Daily, I drive by several gas stations on 1A. I chuckle at how quickly they increase gas prices (usually the same day) when there is news that the price of crude oil has inched its way up to a new record. Yet these guys won’t see the refined version of that oil for at least a month. But now that the price has fallen (even by the small amount it has) the price at the pump either increases or stays the same.

We know that the Exxons of the world are putting the screws to everyone with record profits (over $50 billion in five quarters). What we don’t need is the local gas monopolies adding to the pain. By my figuring, these companies should have prices 20 to 30 cents lower than what they are. They were willing to increase the price of gas by 3 to 4 cents for every dollar that the price of crude oil went up, so it seems only reasonable that they should reduce the price by the same amount when the price of crude oil drops.

Richard Barclay

Holden