I don't know exactly who is doing all the ripping, but I do know who is getting ripped. Have you noticed that your pocketbook seems to be on a diet, or your credit card account seems to double or triple? If you are driving and going as much as usual, you had better get yourself another job. You'll need it to pay your gas bill, which has increased everything else but what you give to your church. Have you noticed that food costs have more than doubled on many staple foods?

On Saturday, May 24, the lowest gas price in the nation was $3.30 per gallon in Pearson, GA. The national average was a staggering $3.90 per gallon, with the highest in Spring Valley, NY, at $4.98 per gallon. Just in case you don't have your calculator handy, that is $1.67 per gallon difference on the same gallon of gas.

As I said, I'm not exactly sure who is doing the most gouging. As in most things that fuels inflation, which can lead to depression, it starts at the source.

One gas station operator stated that the store gets gas prices daily, and the retail prices depend on what it cost to replace what has been sold. "If we don't make a profit,we won't be here, and you won't have any gas," one station owner stated.

It started with the oil cartel in the Middle East and the oil cartel in the U.S.A. They cut back on production, and the price goes up. It's right simple. When the sheik or the president wants more money for his product, he ups the price by cutting back on production. Everyone in the business is learning, fast. If the consumers want it, make them pay.

One supplier stated, "Something good could come from this gutting the market on oil products. It could make us come up with an alternative source for fueling our economy."

About time someone comes up with good idea, like ethanol, the price goes out the top to buy the products that make ethanol. At least our farmers get a cut of the profits.Corn has gone from $1.50 per bushel to over $6.00 per bushel in just a short time. Since ethanol has come to be a possible source of fuel, the price of corn has increased over 250 percent in the past two years.

The low and high prices of regular gas in a 50 mile range of Colquitt runs from $3.68 per gallon to $3.99.

In Colquitt Saturday the price ran from $3.89 to $4.00 per gallon. Seven miles up the road, gas was $3.75 per gallon.

Those small, gas miser vehicles are looking better and better. Even better, the hybrids are looking good.

The recent reports that water is being used to power some vehicles.

Have you priced a bottle of water lately?