News-Record.com

No if's, ands, or buts. Seventy two cents in one day is price gouging. There's no way they can say they are just passing on wholesale price increases.

I think they should post the station owners' pictures in the paper like they do some places for engaging in prostitution.

I completely agree about North Carolina's overly high gas taxes. The state simply charges too much in gas taxes.

As for price gouging, I have no doubt that it took place this weekend. But I don't think the government needs to get involved. The laws of marketplace will fix this problem quickly -- if a gas station wants to overcharge for gas, they'll find that a competitor will undercut them.

The spike in prices we saw this weekend was driven as much by panicked consumers as it was by greedy gas stations and oil companies. If people don't flock to the pumps, then prices don't go up 40 cents in a day.

And another thing, why is price gouging more common in poorer neighborhoods?

And another thing, why is price gouging more common in poorer neighborhoods?

Not that the following is the cause, but take a look at the insane comment by Beverly Perdue. It sure did not help an already difficult situation! She is no leader for NC!

During a Friday interview on WBT Radio in Charlotte, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue advised motorists to get out and “get our gas tanks as full as they’ll let us do it during in the next 24 or 48 hours” due to Hurricane Ike. When questioned by host Al Gardner if this would create a panic, Perdue flip-flopped and said people should not overact and “there is no need for anybody to rush right out.”

Below is a partial transcript from Charlotte’s Morning News on WBT Radio, 8/12/08:

Beverly Perdue: “… this is a temporary price gouge, because that’s what it is, folks trying to get the most money they can get out of the limited capacity.”

Al Gardner: “You bet… just 30 seconds left. Who should do what about that?”

Beverly Perdue: “I think we all need to get out and get our, uh, get our gas tanks as full as they’ll let us do it during in the next 24 or 48 hours. And then we continue to watch what happens in the Gulf. Then, then the whole question becomes on Sunday to assess the damage. And from there we know what we have to do; I mean the country has this, we all know this, uh supply, this emergency supply that they can let go and this would be a time that the president and the Congress should have to authorize us using…”

Al Gardner: “But very quickly, Lt. Governor Perdue, if we’re urging everybody to go out and fill their tank right now in the next 24 hours wouldn’t that by definition create a panic?

Beverly Perdue: “Oh, oh I don’t mean that at all, and I didn’t mean to imply that. What I would do is to be very cautious about it not to overreact – if you need gas get some, but there is no need for anybody to rush right out because this is not going to be long term. Uh, the country has this supply that they’ve kept in waiting for this so I, uh, the truckers here, the folks who are on the road, find gas available, but what I was trying to say is don’t be concerned that you’re not going to be able to find it somewhere. It’s that there is still is a supply in this country; it’s not like last night while we were asleep somebody sucked all the oil out of the tanks all over the country. But it has been raised a buck and it’s really hard.”

In sharp contrast, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory demonstrated responsible leadership in an official statement yesterday saying, “Due to the reduced flow of gas supplies out of the Gulf Coast, the City of Charlotte has implemented a conservation plan for the city fleet of vehicles to curtail the use of non-essential vehicles this weekend. I encourage all citizens to also implement a fuel conservation plan to conserve fuel over the weekend and remain calm until the full impact of Hurricane Ike on the nation’s gas supply can be determined.”

The following is a statement from Mayor Pat McCrory :

“During times of crisis, leaders need to be very careful not to create a panic. It was grossly irresponsible for the lieutenant governor to advise motorists to rush out and fill their gas tanks and drive prices up and then cause confusion by quickly contradicting herself. This is not a sign of responsible leadership, especially during a crisis.”

One difference is that Perdue was making off-the-cuff remarks.

But, still, they don't appear to be very sensible remarks.

But, still, they don't appear to be very sensible remarks.* Doug

You got that right Doug! It appears that the price of Gas in other states is a major issue to the masses.

After today! Somebody might fiqure out that America is now into Chapter 7......Costa Rica looks better every day.......

I plan to retire in one of three out-of-the-way places:

1. Tanzania

2. Belize, or

3. Polk County

Here's a list of lowest and highest gas prices in the Greensboro area:

http://www.greensborogasprices.com/

The Sheetz on Hornaday Road listed as lowest actually raised its price this morning from $3.65 to $3.79. It had been $3.65 all weekend, an attendant told me. They've been resupplied and are in good shape.

The highest is a place I mentioned on another post Saturday, the Pure at W. Lexington/Westchester in High Point. Only it's gone down from $5.39 to $5.30.

Please, nobody think about paying that or anything over $4 if you can help it. We can get over this crisis with some consumer restraint.

NC's high gas taxes are unfortunately necessary due to very old public policy decisions. Like most states, the NC gas tax is used to pay for highway construction and upkeep. In most states most roads are maintained by local governments with only major highways under the jurisdiction of the states. In NC, the state controls over 90% of the roads, a higher percentage than any other state. In fact, the only state with more actual mileage of state roads is Texas. With more responsibility for roads, NC must raise more revenue for them. Theoretically this should translate to a lower tax burden at the local level, but I have no idea if it actually does. This system has been in place for 80 years though, so it can't be blamed on the current state government.

Texas' gas tax is 10 cents lower than NC's.

What are gas prices up there in D.C. today?

Texas has more miles of state road, but a much lower percentage of total roads are state roads. Since they have a lot more people, the tax burden per person is smaller, hence a lower rate for gas tax (but probably more in total revenue from gas taxes).

As for DC, I'm not sure. I haven't noticed since the hurricane. It had gotten down to around $3.70 before that, but I don't know about now. Lucky for me, gas prices don't directly affect me anymore.

Doug said:

"Texas' gas tax is 10 cents lower than NC's."

Actually, it's 6.4 cents lower:

http://www.commonsensejunction.com/notes/gas-tax-rate.html

but their average gas price is $3.68 compared to N.C.'s $4.05.

http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/sbsavg.asp

And look at South Carolina: their gas tax is 9.6 cents cheaper than ours, but their (current) price is 7 cents higher...

Weird stuff happening.

I don't know about Texas, but South Carolina at other times is much cheaper than N.C. Every time we visit my wife's hometown of Columbus, N.C., we run five miles down I-26 to Landrum, S.C. to fill up. It's often at least 20 cents cheaper per gallon.

Doug said:
I plan to retire in one of three out-of-the-way places:

1. Tanzania

2. Belize, or

3. Polk County

Wise choices, except number 1. Who wants to be Lion bait 24/7.. or is that Great White Shark bait?

Are you aware that you can be a Belize ambassador for 50,000 dollars in your own home as the local Consul. That's right! You pay the Government of Belize the 50 thousand, your home becomes property of the Belize government and you are safe from the police and any other attack by a foreign government...However the down side is that you can never leave the house should you screw up with the cops or the local government.

In fact! Several movie stars are using this scam to avoid income taxes and a raid by the feds. I hope this explains why Paris Hilton nevers leaves her home now or is that Brittey Spears?

As to Pope county! Excellent choice! You will be safe with the Big Foot Redneck tribe that lives in that area.

Mr. Clark, I have no idea where you saw gas in Va..3.784. the cheapest I saw it today was 3.999.
The reason NC gas tax is so high, highway money has been used for about every thing. Concerned 53 you right on the money. Perdue screwed up big time. I stopped this morning to fill up, they had a 10 gallon medium. My light was on, it took 9.3 gallons. The lady gave me some lip. My car book calls for 10.5 gallons. The mom and pop got killed in this. Cooper found ever microphone he could find to self serve his purpose. The smart one quit selling gas. The other sold gas for 3.45, till they ran out, they must replace it at god knows what.
Would it not be niece if Cooper, had been this concerned of the Duke men, Basinight, are Black?
A young man asked me today, is our country in such bad shape, that one hurricane could cause this much confusion. My answer this is what happens when the government is more concern about a damn flea , than they are about the welfare of the country!

I got it from the AAA Website. It finds the most expensive gas in the Roanoke area, cheaper in Norfolk, Richmond, Charlottesville.

Connie: Polk County, not Pope!

Yes, being eaten by lions is a hazard in Tanzania. But you could be eaten by a great white shark if you swim off the beaches on Zanzibar.

NC needs so much money to fix it's roads that it has used the NC highway trust fund to fund general fund expenditures to the tune of somewhere between 1-2 billion dollars during Easley's administration. Doubt that money will ever be repaid to the trust fund.

For years driving to NC from the Midwest and driving through W Va would never fill up there because of that state's horrendous gas tax. Now NC's fuel tax rate is higher than W Va.

It's interesting that the Midwest state we moved from to NC in the late 90's gas tax is lower than NC's in light of the fact terrible winters exact an awful toll on the roads up there compared to what we experience in our winters.

2006 data has NC ranked 8th in the USA in amount of State sales & fuel taxes. Right up there with States who have some of the worst winters to deal with and subsequent extensive damage to their roads. Pretty poor reflection on our State's leadership. Neighbors like WVA ranked 17th, Tennessee 32nd, SC 46th, Georgia 50th.

Connie: Polk County, not Pope!* Doug

I had Art Pope on my mind when I thought of Big Foot Republican Rednecks in Polk county.

Yes, being eaten by lions is a hazard in Tanzania. But you could be eaten by a great white shark if you swim off the beaches on Zanzibar* Doug

Well either way you are screw in Tanzania unless you become the main menu by a Tanzania pygmy tribe and they take a week to decide whether to BBQ or Boil you.

Figure it out and suck it up, guys. Over the last few decades, we decided that this was the world we wanted to live in.

We stopped learning about how "our government" is supposed to work - or we got bored - or we got lazy - or we got disctracted; I dunno; but we've screwed the pooch pretty bad here.

The point is that the increase in the demand for fuel (+2% worldwide) DOES NOT square with the rise in the price of either crude oil (+~300%) or Gasoline (+~250%).

And the gas tax has nothing at all to do with anything because it doesn't change as the price goes up. Getting us to argue about "high taxes" is just another dodge to keep us from seeing that nobody is minding the store.

Try digging a little deeper for the truth and then try doing some of your own thinking for a change.