Did anyone else notice that everything substantive the governor did today
regarding the so-called gas crisis involved asking another unit of
government to waive some rule or other. The private sector is asking
government to solve this problem? I dont think so, Janet.
-----Original Message-----
From:
az-geocaching-admin@listserv.azgeocaching.com
[
mailto:az-geocaching-admin@listserv.azgeocaching.com]On Behalf Of Brian
Casteel
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 4:15 PM
To: AZ Geocaching
Subject: [Az-Geocaching] Letter to the Editor
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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