They had to raise the prices to curb demand....they HAD to raise prices so we wouldn't drive so much. Our business runs on 4 wheels, no matter how high the price of gas. For people who work, an increase in price only means they make less profit every day they go to work. And, let's not forget the hundreds of thousands of Americans who could not drive their cars (or the City of New Orleans bus fleet!) because of the hurricane.
I think the oil companies know that we will pay whatever....we are a society that runs on gas. We'll bitch and moan, then shuck it out at the pump. I know, they'll charge what the market will bear...but the patterns of profits and price hikes look rather opportunistic.
And on a totally personal note, I highly resent an oil company telling me I need to conserve my gas use by jacking the price up.
And what if they hadn't raised the prices? With all of those refineries down, and people knowing that the supply of gasoline was in trouble. You know what would happen?
People would be hoarding gasoline until there was none left.
Yes. God forbid people are actually asked to behave responsibly in a crisis! How dare we try and discipline ourselves in the face of a supply shortage! We deserve that gas! We deserve to drive anywhere for whatever reason! How dare I have to sacrifice?