" Expenses are going up, yes they are. So the extra ten dollars a week it costs me to drive to work, the extra nine dollars a week it costs me to feed my family is nothing compared to the $110 difference a month my utility bill costs. Now that's something to gripe about. So we don't get to eat fresh fruit as much, and we don't eat meat every night. And we walk now more than ever. This has helped us become a more healthy family. But if the utilities keep rising, we will be a family in big trouble come next winter.... "

" Gas stations can continue to make whatever profit they are now making if they drop the entire $0.32, and they would cut into the profits of indian-owned gas stations, since they'd no longer have an edge. The place in Union Springs still benefits from now being the only gas station in the near area, but people will no longer drive a few extra miles to go there when their prices are the same as anyone else's. That won't be the case if the non-indian places don't bring their prices down the full amount, but rather gouge the customers' by cashing in on some of the difference.

Thing to do will be to note the prices the day they suspend the taxes and see who drops their prices the full amount -- or not.

And, of course, we'll have to see what it does to the economy to lose those tax dollars. They remain in our pockets to do with as we will for ourselves, and that's good, but it means they won't be going into this fund and that which we are used to having taken care for us. Will it balance out comfortably or not? We'll have to wait and see, but I am sure there are lots of us who'd really be helped by the break at the pump for the short-term. "

" The Indians aren't stupid. They'll sell the gas just cheap enough to get people to go there, but still get the most profit as they can. "

" I agree FG, I go by there every weekend and sometimes the station in Union Springs isn't even 10 cent lower, more like a nickel. They are making their monies being the only station really in that area. If NYS eliminates the tax for a while it may put the rest of the stations in that area at a more competitive level. My only concern is if NYS does eliminate the tax how much really will the stations go down in price. "

" Heard on the news (while at the gym) this morning that NYS is thinking about suspending the tax on gas, which is currently $0.32 per gallon, and one of the highest in the nation.

Curious thing -- if the indian gas stations sell their gas for less because they don't pay tax, how come it is only at most $0.10 cheaper -- I've sure never seen it $0.30 cheaper up in Union Springs. "

" Sorry anonymoose that is not what I do. I audit compliance of contract and marketing agreements between retailers and distributors. I don't consider it to be real important but I make a living doing it. "

" The drive in schedule may not be listed in the paper because they didn't want to pay to be in there. You don't get listed without paying. "

" pentangelli - #'s 3, 4, and 6 are the stupidest things ive ever heard. why not just give my whole paycheck to lazy people or the ones who want to drop out of highschool have 23 kids and sit on the porch all day collecting unemployment and food stamps. might as well bring the kids to the doctors 100 times a year for a little cough since others are paying for it. why dont you move to europe along with your socialist agenda. "

" Last night we were watching a local news station here in Virginia. One of the topics was the price of gas. We were shocked to learn that the US is SELLING oil to JAPAN. "

" Brian -- good point and right you are. I just suppose if we are going to spend money we don't have, it would be better spent on something productive than destructive.

Better yet not to spend money we don't have, a lesson to governments and individuals alike (says the woman within a couple years of being debt-free -- cross fingers and keep making those over-minimum payments!) "

" Where is Tim Osman? Who is Tim Osman?

The permanent war economy is crippling this country. Pent and FG nailed it. Well said.

Karl, sorry you don't think it would be a good idea to have a forum, and you may be right. Not sure about putting the Citizen under though. lol...

"

" pentangelli and others -

It's tempting to think of all the things the government could be doing - new infrastructure, free health care, inflated social security - were it not wasting billions on an illegal war. It has sort of a righteous ring to it. But it's not true.

The truth is a little uglier. Our government can't afford any of these things. It can't afford the wars and it can't afford these pie-in-the-sky social programs.

Our country has $9 trillion worth of debt and the bill is coming due. We're all going to have to get used to country with higher taxes and fewer services.

You can thank your fiscally irresponsible GOP for that. Don’t forget, budgets from Reagan and the two Bushes account for 70 percent of our debt.
"

" Oh yeah, Pentagelli--I disagree with the illegal immigrants thing too. I agree about the war and the infrastructure stuff, but it's time we sealed the borders to Mexicans and other illegals living here for free! "

" How come the Fingerlakes Drive In movies aren't listed in the movie section?? "

" So the Bush Admin can say no to something that will help the American Economy, but say yes to helping Iraq? or any other dirty country? "

" the economy reminded me of the "if you were born in XXXX" cards, I came across this site that sells cool ones for a gift. I especially liked the bottom part with prices and federal deficit amounts.

http://www.eventagram.com/birthday_enlarged.asp?BirthDay=50 "

" Obviously, Pentangelli, you do not live in Southern California. Come out here and see how much you agree with letting anyone be embraced by the US. It is so bad that most places you go, ie, grocery stores restaurants, and convenience stores, are filled with people that do not understand the English language. I like to take the GREEN Money and ask them what or who the person is on the bill I give to them. Ya know what, they don't know. There English is poor, and they treat "Americans" poorly. That is a BIG insult in my eyes. Remember countries like Mexico and French Canada DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH! They will not cater to us. If you don't believe me, go visit Montreal or Quebec and ask for directions. Come on Bud, get out and see the world! "

" pentangelli, let me get this straight. You are saying that you would trade places with a victim of the 9-11 attack so you could have more of the following?

1. Rebuilding our infrastructure (our bridges and highways are dangerously worn)
2. Enlarge and enrich our schools, hire more teachers, make smaller class sizes, expand the educational experience for all kids
3. Giving anyone that needs it, free food and housing.
4. Free healthcare for ALL
5. A Social Security wage that will help our older Americans live not just survive.
6. Open our doors to any and all who want to be embraced by the U.S.

That is what the following means doesn't it?

THE COST OF TRUE FREEDOM IS VULNERABILITY TO ATTACKS LIKE 911.(It's OK for people to die. As long as it's not in a war?) PROTECTION FROM THESE ACTS WILL COST YOU YOUR FREEDOM. (Because fighting back and defending ourselves from those who attacked us, in this war, will enslave us?)

Well since your DEAD (you traded with a 9-11 victim) I guess #1-6 above really doesn't matter to you, now does it? "

" I am no economist and couldn't tell you how being at war effects the price of things. However, I don't need a course in economics to see that if we were not wasting all that money on the unwinnable war, that money would be available for other better uses right here at home.

I would NOT, however, use that money to fling open our borders to all comers. The prosperity of this country which is the product of the sweat and work of the people who live here should go to the people who earned it, not anyone who shows up on our doorstep, including criminals and the unemployable. I don't have a problem with legal immigrants who are ready, willing and able to contribute to society here -- most of us have at least some ancestors who took that path -- but I am not for uncontrolled immigration.

I am not a communist or socialist and don't think we should just give anyone and everyone free food and housing -- why would anyone except Type A personalities bother to work if we could get all we need in handouts, (I exaggerate -- people enjoy work for other reasons, but they are a minority compared to those who work strictly because they have to) and where would the money to hand out come from if no one were working? BUT ...

I would spend money currently being wasted on the war on repairing and maintaining our roads and infrastructure, on revamping and improving our educational system including making higher education more affordable, on setting up an affordable health care system which would not be driven by the pharmaceutical industry and insurance companies, and on fixing Social Security to help support older people as it becomes increasingly common for people to live past 100, yet unlikely they can keep working past 70 or so.

If I were fairy queen of the United States, I would also strip corporations of the unnatural rights as "persons" which they were granted by a Supreme Court under undue influence of the railroads back in the 1800s which has set us up for so much grief, destruction and corruption in our modern ag and do something serious about the damaged state of the environment. "

" Well said, Pentagelli.
The man speaketh the truth!
As I'm typing this, the Bumbler-in-Chief is on CNN defending his "Rich Man's War", and looking like a fanatic and fool for it. What a war criminal. "

" pentangelli those are some NICE thoughts BUT even if there wasn't a war-there would be higher taxes.
There would also be some other country in more need than US.
If you look at previous years--before the WAR-you would see that SS raises for the elderly was still very low as Medicade Plan A/B jumped higher than the annual raise.
Our bridges and highways were just as worn-look at Katrina's levies, and PA roads have been under construction since 1979!
Food and housing costs are raised yearly/some monthly-I remember working at Wegmans and people yelling at me because milk prices went up in 1979.
There was also a HUGE so-called Gas Shortage that year with huge lines miles long!
Yes, the war costs money BUT so does everything else thru the years without a war!

"

" By Marketing Projects, you mean you are one of those people who do the demonstrations and hand out cracker samples, dont you, brew.

At least you make it sound important. "

" Here is some real food for thought:

If the government stopped this "richman's" war that is being disguised as a war on terrorism, the BILLION$ we'd save could be used for several important things:
1. Rebuilding our infrastructure (our bridges and highways are dangerously worn)
2. Enlarge and enrich our schools, hire more teachers, make smaller class sizes, expand the educational experience for all kids
3. Giving anyone that needs it, free food and housing.
4. Free healthcare for ALL
5. A Social Security wage that will help our older Americans live not just survive.
6. Open our doors to any and all who want to be embraced by the U.S.

After we did all these things, we'd still have more than HALF of what we are spending on this trumped-up war AND nearly 5,000 Americans would still be alive instead of pouring their blood into the sand.

THE COST OF TRUE FREEDOM IS VULNERABILITY TO ATTACKS LIKE 911. PROTECTION FROM THESE ACTS WILL COST YOU YOUR FREEDOM.

Have a wonderful day and think it all through. "

" Actually I do marketing projects in retail stores so I observe the purchasing habits of consumers on a daily basis. No grocery store is going to attempt to gouge customers as their competition would eat them alive. The same people that buy junk, that I fail to even see that they need, are the same ones that cry that their taxes are too high and the business community is unfairly pricing their basic needs. Then they whine that the government is not cleaning the parks and providing their curbs and sidewalks and trash cans. You want a full service government but don't want to pay taxes. If you want lower taxes get off your butt and organize neighbors to clean the parks. In case you don't understand the principles of democracy we are the government. Pay for your own needs, don't whine for the government to provide for you or bail you out if you take on a home you can't afford. The government is not your babysitter. Wise up you poor misguided children and create your own destiny! "

" I hate when the Minumum wage goes up. I don't get a raise because of it. That is when I notice grocery prices go up. I disagree with Brew about the Walmart junk. Maybe for some people, but I only go there to get some things like Dog Food and Toiletries. Pet Smart is about 40 miles from me, and I can't always get out there. If I do, my dog and I make a day of it. She loves to sniff around and enjoy her friends that cruise the aisles. But on the grocery store, it is very unfair that the consumer has to pay inflated prices. I know the routine of what it takes for products to get there, but retail prices are way too high. Looks like I will be building a chicken coop and raising chickens, which overall is expensive, but at least I know what they eat. The eggs are way better. If I do choose to do this I will be sure to get a turkey next year. They taste good when home grown. "

" Sorry brew, maybe they are richer in life than you! "

" So Brew, now we know what u do for a living - sit outside Walmart and the mall watching "the useless junk people buy" LMAO - a student of nature huh? "

" brew1234, I really don't believe people that can't afford food go to Walmart to buy junk. I have seen people that could not afford backup for a breathing system when the power went out. DO NOT CONDEMN PEOPLE WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR SITUATION! There are people less fortunate than you. "

" Tired of people saying dont blame the supermarkets ,well stop and do the figures gas dont even go up that fast and that high the prices in supermarkets are sky rocketing just as bad as the gas,and yes I already know it because the gas but use 1 product that goes up in the supermarket and do the figures
It dont add up ,meaning supermarkets are also gauging there customers worse then the gas companys.
And brew it obvious you dont have a wife and kids to feed cause your always on the ---holes sides "

" You are asking the supermarket to lose money to subsidize your food budget? Go to the food pantry or apply for food stamps. The supermarket is not responsible for your care. If you don't qualify for food stamps, then cut back on those trips to Walmart to buy all that junk you don't need. If you don't beleive me then sit outside Walmart or the mall and see the useless junk people buy. "

" I can beleive bookmakers are involved with that pet contest. Cripes last year we invested a small fortune in vote payment as u have to pay for each vote. Granted its suppoosed to go to charity - but why didnt the paper publish how much was raised for said charities? It seems in order to win you have to have a small fortune in disposable income which we decided this year to actually spend on our dog rather than our vanity of winning a meaningless contest. "

" This is in regard to the major supermarket downtown. When prices go up you raise them to maintain your level of profit. You say you are there for your customers, but you make the customers suffer most of all. For instance the price of bread goes up .50, you raise it .50 or more, but your customer do not get a increase in saleries as often and we are the one who lose. I tell you what the next time an item goes up why don’t you split the difference. For example eggs go up 30 cents, why don’t you just raise the eggs 15 cents and suffer like the customers. I guess I am lashing out at all business because they do not suffer like the customers. And to any of the businesses who are suffering just lower your prices a little and suffer like the rest of us. "