Every once in awhile, something strikes a nerve and I have a moment of enlightened thought, which I put in the form of an e-mail and fire off to The Tribune to give a voice to my words. Here's the latest incarnation of my thought process, so tell me what you think.
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So a pipeline ruptures and is shutdown for 'safety' concerns. Meanwhile, this pipeline that supplies (latest random figure) 30% of the fuel to Phoenix creates a lack of fuel at a percentage of fuel pumps FAR exceeding the 30% deficit we are experiencing by this pipeline situation. Just as we saw when the war with Iraq began, price gouging was realized at a number of stations around the Valley. Channel 15 interviews a gas station owner live where he tries to push off the justification of his $4.00/gallon prices by criticizing the fact that the very station is interviewing him can charge what they feel for a commercial spot during any show on-air, and he should have the ability to charge whatever he wants for his fuel. Another also shown on TV shut his station down amid safety concerns (should we be surprised?) for robbing customers with an astronomical $4.97/gallon. Where is all this leading? Price gouging, and the lack of laws against it. Already this year, we've seen 2 situations which have spiked fuel prices to unnecessary highs, and unscrupulous business owners taking advantage of customers to line their pockets with a flood of ill-gotten gain.
My question to the legislators of this state is this: Which of you is going to step to the plate and propose legislation (and follow it to signing) that will outlaw such practices and instigate a more fair system of pricing for consumers on fuel? I'm thinking that Jeff Groscost should lend his time to someone to assist in this endeavour.
What has transpired this past week with all these fuel delivery problems is something that never should have been allowed to happen. There needs to be regulation at the pumps if only in the form of anti-gouging laws. At least then a ceiling would be set, but I would expect there to be a number of hoops and a system of checks and balances that would make it difficult for owners to raise their prices to that ceiling without concrete justification. Come on legislators, let's see what you can do about protecting the consumer, who are coincidentally, also your constituents.
Brian
Team A.I.
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