Gas Prices suck.... That's putting it nicely I think... Here's the way it works...
The oil field knows that we have to buy gasoline so they charge more than they should for it to sell it to the refineries.
The refineries know the same thing, so they overcharge as it goes to the individual gas companies
The gas companies then take their gouging share because they can as well.
Finally it goes to the individual gas station. From what I understand this is the only level where there is no price gouging...
Here's my proposal:
I'm sure you have all heard of a "Gas out" this is where someone sets a date and no one is supposed to buy gas that day. Here's the issue: The gas company knows you are going to buy gas the day before or the day after so this is really not as effective as it sounds.
What we need to do is really show that we are tired of high gas prices, and that we are going to take the time necessary to not spend that kind of money.
What we do instead:
Start by deciding on a price, my price is easy $3.75 that's almost $0.25 cheaper than gas is right now where I live. Then we need a large group of people that stop buying gas at one gas distributor, say Sinclar, or Citco. Then continue not buying from that particular distributor until you arrive at your demanded price. Then you shop only there until they reach the next step down. In my case it would be $3.50. I say we continue this until it gets to $2.00 a gallon or *gasp* $1.50 even. If we don't shop at one or two companies they will be forced to drop their prices or go out of business, and it will go all the way to the top. You have to take slow steps to show that you are united against high gas prices and that also allows the company time to realize our demands.
Here's the next kicker... Going green...
I know that gasoline is bad for the environment, and many people that are reading this are saying, buy a cleaner car and you'll save money anyway. However, clean cars get more expensive as gas prices go up. This is simple econimics, supply and demand. I, being a simple web programmer in my spare time and a data analyst in all other aspects cannot afford to buy a natural gas car or a hybrid, even though I want one.
I see it this way: Most people that drive an old beat up anything are not going to be able to afford a clean car, so they will pump more noxious fumes into the environmentas they continue to drive. With gas prices going up it makes it harder and harder to afford the clean cars. With gas prices lowered it does make it less attractive to some people to have a clean car, but those of us that would love one but can't afford it would be able to.
