Mountain Musings with Uncle Mott: The High Cost of Commodities

Jul 22, 2026 | Uncle Mott

Have you noticed how cheap gasoline is, of late? Perhaps I will re-word that one. Gas isn’t exactly cheap. (That’s right, but I am, cheap that is). I must say, six or seven bucks a gallon surely ain’t cheap. However, I’ve seen at least one gas station in Crestline that has lowered its price to $5.29 a gallon and it’s probably less if you go down the hill.

Even with the lower prices now, who can afford to drive anywhere? Apparently, someone forgot to tell all the manufacturers and retailers who raised their prices due to the high cost of energy that fuel costs are lower now and it’s okay to lower their prices. OK, so I’ll tell them – Hey you guys, fuel costs are lower now, so why don’t you lower your prices and stop gouging all of us.

Good grief, Charlie Brown, have you seen the price of beer lately? These guys are pricing all of us “Joe Six-Packs” right out of the market. Hmm, speaking of marketing, I do know a little bit about marketing, since I have a degree from Chapman College in Economics and Business Administration, which involves marketing skills. Professor Booth always told us to “buy low and sell high.”

Anyhoo, I do virtually all the grocery shopping for my family. My wife is no longer allowed to set foot in the market because she tends to buy stupid stuff.

Like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. George Bush (or “Dubya,” as some of us call him), was smart enough to avoid broccoli. Instead of focusing on stupid stuff, the Missus should focus on important stuff, like beer and pretzels.

While filling my tank down on Waterman Avenue the other day, I noticed a little sticker on the gas pump that said, “Gasoline may contain ethanol.” There I was paying for what I thought was pure gasoline and, like your average drug dealer, the station was “cutting” the goods with a cheaper commodity.

A little miffed at this blatant rip-off, I went inside the gas station and asked the cashier if it were true that my gas had been “cut” with ethanol. In broken English, I was told that all gasoline contains ethanol.

I’m not sure what he meant by this – perhaps he meant all the gasoline at this brand name station is cut with what is essentially fermented corn juice. No wonder I can’t find yellow corn at the market anymore.

I’m not sure if this is true but, if it is, then we’re all getting ripped off because ethanol is less energy efficient than genuine gasoline. In other words, the cars you and I are driving are getting fewer miles per gallon than before. Hmmm, maybe that’s why gas is all of a sudden so “cheap.” Without getting political, there are other reasons for the lessening of gas prices. However, I ain’t goin’ there today.

Keep it flyin’,

Uncle Mott

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