Gas Gouging

If gas gouging is illegal, why isn't anyone being arrested for doing it? I live in a community where gas prices are 15 cents higher than communities 30 minutes away, yet nobody is being arrested or prosecuted for gas gouging.

On top of that, if gas gouging is illegal, why does it always rise in the summertime? During last fall's elections, that was a big issue that everyone spoke about and gas prices plunged almost a dollar to level out around $2.00 in our community. However, after the first of the year, it began to rise again and, within 3-4 months, was back to it's $2.75 price before the elections and now it's over $3.00 a gallon.

Gasoline/oil is not something we are going to have forever and we need to make plans for a future without gasoline and oil. As the planet continues to expand and modernize, fuel is being consumed in greater portions around the world. As a result, many oil companies continue to raise prices to line their pockets, regardless of the outcome. Think about it. When more people are on the roads (summertime), they hike the gas prices to get as much out of them as possible. Then, in the winters when less people are on the roads, they drop the prices to make it look like they are trying to help everyone out.

In my mind, here's where the problem is. Politicians should be required to give up their interests in gasoline and oil. If they have stocks in gasoline and oil, they should be required to sell all their shares before being allowed to take office. That way, they wouldn't have a bias one way or the other, because there's no possibility of financial gain to them, other than what they would save at the pump if the prices were lowered.

Do any of you have any thoughts on this issue? Please do share.