RAINER'S RAMBLINGS
Price of gasoline
By RAINER ARNOLD Union Sentinel Publisher

In the last several weeks, for no real reason, gasoline went up and up and up. They say it will be at $4.00 before summer is over. I actually agree that it will be that high. The reason experts say is that BP has a refinery that has had problems and thus can not refine as much as is needed. Very convenient, I think.

Now, to the point. What are we going to do about it. Well, actually I think there is nothing we will or even can do about it. First, if you don't buy gas you have to walk and we are not about to do that. Second, I got an email and it said to only buy gas from minor gas sellers instead of Exxon or Mobil or BP. They would then have a surplus and have to reduce their price. However, most of the smaller gasoline sellers buy their gas from the big boys since the cost of having a refinery is too large for the small gasoline seller.

So, we are back to square one. The major gasoline producers and sellers have us where they want us. We are between a rock and a hard place. So, I will tell you what I am doing about it.

Since I have a lot of stories to cover and a lot of places to go to, I am being more careful as to when I go and where I go. That way I can make one trip and take care of three errands. Thus, I save a little gas. After all, if I can save one or two gallons of gas a day that will add up to 30- 60 gallons a month. Granted, it won't be as convenient, but I will save almost $200 per month.

Now, if you multiply that by maybe 100 million Americans that will also do something to save one or two gallons a day we will, as a nation, save $20 billion. And, if that does not bring down the demand for gas, nothing will, but at least we have saved a lot of money and deprived the big boys of a lot of money.