Who?s to Blame for High Oil Prices?
by Brian DiedrickOil companies are making record profits and you’re still paying through the proverbial nose at the gas pump? Our main sources of oil throughout the world are hostile to us? The President of the United States of America is an oilman? Yes, yes, and yes. But at least you don’t drive a cab for a living.
REZA
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: Egypt
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Livery driver
Blame it on OPEC, I guess that’s your solution? Osama? Maybe it’d be better to run cars on water, hydrogen or whatever. Maybe the tooth fairy could make my car run. There’s no solution in our lifetime. Bad for me. Very bad. And the airlines, yes? The price of a ride stays the same, and we pay more, much more, for gas. We cannot recoup the costs. We cannot make a profit. I am in the wrong business. But what am I going to do? Return to school for magic hydrogen power research?
BERNARD
Where I hailed him: West Village
Where he hails from: Cote d’Ivoire
Years as a cabbie: 11
Previous profession: Bartender
I don’t know what is to be done about the gas. Five years ago, it costs 20 dollars to fill the tank, now it costs 60. Sometimes I make just a hundred in a day. That is below the minimum wage. I need some relief! I need to bring in more to recoup my expense. If drilling in Alaska would help, let them drill it. I have to think of right now. I can’t think of a moose in Alaska. I’m thinking of handing all my money to the gas station attendant. Do you drive? Yes? Then you must know the cost. Ouch!
AGRIM
Where I hailed him: Union Square
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 2
Previous profession: Student
Gas prices are hurting me. Bad for this line of work. Hey, wasn’t America supposed to get a bunch of oil from Iraq? What’s going on over there? Who didn’t get the memo? All that effort and no cheap oil? C’mon, right? [smiling] Hey, there’s nothing to be done about gas prices. It’s supply and demand, and demand is going to be more than supply now, pretty much forever, right? Eventually, we’ll get a fare increase and I’ll stop paying for part of your ride around town. Make sense to you? Ok.
FELIX
Where I hailed him: Hell’s Kitchen
Where he hails from: Haiti
Years as a cabbie: 25
Previous profession: Business owner
It’s not the oil companies, it’s the dollar. The dollar is so weak right now. It’s the government’s fault. The dollar is half what it used to be. Like, when I used to go to Canada I would give them 100 dollars and they would give me 140 — now they give me like 105 — just to show you how low it is now. So everything costs more. You have a weak dollar, everything costs more. It’s the government’s fault, not the oil companies. Until we get a better government, it’s going to be like this. We have this huge deficit — the dollar is so weak. This is why lately you see a lot of tourists around — it’s cheap for them to come here.
JAMES
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: New York City
Years as a cabbie: 25
Previous profession: Student
It’s not just the oil companies. It’s systemic. Politicians are no longer serving the interests of the American people. They’re serving the interests of the lobbyists — who should be banned. They might throw a bone to the people every once in a while when they complain, but they really serve the lobbyists and large corporate interests. They are — let’s put it this way — they are no longer patriotic. You remember these five oil moguls up there on TV rationalizing these huge oil profits — and was anything done? No. We’re in a culture of money worshipping. I think this country is ready for a civil war and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened this year or the next.
