Today, I let my feelings be known about the current situation…

[KansDem]

Normally, I don’t give way to public discourse about private feelings, but this morning I had had it...

I stopped in for gas on my way to work today and was in a blue funk. I was already reeling from the realization that Kansas was comprised of 70% bigots and homophobes, and had just had an argument with a family member (unrelated topic). To cap it off, only a few feet away from the pump I pulled up to was a big SUV with a rap song blaring the lyrics “MOTHERF*CKER!!! MOTHERF*CKER!!!” with a bass volume that shook my car.

Well, I put in $10 worth of gas (a little more than four gallons) and go inside the “convenience store” to pay for it. Apparently, a customer had just left who had bitched and moaned about the price of gas, because the three clerks working there were taking among themselves about the “guy in the three-piece suit” and his complaints. I could sense this wasn’t the first time someone complained. Among their statements made to each other while waiting on customers:

“I can’t believe a guy in a three-piece suit would be complaining about the price of gas!”
"It hasn't gone up that much!"
“We only sell the gasoline. We don’t buy the oil”
“We would give it to you for free if we could…”

So while I’m getting my change back, I offered a friendly piece of advice (loud enough to be heard by them and the other customers waiting):

“Next time, just tell them that once we invade Syria or Iran, the price of oil will be even better than what we got out of Iraq!”

They looked at me somewhat perplexed and said nothing. The other customers looked at me somewhat perplexed and said nothing. I turned and left.

I hope they will think about what was said this morning…

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Complaining about gas prices to the clerk at the gas station...

...is like complaining to the usher at the movie theatre that the acting in a movie sucked.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. I work at a theater, part time (a requirement of being a state

employee), and believe it or not I've heard that -- a customer bitching to me about what a terrible movie they just came out of, as if it was my fault.

Of course, that movie being 'Napolean Dynamite' I had to disagree.

[ariellyn]

14. What you said...n/t

[etherealtruth]

2. Good for you

[Neoma]

3. Gas is crude oil.

:)
remember that bit, its handy.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. Thaks for saying it

but I fear the disconnect is too wide.

They just don't get it.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. They won't

They won't get it. The oil people are rolling in it so of course they're going to hike the prices. It does make sense but of course they'll only make an excuse if they do understand. I won't be surprised if by the end of the year the gas is higher.

[FloridaPat]

5. I have a feeling that people who work in gas stations aren't smart enough

to get that. Maybe after they're drafted they'll understand.

[Liberal Veteran]

7. Ahem...I have worked in gas stations.

Sometimes you gotta take a shitty job to pay the bills.

I know a girl who is working in a gas station while going to law school.

[FloridaPat]

11. OK - I apologize.

[KansDem]

8. One of the clerks looked as if she was 60...

Always a sad sight. I mean, we all have had our share of "dead end" jobs but usually we have this while we're young and in school, just starting out on our own, or between career changes. Whenever I see someone in a low-paying job who looks to be older (50s or older) I wonder what financial hardship put them there. At that age, they're supposed to be enjoying the fruits of their labors; enjoying the benefits of a lifetime of work, not earning minimum wage to pay unexpected debts.

At least it used to be that way...

[FloridaPat]

12. Being in that spot myself I can tell you - jobs going to India and

elsewhere. A ton of computer programmers are out of work. Thanks to Bush and the repubs who think sending jobs overseas is good for the economy.

[Tsiyu]

15. I actually stepped inside a Wal Mart last week

I don't shop at Wally World anymore, but I was checking out tool prices. bad me. i know.

Anyhoo, ALL of the floor help were blue-haired women - most in the 60-70 age range i would guess. They were stocking the shelves, etc.

If women this age have all the jobs at Wally World, really makes you wonder, huh?

And :yourock: for speaking your mind.

[AValdoux]

9. Convenience Stores

Convenience Stores don't make money on gas. I did books for a company that owned several. They make their money off inside merchandise. Often they sold gas below cost to get customers from competitors.

They also had a fuel delivery company (tanker trucks).They were making only a small margin on that also.

Exxon / Shell, etc. are making the big profits though. Only the big boys are making money on this.

AValdoux

[rkc3]

10. Sure gas prices are high, but no planes have hit buildings recently.

[KG]

16. it almost seems as if that somehow makes it o.k. with most amurkins

[rkc3]

17. If not most, at least those who voted for shrub.

I've been thinking of a list to use on my RW nutters when they gripe about gas prices. So far its:

No planes.
At least gays can't get married.
It's still Clinton's fault.
At least we're fighting terrorists over there.
Peace isn't pretty.
We all have to contribute to the cause.

There's a few more that escape me.