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Highlands Today

Want to regulate something? Try gas prices

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2009

If President Obama wants to stimulate the economy by regulating something, he should start by regulating gas prices. We have a problem with most government regulation, with the exception of the financial markets, because we've seen what lack of regulation - and enforcement - has led us to. But the gasoline markets are a disaster.

What other commodity or whatever a person wants to call it raises in price when demand wanes? What other anything costs more when people use less of it? Nothing we're aware of. But gas prices just go up for no apparent reason.

Recently gas prices have climbed north of $2.50 a gallon for regular fuel. Experts believe those prices will just keep going up. Meanwhile, oil companies are raking in billions in profits.

The price of gasoline has an obvious effect on our economy. Almost all of us feel it, and money spent on filling gas tanks takes money out of the rest of the economy. Fewer people eat out, buy retail or whatever people spend money on when they feel broke after a $60 tank of gas.

Speculators have a ball with global oil prices, but regular people pay the bill. Many of us scaled back when prices were $4 a gallon or more, and let out a sigh of relief when prices dropped. But still, gas prices are too high, considering there's plenty of oil out there.

We're all for higher mileage standards to conserve fuel, and to find alternative fuels that don't contribute to climate change. Until those are ready to use, however, we need affordable fuel.

Wages certainly aren't making up the difference, with so many people out of work or facing furloughs and wage cuts. In no time in our nation's history have people still working full-time jobs faced such cuts in wages. Something's got to give.

If the president wants to provide relief, then do something about these prices. Only oil executives will complain, and who cares? They are doing just fine, thank you very much, while the rest of us live paycheck to paycheck, trying to pay our bills.

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