Pain at the pump could get ugly

Its old news that gas prices in Michigan and beyond is rising like morning sun. With prices in Michigan fairing around $3.50 per gallon, people are feeling the pain at the pump pretty hard. The Detroit Free Press had an interesting piece in today’s paper entitled “Dearborn to consider penalty today for those who steal gas” by staff writer, Eric D. Lawrence. The story took an incident where a man started the pump at a Dearborn (city right outside Detroit) gas station, and after filling he actually went inside to buy a bottle of Pepsi with his fuel purchase. He claimed to have left his wallet in his vehicle (actually leaving the Pepsi on the counter) and drove off. Granted the card he attempted to pay for the gas and soda was declined, but the story takes it a step further. It was not the average news guy steals gas angle. Nor was it the gas is really (really) high and people are pissed angle. It combined both with a touch of misconceptions that people think rebelling against gas stations will send the message that prices are damaging pockets. Lawrence goes to delete the misconception that actions like stealing gas only hurt the gas station and the attendant working than Big Oil, where as those employees must pay the cost where drive-offs ensue. People have suggested everything from organizing a boycott on particular days to abstain from buying gas to vandalizing stations. Other suggest Big Oil companies will feel the pain we have when we fill, unless we boycott whole companies until they dry up. Either way as economic conditions continue to slide downhill, this may become a trend in reporting. What is seemingly a half page, three-column article, gives an interesting outlook on people’s actions and the perception to an ongoing crisis. Good Job Eric!