A couple of weeks ago, Fox News reported that Exxon-Mobile would show a $10 billion profit for the first quarter of this year.

Shell is also doing well. Shell reported a $4.6 billion profit, according to Fox News, for the same period.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with making a profit, after all people aren’t in the business to lose money. But these record profits come at a time when a lot of people and businesses are really struggling. We all know that the price of everything we buy is effected by the high cost of gasoline. We also know there are some businesses in this country that can really help people.

On May 5 and 6, my wife, Pam, had a bass tournament at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. This lake is on the Georgia, South Carolina state line at Hartwell. During our travels to and from a tournament we are very aware of gas prices. It wasn’t difficult to notice that gas prices dropped 15 cents per gallon as soon as we crossed the state line. On April 30, gas was $3.749 per gallon in Bainbridge. On May 1, the price of the gas in Anderson, S.C., was $3.579 per gallon. That was good for us because the tournament was held on the South Carolina side. It’s not so good for the Georgia residents, especially those of us in South Georgia.

On May 19-21, Pam had a benefit tournament for Catch a Smile Fountain in Troy, Ala.. The day we left on May 19 we paid $3.819 per gallon in Bainbridge. When we got toe Dothan, I saw gas as low as $3.59 per gallon. In Troy the price was $3.69 per gallon. When times are so tough on everyone, this price difference really hurts.

On May 23, gas in Chattahoochee and Sneads, Fla., was $3.69 per gallon. In Bainbridge it was $3.78.

Gas prices are usually higher in Florida than they are here. Not May 23 and not on May 25, the day I am writing this letter.

Gas prices in three of our bordering states are cheaper in May than they are in Bainbridge.

City to city the price difference is even worse. On May 19, we paid $3.3879 per gallon here in Bainbridge. During our trip to Troy, Ala., between the 19th and 21st, we paid $3.539 per gallon in Donalsonville.

All of these prices are for regular unleaded gas. Also if anyone feels the need to question the prices, I have the receipts.

Also as the price of a barrel of oil rises on the market the price of gasoline usually rises with in 24 hours. One would think the trend would be the opposite as oil prices go down. But not here. One week, according to Fox News, oil prices dropped $13 a barrel, gas went up here 10 cents per gallon.

Something just as bad as being taken advantage of is we sit back and let it happen. We the American people, let a few do things that we shouldn’t allow.

We allowed a few to take prayer out of schools. We allowed a few to take God out of public places. And we’ve allowed a few to cause us to pay higher prices for everything we need to survive.

I don’t know all the answers to these problems. Maybe we can pay closer attention to who we elect into public office, and shop at the businesses that seem to help us the most, no matter what the business is.

Sincerely,

Steven Wells

Bainbridge, Ga.