Frank Condelli wrote:

> In a message dated 3/19/2002 12:38:29 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
> > Re: Gas went up $0.13 a gal overnight what's up?
> >
>        Gas prices are absurd !  On my recent trip to Daytona I saw prices
> from $1.12 to $1.35 sometimes next to one another !  Go figure !!

They are absurd. Around the Birmingham area it's the same way. Currently ranging from $1.19.9 to $1.30.9. Regular has gone from $0.96.9 to $1.19.9 in less than two weeks at my favorite fuel stop.

IMHO there is no good reason for the price increases, especially with the winter not being near as harsh as the year before. There is plenty of oil available at present. It's just the oil companies
playing their annual " we hope the public is going to travel a lot this summer and make us lots of money" game. Yes, I know there is concern over events in the Mid- East. But I don't think the oil
markets as yet have anything to really worry about yet.

I do agree with Bulley ..... if the fuel prices go the route of those in Europe and some other nations, We are going to suffer while our economy adjusts. And as a consequence there will be major
economic changes here in the US. And since what that shake-out will be like is unknowable - it's scarey. No doubt many things we see everyday will simply disappear and be come history, and many
businesses will fail. But there may be blessings as well. Walmart sells stuff as cheap as it does ... and the Dumb public goes for that bottom dollar --- because it can be bought so cheap overseas
and shipped so cheap to America. Add huge shipping costs onto stuff in Walmart, and you will see people's buying patterns change. It may well bring back local manufacturing.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver