Sumner Shortcuts

You know, everyone in Middle Tennessean just needs to calm down a bit on the gasoline freak-outs.  Friday’s little mini-run on gas was caused by one thing and one thing only:  people being too worried about there being a run on gas.

We caused it because we were scared of it.

It’s just like a run on the bank.  People begin to fear their money isn’t safe–whether or not there’s any truth to that–so they go and withdraw it all… and they tell their friends, who also do the same.  Next thing you know… boom, run on the bank.  It wasn’t happening when we first got scared of it… but our actions when we got scared made it happen.

Even this morning there are headlines about gas shortages in Tennessee causing concerns.  Let me tell you why stations ran out of gas:  because a half million people in the Nashville area panicked and assumed they had to fill up right away or face certain death!  So all day Friday and part of Saturday, everyone took their turn filling up, whether they needed to or not.

That means we collectively bought more gas in a 24-hour period than we usually do.  Which explains why so many stations ran out.

They didn’t run out because of the hurricane damaging their supply.  Not at all. They ran out because too many of us filled up way prior to the scheduled delivery date of more gas.

So in three or four days, when there’s gas at every pump again, we can all go back to normal.

Yes, gas prices jumped as much as 60 cents in less than 12 hours on Friday.  And yes, that should be criminal, and it makes me madder than you can know.  (How can the price of something jump that much on the PROSPECT of damage–prior to any actual damage happening–and not be illegal?)  But the nation is not in a gas shortage crisis… okay?  We may have to pay over $4 a gallon right now, but we are not, as a nation, out of gas.

This weekend was a nice little example of why I’m worried about all this media talk of a recession or an economic crisis.  You say it enough, we’ll believe it.  And once we believe it… you better believe we’ll make it happen just by worrying and freaking out over it. It makes me wonder if these TV financial analysts are actually trying to cause the downfall of our nation’s economy–the way they continue pushing the panic buttons and sensationalizing it.  “Is the next Great Depression about to hit America any second now?  Tune in to News 2 at 6:00 to find out!”

Okay.  Sorry.  Just had to get all that off my chest.

There are several area gas stations that still have gasoline–most are selling it for more than $4.00 a gallon right now.  I do think that will come down.  Everyone be safe… don’t panic… and write your congressmen and senators and demand they do something about the oil industry or you’ll vote for someone else.

Let’s take a quick poll.  Who do readers think is at fault for the current gas crisis?  Vote below, and you can vote for more than one answer:

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