Thu 5 April 2007 - Easter petrol prices
With Easter almost upon us, the usual people are complaining in advance about how the price of petrol will shoot up when hordes of people take to the roads for the long weekend, with the oil companies mysteriously wanting to cash-in.
Well, duh. What do you expect? This is how the free-market economy works. And we (collectively) have made it this way. We’ve given the oil companies virtual control over our economy by spending up big on roads and cars for decades so most people are dependent on petrol. And the oil companies, in case nobody noticed, are private companies aiming to make a profit. We want petrol. We’re willing to pay more. So we do. Who can blame the companies involved for wanting to make a buck?
On the bright side, perhaps the prices dampen demand, reducing congestion and carbon emissions. Well, we can only hope.
(All that said, if I use up my half-a-tank and have to re-fill at $1.30-something, I’ll be spitting chips too.)
PS. Lunchtime. I noted a big queue in Haigh’s Chocolates as I walked past on the way to work this morning. I assume they don’t jack up their prices at Easter, though I guess they easily could. Oh, and those who’ve switched from petrol to LP Gas recently shouldn’t be smug today.