As she writes,
Judy just told me….
“It’s really hard to take you seriously
when you’re sitting there with a bag on your head.”
I mean really, how rude…
ROTF!
Good Afternoon Everyone;
Gas station- Top management, and I slept with no one to get there. hehehe
Overhearing an interview on TV, with Alison Kozik inspired this.
She was replying to someone who thought that anyone, even/especially as President of the United States, can actually change gas/oil prices.
Memories From the Townline-
You would not believe the number of people that came into my office to tell me that I was charging too much for the gas!
Who? Me? hehehe But they weren't kidding!
I assured them that I had nothing to do with it, and calmly tried to explain the law of crude, (what was current a few years back).
What happens to change the prices on the signboard
Our supplier gave me their price (to the station), with each tanker delivery.
If necessary, I would adjust my price accordingly- Most often, this price reflected exactly what most nearby sellers were charging.
Oddly enough I was also threatened when I had posted our price to reflect ONLY the mandatory 6% mark-up.
All businesses are required to mark up accordingly, by law, in Wisconsin.
Admittedly, I do not know if the mandatory mark~up is 6% in other states- (might be higher, might be lower)?
A man from a local organization/corporation of stations came into my office, asked if I was the GM; - if I was, "Anne".
I was, (on both accounts). hehehe
Having lived in this area, and being in retail business for most of my adult life, I knew who he was. To this day I remain unimpressed. (True, dat). hehehe
He told me, in no uncertain terms, to raise my price to reflect what *their* company charged, then added his "or else" !
If you know me at all, you also know that I am not easily intimdated. I refused to do this; at least until I heard back from the owner.
The owner was very easily intimidated.
Too bad.
However...
In the meantime, I solds lots of gasoline... And when the tanker came again, the gas prices had gone down- (and viola!), were now to the point that my previous price was then stayed!
Earlier in the day, people had already seen the higher prices in Green Bay- so they STILL came to buy their gas from me.
Worked out quite nicely if ya ask me. hehehe
Worked out quite nicely if ya ask me. hehehe
- So how does the price of a gallon of gas come to be?
- Who is responsible?
- How and why?
AAA has told us that gas prices (at the pump) are up 27 cents in this one month.
Like it or not, this is not political.
No single person can dictate a change, upward, or down, to gas prices.
Prices are determined ONLY by supply and demand around the world.
While having some Great "Oz" ability to lower gas prices sounds GREAT in a campaign speech, gas prices are simply determined from higher oil prices.
Well, that and...
... Read on. hehehe
The Game is on. The field is slick...
The US is the biggest consumer of the worlds oil- but we are just one player in this very big game.
As long as demand continues to fluctuate, so do the prices of a barrel of crude oil.
Our ability, specifically The Presidents ability, to influence oil prices is very limited.
Crude oil prices are raising significantly and that's the biggest reason why we are paying more at the pump.
- The suppliers set the price- No matter where it comes from-
- The middleman - as a refiner- gets his $hare.
- The delivery company/corp get their share.
- The stations are forced to charge more because THEY are paying more.
Iran has threatened to close a major shipping lane in the Middle East.
If this happens, though it probably won't (my opinion)- But *if* this happens, the price of a barrel of crude oil will rise exponentially.
The threat alone, Wall Street, has also forced prices to rise. Unfortunately when the fear subsides, the price will not drop.
According to Ms Kozik, if we stop buying oil from the middle east, and drill here, it would STILL take decades to see a lower cost of crude oil.
We do not have enough oil for America's need? I think we do.
Getting [to] it will be a major problem- And every lawsuit from those with the simple tree~hugger mentality will also cause those oil prices to rise.
Save the nasty retorts- I use "tree~hugger" only to define the radical BS from some. (And you have to admit that SOME go waaaay tooooo far).
You already know that I have nothing against those that wish to save the woods. Remember, I always planted my own trees. I always had my own garden. Until.
This drilling is something that needed to be done in the 50's, 60's and 70's.
For now, it is still not too late.
Do you think there is nothing much anyone can do? You are wrong.
- We need patience.
- We need to turn down the thermostat.
- We need to stop making stupid trips anywhere to pick up a forgotten gallon of milk, or a single package of smokes.
- Hence, we need absolutely to make lists, and shop with them in hand.
Forgot to write it down?
Too bad. Do without.
Simply refuse to start your car to chase the damn do~over. Or walk!
Save for meds, and truly sick children, whatever it is, I promise you do NOT need it badly enough to warrant picking up the car keys.
Bottom line is, unfortunately, and regardless of who is president, (or what politicians CLAIM they will have the power to do), the REALITY is that they have very little influence over the price we pay.
2012.
It is an election year. the gas/oil prices have historically, always, risen during an election year-
Why would this year be any different?
Take it from someone who (mostly) loved retail/station management, our Mr. Gingrich is full of shit.
XOXO
Me
PS
For those that missed my reply in my original post about Casey's surgery, she is alright.
For those that missed my reply in my original post about Casey's surgery, she is alright.
Even though our Dodge Caliber got decent gas mileage, I'm glad we got the FIAT when we did, it gets better mileage. I'll be laughing when the local smartass, who thought it would be funny to trash talk and make fun of our car, is scraping up money to fill up his gas hog Avalanche. And yes, Newt is full of shit...and so is Santorum.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it true that Market Futures Speculators are also a major factor in driving up gas prices? (That's what they said the last time they went through the roof.) Also, it's only a matter of another 20 years or so when our cars will be running off hydrogen and/ or primarily battery power. Also, cars that get 100 mpg and more already exist. It' s simply a matter of getting them to market and altering the infrastructure a bit to make them easier to charge them up..
ReplyDeleteDeep ocean drilling is where the oil companies are placing their bets. We already saw one result of that strategy. We don't need any more of those. We don't hear much about how the cleanup of the last one is coming along anymore, either. Coudln't have anything to do with the oil companies being major advertisers....also car companies. "Thirty miles per gallon!" I've got an '83 honda with a 1.3 L engine, 5 on the floor that gets 45 mpg. People don't want tiny little cars. Especially young people. Big cars with roaring engines and lots of power are too phallic and psychologically attracctive to the opposite gender. Still, they're the only answer. You don't find too many Buick Roadmasters navigating the narrow streets Europe where gas has been closer to $10 a gallon for years now.
I wish we could utilize more of our oil and not send so much overseas. I realize that is where the profit is but man alive, it sure hurts the pocket.
ReplyDeleteoxox,
foreveryoursnotballsister
We have a tiny little FIAT and absolutely love it. It gets good mileage (not as good as yours but it's also an automatic), it's an absolute blast to drive, it handles curvy roads like it's on rails, and the "coolness" factor is off the chart.
ReplyDeleteSounds pretty cool. Nifty too. I think I was referring more to teenagers, one of which I'll bet you're not, who know in their gut that the more power and attention their cars are able to attract, the more attention they'll get from the opposite sex. (That also explains the Booming Sub-woofers, I suspect.)
ReplyDeleteBut hey, I've reached an age where I'm out of that loop; maybe a larger percentage of young people are starting to wise up and develop an environmental consciousness. I wouldn't think it would be a majority. I knew too many youngin's at my last job to think so. But at some point, if gas prices continue to escalate, it's only a matter of time before age and youthful hormones become less of a factor in what sort of vehicle one chooses to purchase. (The exception being mostly those with either meth-dealer money or the kids who get a really fat allowance.)
If I'm not mistaken, the vast majority of the oil used in the US actually comes from US oil drilling rigs. Much more than the average person would think. (Something like 80% of it if I heard it right. It sounds crazy, so I may be wrong, but I'm too tired to ASK Jeeves or whomever is minding the asking departments these days.)
ReplyDeleteIf you're from the US, I have no knowledge of the US exporting it's oil to other countries. That wouldn't seem to make any sense at all.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/america-gas-source.htm
ReplyDeleteOk, about 60% is imported. I make ze boo boo , no? But still, nearly 40% comes from Alaska and the lower 48. And a larger percentage is actually refined right here at home, as explained in greater detail via that link right up there.
ReplyDeleteMost of the Alaskan oil is sold to the Far East, we lived there for a long time. Although there are a couple of refineries there very little of what comes from the North Slope goes to them and none of it reached the lower 48...at least that's how it was when we left.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I've never heard that before. It seems ....what's a good word for irrational? I've always assumed, as I think do must people, that the oil from Alaska was piped directly down to, and for use in, the lower 48. What's the point of selling our oil to the Far East when we then have to make up for it's loss by having to buy more for ourselves from OPEC? I don't get it. And, just a hunch, but I don't think that's common knowledge amongst your average American citizen.
ReplyDeleteAT any rate, I still......I just don't understand the rational behind such a policy. Who owns the oil that comes out of Alaska? Do they make more by selling it overseas than we pay to import it from other countries? I'd always assumed that Alaskan oil was the property of the USA but now I don't know what to think. I'm confused. :(
ps - Has everyone seen the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" It's essential documentary-watching. We had one, all the owners loved them and the oil companies, I think it was, killed them. Had they gone into production way back when they were first being tested by actual owners, we'd no longer be dependent on foreign petroleum by this time. Warning, don't watch the film if you're not in the mood for a little aggravation. And be careful you don't choke on your popcorn.
The oil companies who pump it own it, it's not nationally owned.
ReplyDelete"WOW! Is all I can say in reply to your very thoughtful- and provoking replies.
ReplyDeleteI have the very best and brightest friends on Multiply! And probably in the entire "blogosphere" too.
I aim to keep it that way too! hehehe
I shall have to come back to answer specific questions...
XOXO
Me
I do know that some "American" oil is not owned by the major companies.
ReplyDeletehttp://flintville.multiply.com/links/item/224
Wow, a lot of food for thought! We've always been easy on our gas tank, with me being a SAHM and my husband only driving 4-5 miles to work. Now he works a mile down the road and will bike as weather permits. YAY!
ReplyDeleteI remember the summer that gas was 99 cents a gallon. I think it was....1996? Wow.
I'm thinking the "ole horse and buggy" should be coming back into full style! Maybe we should live like the Amish for awhile. We could save on money and get back to helping our neighbors like we were suppose to be doing.
ReplyDeleteBut....it makes you wonder what sort of penalties would eventually be placed upon us if we became "too" self sufficient.
Also read this...
ReplyDeletehttp://news.yahoo.com/obama-strikes-back-gop-critics-gas-prices-110434100.html
If for no other reason than for the last paragraph- which states:
"Despite Romney's assertions, economists say there's not much a president of either party could do about gasoline prices. The current increases at the pump have been driven by fears of a war with oil-rich Iran and by higher demand in the U.S. as well as in China, India and other growing nations."
XOXO
me