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Title: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on May 29, 2008, 08:13:12 PM
I looked on this link and I saw there was no thread for the most popular subject in the US news EVERYDAY....the prices of gas.  I know it's affecting everyone world-wide, but some of us, like me, live in the country and don't have the previlege of mass public transportation in the big cities.  What do all of you think about it???  You think the government is trying to rip the gas user's off, or the almight "Oil Barrons" are getting richer and richer???  Let's here your thoughts.....
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: harihead on May 30, 2008, 12:56:36 AM
Quote from: 1255
You think the government is trying to rip the gas user's off, or the almight "Oil Barrons" are getting richer and richer???
Well, that's a given. :)

Still, I think the problem is that the US can no longer dictate the price of oil. Sometime in the 70s (I know you remember our first oil crisis) the US started importing more oil than it could produce. Before then, we were a biggie in the oil industry and could basically tell OPEC what the prices could be. Our domestic oil has been steadily dwindling, and now the Saudis are sitting pretty with industrialized China and India bidding on their oil. The US will not see gas prices go down again in our lifetime (unless it's some temporary stunt done for political reasons).

Then there's the problem of peak oil. Some people believe we have already passed this. There's some evidence that the Saudis are lying about the amount of oil they can pump because whoever has the most oil gets to call the shots over the other OPEC members. But they don't seem able to deliver what they promise, so it looks like their huge field is petering out at last. Yes, we all need to look into alternative energy sources, but more than that, we need to develop a less resource-intensive lifestyle. The US went crazy building a suburban lifestyle that can only be maintained with lots of oil-- to run the cars, repair the roads, pipe gas to the homes, etc. It's not sustainable, even if we didn't have outside competition for the remaining oil. There's just not that much left that we can squander it on big cars, big homes, and miles of roads crossing big empty nothings.

Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: BlueMeanie on May 30, 2008, 01:51:02 AM
Quote from: 551
Still, I think the problem is that the US can no longer dictate the price of oil.

Erm...sorry, but isn't that what's happening at the moment? The American recession, and the poor dollar are dictating the price of oil.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Geoff on May 30, 2008, 10:03:21 AM
Quote from: 551
Yes, we all need to look into alternative energy sources, but more than that, we need to develop a less resource-intensive lifestyle. The US went crazy building a suburban lifestyle that can only be maintained with lots of oil-- to run the cars, repair the roads, pipe gas to the homes, etc. It's not sustainable, even if we didn't have outside competition for the remaining oil. There's just not that much left that we can squander it on big cars, big homes, and miles of roads crossing big empty nothings.

Agree entirely: the "oil economy" has had a good run for the last century, but it has to come to an end. This is a Thomas L Friedman column from the New York Times the other day:


Truth or Consequences

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: May 28, 2008

Imagine for a minute, just a minute, that someone running for president was able to actually tell the truth, the real truth, to the American people about what would be the best
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: harihead on June 03, 2008, 03:15:34 PM
Quote from: 483
Erm...sorry, but isn't that what's happening at the moment? The American recession, and the poor dollar are dictating the price of oil.
Sorry, I don't know much about how our recession is affecting other people. (Remember, I live in the insular land of denial; go straight ahead with blinders on.) So I'd be happy to hear more. What I meant to say above is that (based on my elementary understanding of oil prices) when the US lost the ability to flood the market at will, it lost the ability to dictate what the standard price should be. Now that power rests with the people who still have the largest reserves left.  

Great article, Geoff. I'm glad to see this type of thinking in print!

Quote from: 1161
the McCain-Clinton summertime gas-tax holiday, would only make the problem worse, and reckless initiatives like the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep offer to subsidize gasoline for three years for people who buy its gas guzzlers are the moral equivalent of tobacco companies offering discounted cigarettes to teenagers.
Don't forget that we right now subsidize gas-guzzling cars. You can get a huge tax incentive if you buy a Hummer - 8 mpg. The whole popularity of our gas-guzzling SUVs is so they can be built on a truck engine and therefore escape those irritating environmental and fuel-economy measures that our government was at one time so foolish as to impose on cars. Let the US never be accused of thinking long-term or proactively when a powerful lobby has gifts to throw around.

So our government is at this moment incenting people to buy unregulated, gas-guzzling machines, while at the same time we're fighting a war for oil. Does this strike anyone else as particularly insane?

As to "help" for poor people making under 80,000 a year-- how times have changed! My first salary was under $6,000. Wow.

Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Geoff on June 03, 2008, 03:43:21 PM
Quote from: 551
Let the US never be accused of thinking long-term or proactively when a powerful lobby has gifts to throw around.

Or a politician smells votes to be scrounged, especially votes from dummies, or a group of people that a politician takes for a wagon load of dummies. The McCain / Clinton gas tax holiday absurdity is a wonderful example of this: never mind the bad economics involved, just think of the near impossibility of getting such a thing through Congress and signed by the president before summer. Utter rubbish; and the sad thing of course, as we saw in the primaries, is that there are people- quite a few of them in fact- who will swallow such impossible ham-fisted pandering. To that extent, our political class is justified in taking us- or some of us- for dummies.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 06, 2008, 10:40:17 PM
Woooooo............Geoff.........good stuff posted on the gas thread.  Down here in Arkansas, there's "pages" of people waiting to buy the Prius.  And these "fool" "soccer moms" and there gas-hog SUV's?????  Oh well, I'm glad I drive a Honda and don't have far to go for anything.  My Honda Accord gets great mileage.
And down here, today, gas hit an all-time high at 4 dollars for regular unleaded.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: alexis on June 06, 2008, 10:45:50 PM
I remember when the bumper stickers down here used to say "Drive a Hummer, Freeze a Yankee" . Ain't nobody happy now ...
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Geoff on June 06, 2008, 11:05:27 PM
Depressingly self explanatory, this:

Oil Prices Skyrocket, Taking Biggest Jump Ever

By JAD MOUAWAD
Published: June 7, 2008

The rise in oil prices turned into a stampede on Friday with futures jumping a staggering $11 a barrel to set a record above $138 a barrel. The unprecedented surge came as the dollar fell sharply against the euro and a senior Israeli politician once again raised the specter of an attack against Iran.

Oil prices have doubled in the last 12 months, and are up 42 percent since the beginning of the year. Oil futures surged $10.75, or 8 percent, to $138.54 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, their biggest jump since contracts began trading in 1983. The record rise brought a two-day jump of over $16 a barrel, after Thursday 5.5 percent gain.

Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeatherBoo on June 07, 2008, 12:22:32 AM
All I know is that a month ago I went online to check out prices for a trip to NYC later this summer (I am in CA), and the tickets were about $430 which is what I paid for the same tickets last year.  Ok great.  I go and check the prices and am ready to buy my ticket last week... $850!!! DOUBLE!!!!  Luckily I found some tickets after some searching for about $500 so I didn't really get hit that bad but geez!!

Gas here in the Sacramento, Ca area is well over $4.  It's really sad because you can barely afford to drive to work and then you have to pay hundreds of dollars a month just to park your stinkin car at work.

I plan on moving back downtown so that I can start taking the train to work again or hopefully I will live close enough so that I can just walk to stinkin work!!!


Sorry had to rant a little bit!!  >:(
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 07, 2008, 01:46:40 PM
^^^^That's alright.  Rant all you want.  Diesel here in Arkansas is like 4.85 a gallon and steadily going up.  What's these poor truckers gonna do???  My husband's job depends on the truckers bringing in freight to the company he works at.  
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: harihead on June 07, 2008, 04:42:02 PM
America is going to be in deep yogurt.

Heather, moving into town sounds like a great option. America is just not set up to handle high gas prices-- it's going to cost people more to commute (which nearly everyone does) than they'll make at their job. I'd say, take your option while you can! Good luck.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: madman on June 11, 2008, 12:22:57 PM
Yes, the price of gas needs to go up in order to make alternative fuels economically viable.  Why bother with solar/electric etc when oil is still way cheaper?

Alternative fuels did get some attention after the Arab oil embargo in the 70's, but once the price dropped again, the oil companies said forget it.  And they're not gonna start trying again now, either.  Why?  If the oil bubble bursts and the price crashes, most people will lose interest in hybrids and related technologies and they'll go right back to their old habits.

Alternative technologies should get more attention, but there's the minor problem of infrastructure.  You could come up with a cheap all-electric car tomorrow and mass produce it the day after that, but how will you get all that new support technology out there?

With oil, the infrastructure (pipelines, refineries, etc.) developed as demand increased, so as cars became more popular, there was an incentive to develop the necessary facililties.  Oil was "everywhere", so why not get a car?  

Now, a whole new infrastructure needs to be put in; where's it going to go?  There was a lot more open space 90 years ago than there is now.  Can it run parallel with the oil delivery system?  How will it be installed?  That's a lot of money for something that's still not being fully embraced.

We dug ourselves in this hole; hopefully we'll wise up and drag our way out, no matter how painful it is.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeatherBoo on June 11, 2008, 11:59:46 PM
Yes California is very different than let's say NYC.  Back east, everything is closer together and taking buses/trains is alot easier.  Here in California everything is so far away, you almost have to drive.  Makes it alot harder.  I saw some gas around here yesterday at $5  :D
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: madman on June 12, 2008, 07:23:01 AM
Quote from: 1204
Yes California is very different than let's say NYC.  Back east, everything is closer together and taking buses/trains is alot easier.  Here in California everything is so far away, you almost have to drive.  Makes it alot harder.  I saw some gas around here yesterday at $5  :D

Only if you live in NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, etc.  Out in the suburbs, mass transit is spotty at best.  At least where I live, anyway.  During the week you might be able get around, but on the weekend, forget it.  You'll be stranded.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeatherBoo on June 13, 2008, 01:34:56 AM
That's true madman.  I guess I didn't think about the people who don't live in the major cities.  I have family in NJ but they live very close to Newark so public transportation is an option for them.  
I live in Sacramento, which is somewhat a big city...Not compared to San Francisco but it is certainly not small.  And everything is just so far apart.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 13, 2008, 06:08:55 PM
Quote from: 1330

Only if you live in NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, etc.  Out in the suburbs, mass transit is spotty at best.  At least where I live, anyway.  During the week you might be able get around, but on the weekend, forget it.  You'll be stranded.
^^^^^Everything is far away for me, too, in Arkansas.  Alot of rural areas here and very little to none public transportation.  We do have buses that run in the city, but not out in the country.  You're on your own in getting from one place to another.  That's why I drive a Honda.

Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeatherBoo on June 13, 2008, 09:20:05 PM
We have a Honda too.  Good on gas and reliable.  Plus if something goes wrong with it, it is usually cheaper to fix.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Geoff on June 14, 2008, 11:51:15 AM
This is interesting:

Plan Would Lift Saudi Oil Output to Highest Ever
 
By JAD MOUAWAD
Published: June 14, 2008
Saudi Arabia, the world
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: madman on June 16, 2008, 01:32:35 PM
Are we really going to notice an increase that "would amount to less than 1 percent of global consumption"?  I doubt it.  It's more psychological than anything.

All OPEC wants is to keep oil a price high enough so they can make a buck (fair enough) but low enough to discourage the development of alternative fuels.  But we still need to develop other sources, since this new maximum output can't be sustained forever and will just hasten the depletion of whatever oil is left.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 16, 2008, 04:46:56 PM
Quote from: 1204
We have a Honda too.  Good on gas and reliable.  Plus if something goes wrong with it, it is usually cheaper to fix.

^^^^^This is my second Honda.........2004 Accord.  Had a 1994 Accord before that.  Great gas mileage on both of them.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeatherBoo on June 17, 2008, 01:43:33 AM
Japanese cars seem to be dependable vehicles.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 17, 2008, 02:43:10 AM
^^^^^^^^^Very dependable.  I won't drive anything BUT Japanese made.  And I'm very partial to my Hondas.  Before I had my two Hondas, I drove Ford T-Birds................."LEMONS"..............NEVER AGAIN!!!!
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Geoff on June 17, 2008, 05:04:37 AM
Quote from: 1255
Before I had my two Hondas, I drove Ford T-Birds................."LEMONS"..............NEVER AGAIN!!!!

I knew a guy in high school who had an absolute loathing for Fords: in fact, I don't recall him ever saying "Ford" without adding an obscene adjective or six; it was always "%^$#@$%!! Ford."

Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 17, 2008, 06:28:09 PM
"Ford".................."Found On Roads Dead"...............
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Geoff on June 17, 2008, 07:27:56 PM
I was going to trade my car in for one these things on the theory that hay is cheaper than gas, but apparently they come with drawbacks, too.   ;D

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/geoffw_2008/donkey.jpg)
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: alexis on June 17, 2008, 07:43:24 PM
Quote from: 1255
"Ford".................."Found On Roads Dead"...............


"Ford" ..................."Fix or Repair Daily"  :)
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: alexis on June 17, 2008, 07:44:01 PM
Quote from: 1161
I was going to trade my car in for one these things on the theory that hay is cheaper than gas, but apparently they come with drawbacks, too.   ;D

([url]http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/geoffw_2008/donkey.jpg[/url])


I guess that means you're still, umm, up in the air about that decision?  :)
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 17, 2008, 07:48:28 PM
Quote from: 568


"Ford" ..................."Fix or Repair Daily"  :)
^^^^^^You're right...........that is the other "Ford" "slogan"...........LOL!!!!!

Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Geoff on June 17, 2008, 11:42:57 PM
Quote from: 568
I guess that means you're still, umm, up in the air about that decision?  :)

Nah; I've decided: no mule. But buying a shovel and digging holes until I finally find my own oil stash somewhere has gone way up on the list of possibilities.  ;D

Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 24, 2008, 08:08:15 PM
My hubby just read on his forum boards that Branson, MO, here in the states.........you know, the place up in the Ozark Mountains that have a huge resort/entertain selection????  He heard attendance at the shows and atractions are way down this summer because of the gas prices.  So we've decided we're going up there in July for a weekend to see the "Liverpool Legends" Beatles' tribute band.  They're great!!!!  And managed by George's sister, Louise.  So, I guess there is a "silver lining" to some people during this gas crunch.  And I know what it is...............the "Blue Hairs", as I call all the very older, retired people probably won't to going to Branson because they always take chartered buses and the price of diesel is outragous!!!  And please pardon the "pun" of "Blue Hairs".............
OH.............Branson is just a three hour drive for us.............
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeatherBoo on June 27, 2008, 12:11:11 AM
Hey that cool have fun!
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 27, 2008, 01:23:11 AM
We're thinking about it.  Prices have gone down, the "Liverpool Legends" has moved to a new venue..................so we got to find out what hotels/motels are around the site.  We like to "walk" to the show and not drive half way across town.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Dmitry on June 29, 2008, 07:28:05 PM
I was always wondering about high gas prices in Russia. As you know Russia is one of the biggest exporters of oil but the prices on gas are high enough here. I just want to mention that only now after many months of price increasing in the US the price on gas in the US is equal to one in Russia.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: pc31 on June 29, 2008, 07:42:03 PM
your gas prices are high because they export your gas and probally import what you use from somewheres else....good relations are after all proper...why sell it to you when someone else will pay more else wheres?
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Jane on June 29, 2008, 08:23:24 PM
I ve been always wondering about Russia in general...
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: pc31 on June 29, 2008, 08:37:37 PM
they are weird people...hearts of gold but you cross them and your dead....no i am kidding the ones i have met are great people just like us the government gives them the sh*t end of the stick....i love dmitry...i feel i know him..he is welcome here anytime..if he gets here at 3 in the morning he can wake me up....it is the media that distorts our veiws not peoples....they have musk ox there...look at some of d's photos...he has many....
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeatherBoo on June 29, 2008, 08:50:03 PM
Gotta watch out for the Russian Mafia!  Just kidding  ;)  
I have a number of Russian friends, they are very kind and good hearted people  :)
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on June 29, 2008, 09:48:08 PM
Hey, Russian are Slovic like me............I'm 100% Polish and relate to all of that.  Us Slovic people are a "passionate" breed of people and have strong family ties.  At least that's what us down here in my little Polish community have.
And the prices of gas??????  We had a "gas war" here locally between the new Wal-Mart Super Center and the Valeo gas station.  Gas was like for regular 3.54 a gallon and dropping every time the other person dropped.  People were lined up for MILES trying to buy this cheap gas.  It only lasted from Friday A.M. 1200 to Saturday A.M. 1200.  I was not going to sit in line and wait for this crap.  I don't use that much gas anyway.......
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: Dmitry on July 01, 2008, 04:35:05 PM
We're talking about gas here, but anyway I can't be silent about situation in our country.
Can you imagine that inflation in this year is already 9%? It is as high as in 2000 when Putin became our president. He did nothing for our economic and left :( We don't have economics. We live on oil. We are at the level of Nigeria! Pity  :o Even in Nigeria inflation is lower. Poor country. Sad to admit it.
I'm afraid that some kind of economic crisis will happen soon
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: harihead on July 02, 2008, 02:56:31 PM
I think we're all in the same boat, Dmitry. Oil is a finite resource and it's starting to run out. So far nobody but France seems to be very proactive about coming up with a viable replacement. We're all going to be hurting soon. *group hug*
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on November 22, 2008, 06:05:27 PM
Well.............I wonder what's up with the gas prices here in Arkansas right now.  I just paid $1.53 a gallon to fill up the other day.............wasn't it just a few months ago we here in the US were hitting the 4 dollar mark on a gallon of gas???  What gives????  I'm not complaining........it's wonderful!!!!  But are we being set up to be bombed again by the Middle East????  Hmmmm.......
What's gas prices in your area right now???
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeyJude18 on November 22, 2008, 06:08:38 PM
Now it's about 67-69 cents/litre here, so that would be $1.97 (I'm using the google converter so it may be wrong)
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: aspinall_lover on November 22, 2008, 07:27:17 PM
I know...........that's low.  Like I said........are we being set up by someone????
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: HeatherBoo on November 22, 2008, 08:30:44 PM
Yea gas here in Sacramento can be bought for $1.99.  I thought I was seeing things....earlier this year it was like $4.50.....  not complaining but I can't help but to this something is up.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: JimmyMcCullochFan on November 22, 2008, 09:03:30 PM
Gas here is like $1.65
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: alexis on November 22, 2008, 10:49:43 PM
As I understand it, gas/petrol prices are down for two reasons:

1) Actual demand is down. Not so much driving-type of demand (thought that is down too), but industrial demand - industrial plants, construction, all the big gas/petrol using activities are way down in this worldwide economic slump.

2. Anticipated demand is down. People think that the economy will be in the pits for a long time, they anticipate that demand will be down for a long time.

When the economy improves, demand will go up, and so will the price of gas/petrol.

I heard it explained this way: What is the value of a gallon of gas to a non-industrial society? Zero. So, the worse the economy becomes, i.e., the more we approach a non-industrial society, the lower the price of gas will be.
Title: Re: Gas for us in the USA
Post by: pc31 on November 22, 2008, 10:59:38 PM
i am suspicious of the low gas prices...oil by the quart is still 3 and 4 dollars a container...i think they are going to wait and then create another crisis...then really sock it to us...