Gas Prices

Gas Prices

Over the past few months' gas prices have become outrageous. The sad thing is that we can only look for them to continue to rise higher. The question of most Americans is "Why is gasoline so expensive?" That question is easily answered, crude oil prices. The gas price situation is unreasonable. There are many reasons for the irrational price of gas some being people are stocking up in fear of a shortage, we depend on gas, and fuel economy.

People are stocking up on gas in fear that there will be a shortage. There is such a high demand for gas that people are questioning if the supply can match the demand. The demand for gas has pretty much stayed the same because it is not as if we just buy gasoline every now and then. Transportation represents the greatest demand for crude oil. With prices well over three dollars a gallon, people are considering it a crisis. But is it really a crisis. An online article states otherwise, "No, this is no crisis, a crisis exists when there is no product available. The only thing this is, is that the Gulf Coast will have to shut down four or five refineries," said Mike Kunnen, President of the Greater Cincinnati Gasoline Dealers' Association" (Barry). A crisis cannot exist when there is still productive of a product even when the prices are extremely high because the demand outweighs the supply. Just because some refineries are shutting down in the Gulf Coast dose not mean that this is a crisis even though prices reflect that it is or has potential to be a crisis. Gas prices will only continue to increase because people have no choice but to pay three dollars a gallon.

People have become dependent on gas. Today's society has become very needy on gas that is made by crude oil. Without oil, the U.S. economy would come to a grinding halt. Metrakos states in his article, "Basically, my point is that if the intake of gasoline in our everyday lives isn't somehow reduced, not only will it pump more greenhouse gases into our fragile environment, but it will also turn "getting a tank of gas for my car" into a trade, instead of a purchase." Even though people are working they are not making anything because of the price of gas. It is more like a trade between their pay check and gas to get there. People should find ways to limit their use of gasoline in order to save money. They could do things such as carpool whenever possible, and everyone could put some money in on gas. You would be surprised at the money you would save. Some people may even consider switching their gas from premium fuel to regular. Not many people in today's society think that such little things could make such a big difference in