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Originally Posted by Cowboy89
I agree with you in theory. I think the big reason why people get so up in arms about gas prices is that no one likes to pay more for something that cost less in the past. It has nothing to do with rational and all to do with emotion. If you've ever worked retail in a restaurant or grocery store whenever the price goes up for anything the usual customer complaints are 'it's been $3.50 for years, you're ripping us off,' regardless of whether or not there's a good reason for it. My take is that the price, is what it is, and if you're not willing to pay it, don't.
Then there's the arguement that people NEED to consume fuel in the habits they've becomed accustomed to. In reality if a gun was pointed at their heads to reduce fuel consumption, they would find a way. No one is 'entitled' to their lifestyle of free mobility in a car and there are alternatives. They may be severly less attractive than having your own car but if cost was really that big a factor you just wouldn't drive as much. As a retailer you can only charge so much until either a competitor supplies more to meet the demand or the consumers buy less and you make less money. There is an equalibrium here.
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How can you bring up a point about competition in the gas industry? What competition do you speak of on the consumer level? Petro Canada is and will be selling gas at the same price as Shell.......doesn't seem like competition. These alternatives that you have in mind, name a few viable ones for a person that uses a vehicle for work, be it a trade or a farmer. Are you proposing that farmer can start using horses to seed and plow?