Should Gasoline Prices Be Regulated?

Question

I am tired of the up and down roller coaster of gas prices. Should it be regulated? Why or why not?

Answer 1

I think it should be closely monitored. I believe our "oil men" have made a bundle off of scare tactics.

Answer 2

Good question. It should be in a way. We prefer independence in this country, but the government has made us all be petroleum dependent and since we are the government then we need to take some control. If you wait for the oil men and automakers to make a change, why should they if the profits are so high. There are retired and other persons that can not afford the heating oil now and that is overlooked too often, it is time America started caring and taking control over it's own needs and stop talking about it and do it! Yes, gas prices and pumps should be more regulated and stiff fines if price gouging is found out. If the government was involved more and the profits were much less you would see the prices more steady and less. The proof is if the demand is less then the gas prices fall, that is not true. The reason is gas prices advertise themselves, (we look at the prices as we drive by) and not like other companies that have to use outside advertising for the competition is keen, the oil companies are few and many have outside oil interests in the Middle east etc. When the prices are lower and more steady that is when you will see the oil companies advertising on TV etc increase, isn't that interesting..

Answer 3

To a certain extent it is regulated, but what you suggest might do far more damage than good.

The best approach is to let the free market economy work. I don't like the high prices we have been subjected to any more than you do, but chances are if prices were regulated it would either mean the prices would be higher, or that some of the gasoline producers and vendors would be driven out of business in times when their prices were high and they could not meet them from their profits.

The BEST answer is to find ways to reduce demand on gasoline. Drive less. Shop around. Use good sense. When demand is low, prices go down.

Answer 4

No, regulating the price won't work, but making the oil compainies provide crude oil as needed would solve the problem. In 1978 the Alaska pipeline was flowing at 90% capacity, it is now down to 30%, just to keep the price of crude oil high. The available oil on the north slopes is more than adaquate to supply the needs of the entire country for another hundred years..... On top of that we have the Elk Hills reserve near Bakersfield.... another hundred years....the best kept secret this century

Answer 5

No way, because we all could end up paying way to much if some greedy politician decides the price should be higher then it already is.
If the government ever gets to do this we can all kiss our money good-bye while the government gets richer by the gallon.
I think the government should stay out of the oil business for good cause they have all made way to much at our expense already.
What our government needs to do is to learn how to do their jobs and to do them correctly for all the people and not just those whose pockets are so full already.

Answer 6

What you are pointing to is the direction President Nixon took in the early-1970s, before the Arab oil embargo. This drastic step may be back in play, but with an understanding that this oil embargo has never ceased....this is a marketplace where those who produce the product control the price by manipulating the amount which reaches the market.

Answer 7

No. Oil is a trade-able commodity just like anything else. The difference between it and other things is the supply and demand fluctuates much more and it is much more difficult to manufacture. Don't like the prices, ride a bike, walk, take a bus.

Answer 8

Regulated, no, but we should open up the oil fields in Alaska more, and explore alternative energies. But government attempts to lower prices almost always end in failure.

Answer 9

i believe so...i mean how many BILLION in PROFIT have the oil companies made...a few months ago some idiot on the news said even if gas prices get up to 8 bucks a gallon everyone still has to go to work and school...im sorry but if you dont have the money....you dont have the money..i suppose we're suppose to pull it out our a s s...get real, it will not only hurt the working class, but who do you think is gonna bag your groceries and and clean your house...rich people??lol

Answer 10

Yes we need to increase the Federal gas taxes to reduce consumption and to help pay for retooling our ailing US auto manufacturers to produce hybids full bore to compete with the Japanese. Higher gas taxes would give incentive to alternative fuels and tansportation systems. Ultimately t would STABILIZE gas prices and reduce TERRoRISM AND GLOBAL WARNING!