Sid P., Washington – $100
Ken G., Nevada – $100
Brad T., Wisconsin – $100
Tom M., Virginia – $100
Kathy F., New Jersey – $100
John M., Massachusetts – $100
Mike M., California – $100
Carol R., Texas – $100
James D., Georgia – $100
Martha B., New Jersey – $100
Kerry B., Pennsylvania – $100
Are High Gas Prices a Cruel Psychological Plot?
1$1, $2, $3 for a gallon of gasoline. Is this a conspiracy on the part of the oil companies? VehicleVoice internet research shows American drivers pin much of the blame on high profits the major oil companies are getting.
It is not hard for conspiracy theorists to figure out that ever-increasing gas prices are part of a psychological ploy by the oil companies to get Americans accustomed to higher prices at the pump. Think about it. Just a few years ago, Americans were complaining that gasoline was a dollar a gallon. Then Americans complained and wrung their hands as prices rose to $2. Then they gasped as gasoline rose to $3 per gallon.
At each hurdle, gas prices temporarily fell back below the psychological even dollar threshhold. Is this planned to give Americans a sense of relief as they grow accustomed to $2.50 gasoline instead of $3.00? Is there any doubt that once gas prices have bottomed out again in the $2.00 to $2.50 range that they will again begin inching their way back up to $3.00?
These comments in November 2005 were prescient. Here in March 2006 gas prices are hovering well above $2.50 a gallon for regular and approaching $3.00 for premium in the United States. As this blog observed, gas prices dropped near to $2.00 per gallon before moving upward again.
Sure, there are looming dislocations in crude oil supplies from Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, et. al. But it does seem like the oil companies are really raking it in.