"Terry Spragg" wrote in message
.. .
Harry Krause wrote:


Hundreds of thousands of them.
Might as well be living in the third or fourth world.


One thing puzzles me. Well, OK more than one, but...

How is it that there is so much apparent difficulty with obtaining gas in
the area?

Even if all the inground tanks are flooded, would it not be possible for
gas tankers to dispense gas at any location? In an emergency, why can not
a gas tanker show up at a mall or somewhere and provide this, an essential
service? A few such mobile emergency vehicles could be in a strategic
reserve for such emergencies. Certainly, our military would never be
stalled for want of such a facility, would it?

Or would incapacitated business operators complain too loudly? Or, do
they not need such service, being able to pump enough fuel for their own
needs? Essential businesses have a responsibility, and their licenses to
operate could be made dependant on their ability to carry on despite
emergencies. Isn't there some kind of homeland security department that
could insist on this?

For that matter, why can not an independant enterpreneur or contractor
market gas from a tanker trailer parked in the mall?

Such "Gypsy" style gas sales capability would be one way to increase
competition in the marketing of gas, provided anyone with a tax number had
the right to shop refinery yards for a thousand gallons of gas, or more,
for cash, or even debit, credit, or on account. I realize there are
hazards, but I expect something could be done, like providing a drip
catching plastic ground sheet, absorbants, serious fire extinguisher
equipment, etc.

I personally believe gas stations should not market anything not directly
related to servicing consumable vehiclular requirements, other than
perhaps coffee for customers awaiting service such as attendant
refuelling, oil checks, tire inflation, windshield or auto washing,
waxing, vacuuming interiors, lamp replacements, brake fluid
replenishments, antifreeze or coolant water, etc. Remember the good old
days, when such was a competitive incentive to use one or another gas
station? Did we kill that service attitude for the sake of 2 cents a
gallon savings for pumping our own gas?

It might enable small convenience stores and quicky marts to compete in
the milk and bread market without having to face down conglomerate
combines unfairly and covertly monopolizing gasoline marketing.

Terry K

I wonder why gas stations don't have back up electric generators available
for pumping gas. You probably couldn't take credit cards, but cash would
certainly work. Even the state could get involved and place generators at
selected gas stations. Or some type of hand pump to get the gas up out of
the ground. They had these kinds of pumps for years before electric ones
came into use.