RM Jones’ Adventure

Frankly, I don’t think there is any doubt in anyones mind that the petroleum companies are gouging us with the price of fuel. Since I’m not an expert in the field I won’t try to give you any numbers or convince you that I am correct. I just feel that the way that fuel prices fluctuate they can’t possibly be caused by price change. If the crude oil prices go up the price of gasoline and diesel fuel seem to jump the same day. The poor oil company has to pay more money for the crude oil to replace what they sell. However, it seems if the crude oil price drops, the high price linger for a while. I never could figure out the difference. I guess in their mind they had to pay the higher price to make the fuel that is still in the system. It would seem that the same rational should hold for both cases. I don’t mind paying a fair price for their product. I just wish they would come up with a standard way to compute the cost and stick with it. Either charge me for actual cost (plus profit) of the gas or diesel I am buying or the replacement cost. One or the other, not both depending on which is most profitable for them.

Diesel fuel is a whole other problem. I’m 67 years old and I remember, as many of you do, when diesel was the “cheap” fuel. In fact a number of years ago a lot of people changed to cars that burned diesel because it was so much cheaper. I didn’t because it was easier to find gasoline than it was diesel. It was even a cheaper way to heat a home and we used diesel fuel in our mobile home, or trailer as we called them in those days. I always heard (and I think that the oil companies put the information out) that the reason diesel was cheaper was the fact it cost less to produce. Whatever the reason, if diesel fuel could be produced and sold for less than gasoline thirty years ago, why can’t it be done now? I’ll tell you why. In my opinion due to the number of trucks on the road there is a larger market and they know the trucking companies have no other choice. They have to buy fuel or they can’t stay in business. Now there is a market just right for the plucking, or maybe I should say gouging.

We all should be screaming like crazy over diesel prices, not just the truckers. Agreed they are the ones that are paying the higher prices at the pumps. They are the ones that “see” the price going up faster than the gasoline prices. They are the ones that are being gouged. But is that really true? NO, NO, NO, it isn’t true. We all realize that as diesel prices go up the cost of the product they are hauling has to go up to cover their additional expense. I’m not a trucker. However, I realize that when they get gouged they have to pass it on (at least a part of it) or they can’t stay in business. I do feel that they take part of the loss in an attempt to keep the products marketable and I thank them for that. But remember, if the trucker gets gouged, we get gouged. We really need to think about that and we all need to start complaining to the oil companies (not the local gas station because they can’t do anything about it), our government representatives and anyone else that will listen. I don’t believe price gouging is legal and it shouldn’t be allowed.

What can we do about it. Well, we probably can do little about it. Not because it isn’t possible but because trying to get enough people together to combat the price of gasoline has been tried many times before. You all remember seeing e-mail and hearing “Gas prices are to high. Don’t buy gas from [this company or that company]“. You have probably also heard “Don’t buy gas on Fridays”. As if that would have any impact. Ya sure it will. Big laugh. So if you don’t buy it on Friday you buy it on Saturday. The oil company don’t care when you buy it as long as you keep on driving and burning gas. They know they will sell the same amount no matter when you buy it. Why don’t these ideas work? You know that answer to that. You just can’t get enough people together to actually take part to have an impact on the oil companies. I can think of one possible exception. In this area, and I think everywhere they have stores, one General Store raised their prices by over twenty five cents a gallon right after 9-11 for no reason other than they thought they could get away with it. I won’t use their name because I feel they apologized for it and have made amends. The customers rallied and fought back. Within a short time they were taking big losses in income from their stores and had to lower prices. One local store went on TV to plead with their customers not to send them any more threating letters and please come back. They hadn’t raised their prices but were getting caught up in the issue through no fault of theirs. Store workers and managers were afraid to go to work because of the threats being made against the stores. That one time it worked. Generally you can’t get the public to support a boycott in enough numbers to have an impact.

So, what can be done. As far as the general public is concerned I believe about we can do is complain and support the trucking industry as much as we can. Let the truckers know that we appreciate them by telling them so when you see them at stores or rest areas on the Interstate Highway’s. There is something the truckers can do. They are a much more organized group than the general public. I have heard on the TV and radio, as I’m sure you have, that they were talking about a strike. Don’t drive their trucks and put pressure on that way. Truckers, remember that you won’t be hurting the oil companies as much as you are hurting the consumer. In my opinion, if you want to put pressure on the oil companies to lower prices use a tip from the gas boycott idea. Talk to each other and decide on a major oil company that provides you with diesel fuel. You know where all their stations and truck stops are. Make a decision and just plain STOP buying from them except in the case of emergency. Plan you trips and if you have to stop and fill up a little earlier than you would like to, do it. Pass right on by the oil company you have selected to boycott and see how long it takes before they start feeling the pain. Not only are they taking a hit on diesel sales, they are losing income from their restaurant, store and they still have to pay their help. I would think they would start to feel it within days and would have to lower their prices. When they do, wait until most of you feel that the prices are fair (and below gasoline prices) before you start buying from them. Then show them you appreciate it by buying from them and cutting off purchases from another company that hasn’t gotten the idea yet. It will work. Try it. And when you do, let the general public know which oil company you are boycotting. I’ll support you by not buying from them and I know a lot of people will.

OK, so you aren’t a truck driver. Support them. If you hear who they are boycotting don’t buy gasoline from that oil company. I don’t care if you do have their credit card. Bite the bullet and spend some cash. We won’t be able to have much impact on the price of gas but by supporting the trucker we will see a decrease in the price of what we buy in the stores.

Sorry I’ve been so long winded today. Before I go let me ask you to do something now. If you know a trucker, tell him or her about what I’ve just said. Point them to this article so they can read it. Send a link to this article to your friends. Get the word around. I’ll get some more hits which I would think is great. Above all, if you hear the truckers are boycotting an oil company, join the boycott.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bob Jones