aware of before Battle at the Pump 5 August of 2005. However, when disaster struck, gas retailers took action, regardless of who it would affect. Soon, consumers were left with no where to turn and had no choice but to pay for overpriced fuel. Thankfully Super Government with its flowing red, white and blue cape came to our rescue, regulating pricing among gas retailers.Although there is no rectitude against price gouging, suspicious pricing will entail an investigation. In August 2005, the qualification Department created a hotline for people who fe ll victim to price gouging (Pope, 2005). Though efforts have been do, without a law to formally enforce a no price gouging allowed law, the problem, though not as wide dissipate as it had been initially, still exists. Gradually, as demand has continues to outweigh the supply of gasoline available, price gouging has sneakily made itself an accepted practice.Investigations pending for suspected price gougers, the government is also seeking ways for America to become less dependent on international sources to keep America on the roads and in the air. As we wearily trudge to the pumps prepared to sacrifice our limbs just for a few gallons of gas, alternatives are being sought in order to use domestic sources for fuel. Biodiesel, a renewable fuel derived from sources such as vegetable oils and recycled restaurant greases, is just one of the alternative fuels being researched for common use among Americans.In May of 2005, President scrub announced that efforts in making Biodiesel a mai n source for fuel were in the works, and estimated that by 2010, our country will become solely dependent on itself to fuel our vehicles, planes and trains (Bush, 2005). Upon receiving the news, farmers across America gained new apply in assisting in the effort to solve the ongoing problem of finding fuel alternatives. But one cant help but wonder What about those folks who cant afford to transition into a vehicle that runs on the fuel alternatives soon to be available?This is, indeed, has the Battle at the Pumps 6 potential to cripple hopes of becoming domestically dependent. Look around the next time you are on the road and you will see cars dating back to the early 60s and beyond. For some people, driving these vintage vehicles is a choice, but for others, it is unavoidable. It makes sense to assume that if we all had the money to drive a modern day vehicle, we would. But for those people who are stuck in that 1976 beat-up Nova, gas prices are still an issue that fuel alternati ves wont solve.Needless to say, if President Bush is determined for America to depend on ourselves for fuel, tapping into the oil sources available on our own soil is required. This, however, presents another problem Once the soil is broken, where do those who live on the land go? The vast lands of Alaska are notorious for housing thousands of acres of untapped oil reserves. However, on those acres, life exists. Caribou, bison, bears, elk and even people inhabit these lands. For years, these habitors have been the reason that the oil reserves Alaska has to offer have gone undisturbed.Nature activists have long protested the spoiling of the majestic lands across the Artic coastline. For this, we have continued to rely on countries such as the Middle Eastern lands, for oil. Years of jokes, ridicule and banter have been directed at presidents, past and present, as well as the government in general, for not making stronger efforts in aggressively utilizing this land, regardless of who is affected. With pretty much no choice, President Bush proposed a plan to break ground along the Artic coastline in order to make use of the untapped oil lying beneath the thick blankets of frozen land and fluffed snow (Rosen, 2003).There continues, as expected, to be protests against the efforts, to include the protests of the Inupiat Eskimos, who powerfully feel that none of the villages in this region of Alaska will support the proposed project. Ultimately, someone is going to be unhappy. Battle at the Pump 7 To those who have decided to put on party hats in jubilancy of the anticipated Alaskan oil tapping project dont mess up your dos just yet. The future in gas pricing will continue a long time pattern that Grandpa, Grandma, Dad and Mom have all had the unpleasant chore of experiencing.The crystal ball of gas prices forecasts continued increases. While the rise may not be in fuel pricing, many will feel the impact of whatever solution is utilized to control this currently unc ontrollable nuisance. While scientists are doing their best to resolve all issues with fuel alternatives, some alternatives, such as hydrogen, will pose an primarily predicted problem older vehicles would have to undergo a complete replacement of their fueling systems. Alas, the efforts to seek out solutions must continue.Though many efforts have been made to resolve the long time issue of inflated gas prices, as weeks go by, Americans resume the struggle with unfair gouging and seemingly unnecessary price hikes. It seems almost impossible to consider the alternatives of spending money on gasheaven forbid we actually walk anywhere. Unfortunately, this dread predicament weve found ourselves in appears to be without light. The only way to pleasantly endure the task of spending money is towellspend money.To ensure that we survive this rain cloud, we can either cross our fingers for monthly elections (for the benefit of price drops), or we can purchase hybrid vehicles, stop in at the topical anaesthetic Wal-Mart to purchase a gift cards, and gas up at Murphy USA. So, although solutions are being attempted, before you visit the gas pumps, be prepared to give up your first born child. References 1. $3. 00 Gas Spreads to 7 States, D. C. (April 27, 2007) ConsumerAffairs. com Benton, J. April 27, 2007. http//www. consumeraffairs. com/news04/2007/04/gas_prices141. html 2. Bush plans on drilling in untapped Alaskan oil reserve.(Dec. 13, 2003) Reuters Rosen, Y. April 27, 2007. http//www. commondreams. org/headlines03/1213-03. htm 3. Congress moves to criminalise gas gouging. (Sept. 19, 2005) SeattlePI. com Pope, C. April 27, 2007. http//seattlepi. nwsource. com/national/241244_gouging19. html 4. Election loom gas prices drop. (Sept. 13, 2006) ConsumerAffairs. com Benton, J. April 27, 2007. http//www. consumeraffairs. com/news04/2006/09/big_oil. html 5. Flex-Fuel Vehicles. (2007) FuelEconomy. Gov US Dept. of Energy (USDoE) April 27, 2007. http//www. fueleconomy. gov/f eg/flextech. shtml 6.Gov urges gas-price investigation. (Sept. 21, 2005) CBS countersign Associated Press (AP). April 27, 2007 http//www. cbsnews. com/stories/2005/09/21/katrina/main870784. shtml 7. How hybrid cars work. (2007) HowStuffWorks, Inc. Layton, J & Nice, K. April 27, 2007. http//auto. howstuffworks. com/hybrid-car. htm 8. Murphy USA Refining and Marketing. (2006) Murphy Oil Corporation Wakefield, J. April 27, 2007. http//murphyusa. com/rm/retail/ 9. President discusses biodiesel. (2005) The White House Bush, G. W. April 28, 2007. http//www. whitehouse. gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050516. html