"Fundamentally, long-term, it's us," one reader said.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Last week, Melrose Patch asked for your opinion on the cause for the recent spike in the cost of gasoline. Readers Josh Chace and Percy both blamed consumers for the $0.16 increase from last month to now in gas prices. "Being so dependant on fossil fuels, driving completely inefficient cars, and wanton disregard for options to take mass transit, carpool, or just using our gas more efficiently allows OPEC and other conglomerates in charge of distribution to charge whatever amount they want and we have no choice but to pay it," Chase wrote in the comments. "Fundamentally, long-term, it's us," Percy added. Other readers, like Ted Hunt, had a different take. "I would like to hold Congressman Markey responsible," Hunt wrote, "because of his…
Ask 10 different people and you might get 10 different answers as to why gas prices have spiked sharply in September.
The facts are indisputable. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in Massachusetts is presently $3.88. That's a whopping 16 cents higher than it was just one month ago. The price has actually soared to over $4 a gallon at some Middlesex County self-serve stations. For a list of the gas stations in Tewksbury selling the least expensive fuel, click here for our Commute Page. Ask 10 different people to explain the cause of the off-season spike and you might get 10 different answers. Some have blamed OPEC, while others have blamed big oil companies. A recent rash of severe weather has been seen as a cause by some people, as have the energy polices and proposals of one political party or another. Still other people have blamed…
"While some of the Republican presidential candidates call for an attack on Iran, it is the American consumers who are currently under attack from OPEC, from the Saudis from Iran and from oil speculators" - Rep. Ed Markey
For the second time in 11 months, Congressman Ed Markey stood in front of the gas pumps at a Medford filling station and called on President Barack Obama to use the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to combat rising gas prices. "While some of the Republican presidential candidates call for an attack on Iran, it is the American consumers who are currently under attack from OPEC, from the Saudis from Iran and from oil speculators," Markey said before a gaggle of news cameras Wednesday afternoon. The sign behind him at Medford Gas on Main Street read $3.67 per gallon of unleaded gas, and prices are expected to climb as much as 20 cents per gallon in coming days. Melrose's representative in the U.S. House, Markey blamed the rising prices on…
Steve Meuse
3:26 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
I blame speculators. For example, a hurricane is coming and prices rise quickly on "fears" of service disruptions. Then the strorm passes without any disruptions and the price slowly goes back down. Meanwhile everyone paid more for gas for no reason... more ›