Who is to blame for rising gas prices?

10/27/2021

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2021/03/06/who-is-to-blame-for-rising-gasoline-prices/?sh=3e353273329c

This article by Forbes explains who is at blame for rising gas prices and why the prices are rising. Myself, like many others, often made jokes and blamed rising gas prices on president Biden and his cabinet. However, after learning more about the situation I am not quite sure he is to blame. Of course there are many policies he has instated that have and will continue to effect gas prices such as canceling the construction of the keystone pipeline (which is a whole other topic to be argued). But, in a free market country, we cannot be so quick to blame the government for private companies rising their prices. Because the government has such little control over these massive petroleum corporations, it is hard to blame the government for these companies rising their prices. In conclusion I would argue that rising gas prices have to do with the new control from the Biden Administration but, they are surely not to blame for all of it.

Micah Tolman

10/28/2021 12:16:07 pm

Due to a relaxation in Covid restrictions, more people seem to be traveling. This is one reason gas prices are rising. Josephine Nesbit for gobankingrates.com claims that gas prices may soon fall “as Americans prepare for higher inflation.” Some blame Biden for gas prices when in fact he seems to be trying to lower prices as evidenced in the article “White House urges action on oil as gasoline prices rise“ by Daniel Thomas.

Lizzie Nelson

10/31/2021 05:31:25 pm

I think that more people are traveling. A major problem for our economy would be the possibly of inflation which could be devastating to the economy.

Dakota James

10/31/2021 06:06:50 pm

I am not aware of what Joe Biden has done to lower gas prices. This isn't to say I don't believe it, I just see the decisions he has made that have evidently caused an increase in gas prices. His major decision, shutting down the Keystone Pipeline, largely effected the petroleum industry. In defense of the companies extracting oil, they must charge more for petroleum due to the restrictions on how they are allowed to obtain it.

Courtney Vennell

10/31/2021 10:52:33 pm

I definitely agree that because of Covid people are beginning to travel more and I can definitely see how that would have an impact on gas prices.

Micah Tolman

10/28/2021 01:07:45 pm

Jonah

10/28/2021 02:26:52 pm

I actually had no idea there was such thing as “winter blend” and “summer blend” gas...I thought it was all the same. I always thought had prices went up in the summer months just because people were driving more and using more gas. Gas prices began to rise when Trump was near the end of his term as president, as well. Many prices rose during this time period, however, do to a lack of production as a result of Covid. But, Joe Biden is offering so much money in unemployment benefits that this slowed production has since had no reason to speed back up. Every day, there are new stories on the news about more job strikes across the United States, giving the nickname “striketober.” An American labor movement that has been long overdue is finally happening after decades of diminishing wages.

Lizzie Nelson

10/31/2021 05:37:35 pm

If I am being honest, I also had no idea that there was a "winter blend" and a "summer blend" gas. Like you I think COVID had a big impact on our economy and we are still trying to work through it.

Erik

10/31/2021 06:20:34 pm

Yep it was my first time ever hearing about a winter and summer blend

Ele

10/31/2021 06:57:15 pm

I along with Lizzie and Erik have never heard of those gases. That is a cool thing to know.

Kendra

10/31/2021 07:41:40 pm

With so many people losing their jobs it is crazy to think how they will continue to be able to afford gas.

Lizzie Nelson

10/31/2021 05:27:46 pm

Gas prices always seem to be rising in the recent times and they are largely associated to President Biden. However, I think that we all play a part in the prices of gas. The more we travel or the more vehicles we have in our household the additional gas is needed. Gas is a need for most people in the United States so the price can really be whatever the gas companies want it to be because we will pay for it. COVID had a strong impact on our economy so now we are still trying to recover from that.

Dakota James

10/31/2021 06:01:27 pm

I agree that companies take advantage of everyday drivers because no matter the price, we are gonna have to buy it anyway. I also believe your validation for the rising prices being part of President Biden's doings are true. I would think COVID would cause gas prices to drop because of the travel laws and such. But, now that they are eased that could be another reason for gas prices to be increasing.

Nathan

10/31/2021 06:17:54 pm

Population does effect the gas prices. As our population increases more cars are being built which means that more gas is needed for those cars, which would raise the demand of gas.

Kendra

10/31/2021 07:40:16 pm

It is so crazy how Covid-19 has inflated the prices of so many necessity products.

Jonah

10/31/2021 10:10:36 pm

Time to buy a Tesla, I guess.

Dakota James

10/31/2021 05:57:59 pm

The increase in price for all petroleum products seems to fluctuate in periods. One reason for high gas prices specifically, are the fact that the demand for it is higher due to more Americans driving everyday. Secondly, oil companies receive backlash from organizations that support green energy, resulting in limited methods of extracting oil for these corporations. However, I strongly believe that the sporadic spike in gasoline and diesel prices was caused by the Biden administration. His campaign proposed plans such as banning fracking and shutting down mass producing oil fields, to protect the environment. When there is a high demand for something that is difficult to produce, its value rises. Ultimately, I don't put all the blame on the government for these unrealistic prices of petroleum products, but they definitely played a major role in developing them.

Micah Tolman

10/31/2021 06:14:30 pm

You have some good evidence. I find it odd that the President shuts down fracking and production then makes statements that he is trying to make gasoline more affordable for citizens.

Nathan

10/31/2021 06:16:04 pm

It is hard to say what has effected the gas prices the most but I do also believe that the cover meant has played a role in the high gas prices. I do believe they will go back down eventually though.

Nathan

10/31/2021 06:09:39 pm

I in harmony with the article do not think that the rise in gas prices can not be pinned on one thing. The article had several examples of what could be contributing to the issue. One in particular is the Covid and also the huge ice storm in Texas that I think are a large part of why we are seeing higher gas prices. There is always a delay in the market because it takes a while for changes to cycle through.

Micah Tolman

10/31/2021 06:12:38 pm

You brought up an interesting point with the delay in market. Do you think we will see prices fall anytime soon?

Erik

10/31/2021 06:19:00 pm

I forgot about those Texas storms they surely had an affect.

Boaz Oswald

10/31/2021 08:27:32 pm

It will be interesting to see how the market reacts to things happening now.

Jonah

10/31/2021 10:12:03 pm

I did not know about the Texas storms.

Erik

10/31/2021 06:18:18 pm

I am definitely one of those people who would complain each time gas prices would rise by a cent and like any ordinary human being I wanted someone to blame that person happened to be Biden because of his partial involvement in the policies affecting the prices. Now after seeing this article my point of view has widened causing me to see all variables of this problem and not just what is on the surface level. I'm still going to dislike every cent raised but now I fully understand the situation.

Ele

10/31/2021 06:59:18 pm

I am also one to complain each time the gas price rises. I drive a lot, and probably should save some of my gas. No wonder I complain about it...

Janessa

10/31/2021 08:03:47 pm

It’s a bit funny to think that many people would get angry by gas rising just a cent, like you did, but now it’s risen so much more than that.

Ele

10/31/2021 06:55:31 pm

After reading this article, I had time to reflect and I am definitely one to always complain about the gas prices. I feel that it is normal for many people to be frustrated with it rising by only a little bit due to how dependent we are with vehicles. On the subject for who this problem is based upon, I believe a big part of it could be held upon the Biden administration. Many of us drive so much daily that being the individual that doesn't drive would be a hay day and happy cash. I look back and realize that I took the cheap gas for granted, thinking that it was expensive, only to see it now...

Hailey

10/31/2021 07:54:01 pm

As you mentioned, it is easy to take for granted the aspects of our lives that are normal to us. Gas prices weren’t given a second thought until they began to rise. It is scary to think that we may be taking the current gas prices for granted, for who is to say they will not be double what they are now in the future?

Adyson Sawyer

10/31/2021 10:20:12 pm

I also think about how crazy it is that we took gas prices for granted and now we have to think more about just driving around for fun because it is now so expensive.

Kendra

10/31/2021 07:37:26 pm

I have to say I definitely complain about the gas prices every time I’m filling up my car. I honestly haven’t thought a ton about why the prices are raising and I just figured they had to do with COVID-19. This is a resource that no matter how expensive it is we have to buy it to get around. But, it isn’t so bad for the businesses though because they are making more money. Needless to say, no matter what is causing the rising gas prices, I will just continue to fill my car up.

Hailey

10/31/2021 07:51:29 pm

Exactly as you encapsulated, gas is a necessity for the majority of Americans. Therefore, despite the moaning and groaning, we will continue to fill up our tanks and pay the higher price. Perhaps electric cars will become more popular as gas prices continue to soar.

Janessa

10/31/2021 07:59:57 pm

Like you said, gas is one of the resources that we pretty much have to have. I don’t think walking or riding bikes would work well for us all year round.

Adyson Sawyer

10/31/2021 10:21:14 pm

I think it’s kind of crazy how the government or businesses can chance prices so much and not lose business. Much like in this case.

Hailey

10/31/2021 07:49:26 pm

As our globe has suffered from the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, prices across the market have soared as companies attempt to regain what they lost during the international quarantine. Inflated prices can be witnessed when purchasing anything from toilet paper to a new home. Gas is no exception to this issue. Inflation continues to rise with choices made by our country’s leaders, who seem unwilling to acknowledge the bank-busting prevalence of inflation in America. Of course, one person can not solely be responsible for a problem this large, and there are several other contributing factors to this topic. For example, the mere fact that our economy was shut down for an extended period of time ultimately leaves the issue of inflation to be inevitable. As our economy slowly rebuilds itself, consumers can only hope that the inflated prices we are suffering from now will dissipate.

Robyn Chaffin

11/2/2021 08:20:00 am

Gas is definitely not the only good that has had a price increase.

Janessa

10/31/2021 07:57:36 pm

During the high point of COVID, prices were raising for almost everything, and a lot of goods weren’t as available as they had been previously. Gas was one of these goods. I also didn’t think much about the raise in price, because I saw that everything else was raising too and grouped everything as a whole. Getting caught up with being busy and life’s worries, I didn’t stop to think about what was going on behind the scenes, because I only saw what was in front of me. This is one of the consequences of being a consumer, that we don’t stop to think much about the production or the way an item gets to a store, only the sale that we see. This goes beyond gas, but that perspective has made me consider the gas I buy more.

Boaz Oswald

10/31/2021 08:24:04 pm

Buying gas is such normal thing now that it is hard to question it. It can also feel hopeless to try and change anything.

Boaz Oswald

10/31/2021 08:16:43 pm

Gas prices are an interesting thing because it is an essential product in today's society. Just because the price is higher, doesn't mean that people aren't going to buy it. I can imagine that these companies know this and are going to rise them and blame it on anything that they can. I am sure that there are many things that affect the price but I am sure that it is risen as much as it can be with any event that they can use.

Adyson Sawyer

10/31/2021 10:18:52 pm

I remember growing up and seeing when gas prices where on the low two’s or even one’s. To look at them now and see a four is absolutely crazy. Although o do believe that our new government direction may have some cause to the rise is prices because of them taking out the pipeline. However I believe that the main or cause to these constant price increases is due to simply re occurring economic inflation.

Courtney Vennell

10/31/2021 10:59:27 pm

It is crazy to look back on our childhoods when gas was dirt cheap and to now be having to pay so much more for the same good.

Courtney Vennell

10/31/2021 10:57:02 pm

I for one am a big complainer about gas prices because as a teenager, I drive a lot which means I have to buy a lot of gas. I think many of us didn’t think much about the gas prices until they started to rise and then we started to try and figure out who was to blame for this. I definitely thought that they were because of the Biden administration and because of Covid-19. After reading this article, I realize that it is a way broader conflict. I do however still believe that the Biden administration had their hand in this and that they are not completely innocent with the rising gas prices.

Robyn Chaffin

11/2/2021 08:21:51 am

It’s really hard not to complain. Especially when a whole day of work pays for one fuel up.

Robyn Chaffin

11/2/2021 08:17:54 am

I wouldn’t say the Biden administration is to blame for all of it, but they have had an affect on it all. A year ago gas was under two dollars. Now, it is over four dollars. It’s very interesting how fast things can change once a new President is inaugurated. I personally wish the princess would go down. For now, there isn’t much that can be done by the people. All we can do is keep on keeping on.

Who is to blame for rising gas prices?

Leave a Reply.

Archives