Watch Out, There’s a Pick Pocket in Gilmer County!

What difference does 15 miles make in the cost of gas? There must be some reason that Gilmer County residents pay more then their neighbors to the south? Last week Pickens County’s had a fuel cost increase of on average .11 cents per gallon while Gilmer County’s fuel cost increased an average of .18. You should ask “why is Gilmer’s increase higher?” We at FYN plan to ask that very question this week. The Federal government said the economy could absorb the increase in gas prices. Obviously they have not driven through Gilmer County lately. Gilmer County cannot afford any more money to be yanked out of the local economy. This increase takes money directly away from you that could have been spent with local merchants. This is a small conservative example: If 250 cars purchase 15 gallons of gas per day the increase amount for one day verses a week ago would be $675, $4,725 per week and $20,475 a month. Using the same calculations- Pickens County’s fuel increase for the same period of time was .11 per gallon which takes $12,512 a month out of their economy. Why is Gilmer County’s fuel increase removing an additional $7963 a month? And if this extra comes out of citizen’s pockets then whose pocket ends up receiving this additional increase?

I have heard several ideas for things citizens can do to combat the rising prices. One example is for citizens to stop giving the equivalent of a prepaid gift card to the oil companies by reducing their fuel purchase. Most people fill their cars up and ride around with 13 gals (prepaid gift card to the oil companies). If everyone in the county reduced their purchase to 2 gallons at a time it would decrease the oil company’s take by approx. half a million dollars. Another idea to get the message across is asking citizens to purchase no gas on Saturday.

The fuel increases hurt the economy in ways we don’t see at the gas pump. Some may not think about the other increases in retail prices for goods and services created by the fuel hike. When a company bringing products to the market incurs higher fuel prices for its delivery trucks this results in higher prices to the consumer. This can also create feelings of uncertainty about our economy and may lead companies to decide not to hire. The list goes on and on of negative impact on our local economy by the fuel increases.

Americans give their blood on the oil fields why are we asked to give blood at the pump? The numbers used are approximate but the effect of the fuel price increase is evident. The last thing any of us need is more money removed out of an already hurting economy.