By Jen

Editor

Whenever our gas prices take another obnoxious spike, you can count on a horde of high-profile, finger-wagging economists predicting that this time, gas really is going to hit $4 a gallon. It seems to me they've been doing this for at least the last three summers, and you kind of have to wonder, why do they seem to want this to happen so badly? Will it gratify them in some obscure way? Don't they have to drive to work like everyone else? Is it just about the fame and adulation that they, o brainy economists, will have heaped upon them for being the first to foresee it? The Energy Department is more sedately predicting that gas prices will plateau this spring at around $3.40, but meanwhile, the economists are once again busy rubbing their hands together and smacking their chops about how it's going to be much worse than that. Much, much worse. And when we reach that magic 4, the shit is really going to hit the fan, and we'll have no one but the economists to thank for it.

This isn't a matter of shooting the messenger, but it seems to be one of those instances where if they just keep saying it, that will be the thing that makes it happen. Kind of like a recession. Simplistic and superstitious, you might say, but think about it: the economists just about peed themselves in delight and anticipation in the lead-up to $3-a-gallon gas a few years ago, and now 3 bucks is all but accepted as the baseline: like, the bare minimum you'd pay for gas, on a good day. Similarly, the more they beat on the $4-a-gallon drum, the more they promote it as a foregone conclusion, the sooner we downtrodden consumers will roll over and accept it as an inevitability—before it's even happened! Are these so-called economic analysts getting paid by the oil companies to tout their predictions? Are they just trying to ease us into the idea of 4-dollar gas, so that when (if!) it happens, we'll just sigh, fret a little about having to drive the kids to school, and maybe cut back on the frequency of our dinners out?  Yes, that's just what they want, isn't it, nice and docile. Hey, if it worked for easing us over the last milestone, why wouldn't they do it again?

Comments

Maxwell
Jun 19, 2008 3:07:23 AM

MYTH!

Jeff
Apr 23, 2008 11:05:34 AM

I agree. Gas prices do not effect me one bit. Yes, I drive a gas hog that gets 12mpg. Get over it... If an additional 30 dollars every time you fill is going to hurt your budget so much, get rid of your vehicle, quit eating out, or you should budget your money better for inflation. BTW, If you do the math and figure inflation, Gas is still cheaper than it was back in the depression.

Steve
Mar 2, 2008 3:52:32 PM

I've expected and accepted that gas will inevitably go up. Hate me or not but it's the cold hard truth.
Isn't there anything else in the world to worry about than gas prices? Like homeless people, border jumpers, shortage of jobs, supporting your fellow man and not supporting yourself first, and so on and so forth?
I mean no offense to anybody but it sounds incredibly selfish to me.

ALAKRANERA
Feb 29, 2008 1:48:06 PM

THAT WOULD BE SAD!! :'( I ALREADY CRY OVER IT....I AM GOING TO HAVE TO WIN THAT HONDA!! LOL

i_luv_dusty
Feb 29, 2008 5:58:09 AM

I agree with Jen, too.

And, yeah, Mike. It's a vast right-wing conspiracy. It's all Bush's fault. Or not.

I suppose the fact that countries like India and China, who are using more and more fuel every day, have nothing to do with the increased demand and prices of oil.

Oh, wait, that must be the Republican's fault, too.

Turner
Feb 28, 2008 2:20:57 PM

I totaly agree with you 100% Jen. They are acclimatizing us to the fact that gas will inevitably go up. Then when it does, we dont pay attention to it.

Mike
Feb 28, 2008 2:09:18 PM

I'm thinking this is a way to cinch the election for McCain. The economists start prattling on about this, and then McCain makes a speech.

Lo and behold, the price goes down. For a few days. Then they'll creep back up. A subtle but effective way to make us favor the Republican candidate.

With the administration's connections to the oil industry, and the other scumbags responsible for this, and their manic fervor to keep a Republican in the White house, can you blame them?

Feb 28, 2008 1:30:00 PM

And what, I wonder, are the ridiculous profit margins like for the big oil companies about now? They point to production problems, refinery issues, supply chain break-downs and the like as reasons for the higher prices, but last summer when petro reached its apex on ole' Cost mountain, oil companies were boasting of their highest profits ever. I don't think it will EVER be acceptable to pay four bucks a gallon for gasoline. Truth be told, the $3.29 per gallon I paid the other day to fill my tank was about my limit. The prices going up much more may be cause for my car being sacrificed to the gods of public transportation. Or maybe I should just start limbering up now for those long, hot bike rides that will inevitably save me from the poor house when I need to get somewhere that the bus doesn't go.

Quite honestly, I just wish there were something more that we as consumers could do to penalize the greedy bastards who are raking in hand over fist while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month. Unfortunately for the majority of Americans, big oil has us bent over the oil barrel and they know it.

eric
Feb 28, 2008 12:46:47 PM

I already decided to start stealing gas out of peoples cars when this happens. So lock your tanks people LOL.