Letter to the editor: Kirksville gas prices are higher than average

Don't you think that it's a little bit strange that we continue to pay higher gas prices than some of the surrounding communities? And the question is: Why? I travel a great deal for the University. I was in St. Louis a week ago and the gas was at $3.31 to $3.35 throughout the St. Louis area. Columbia's gas prices have been at $3.29 for well over a week, and I have recently been to Quincy, Il., this past Tuesday on the way the gas at Brashear was at $3.34, Edina $3.29, LaBelle $3.29 and $3.38 from Lewistown all the way to West Quincy, Missouri.

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that even as gas goes down by the barrel, we in Kirksville continue to be gouged by our gasoline prices. It is ridiculous that they will raise the price of gasoline when the day before you could have paid less for the same gasoline that has been in the ground for a day or two. I would like to know exactly what has been going on because, traditionally, Kirksville's gas prices have been less expensive than the surrounding areas.

Even Macon, which is usually higher on their gasoline prices, was 10 cents lower than what we pay in Kirksville. I strongly feel that we are being taken advantage of because, if you notice, when oil goes down by the barrel, they drop the price at the pump by a penny or two. But as soon as it goes up slightly, they raise the price 10 to 15 cents. I'm getting a little bit tired, and I'm sure most of you all are as well, of continually being gouged by the ‘Gasoline Lords' of Kirksville. It's time that we should all realize that we are being taken advantage of. Let's put an end to it.

Sal Costa

psychology professor