Way OT: Gas Prices

[trekgeezer]

I paid $2.84 yesterday, they claim that we will all have to get used to $3.00 a gallon gas. I know all the folks outside the U.S. have very little pity for us, but a lot of people make their livings driving in this country, so it eventually affects everything.

How much are you paying right now?

[odinn7]

$2.89 for regular in NE Pennsylvania. There's nothing they can do about the prices yet they're turning in record profits...still trying to figure that one out. I drive 35 miles each way to and from work, 5 days a week...it aint easy.

[trekgeezer]

My wife and I each drive a little over 30 miles to work because we work different hours. I will probably be forced by this to change back to a regular 8:00-4:30 schedule. I work 6:30-3:00 now and it's really works for us because I can go home workout, do some chores, and cook dinner. If we have to ride together we'll be getting home about 6:00 or after.  It will really turn our lives upside down.


I also find it suspicious that they give all the reasons for the price going up, but when the oil exec's were called up to the Capitol last year suddenly the prices started dropping. Sounds like some political deal making going on to me.

We really need to find a way to get out from under this dependence on oil. They basically have us by the short rabbits (if you know what I mean).

[Ash]

Trek...you & I must be psychically linked.

I was going to write a "Gas Prices" thread earlier but started doing something else and forgot about it.

I drive a silver 1991 Geo Prizm and it gets awesome gas mileage!
I'd bet that I get around 20-25 mpg in town and a bit more on the highway.
I can put $10 in my tank and drive for almost 2 weeks. (yes, at the current price)
I'm referring to in-town driving...I rarely drive on the highway.

If I fill it up, I can drive for nearly 3 and a half weeks and that includes going back & forth to work and around town to shops and whatnot.

So to me, $2.75-$3.00 a gallon doesn't bother me in the least.

It boils down to two things:
1) I own an economical vehicle
2) My workplace is about 3 miles away from my home

The current fuel prices are not putting a dent in my $$.

[Scott]

With the price of oil going up again. This could effect the price of my $1 DVD's.

The crazy thing is that after going into Iraq we (the U.S.) have this weird idea of giving Iraq a new goverment instead of keeping the land for ourselves. This makes no sense to me. Oh well.

Maybe there is a new energy source about to be revealed. Kinda doubt it when you consider who's making the profits and decisions in the world.

[ulthar]

There's nothing they can do about the prices yet they're turning in record profits...still trying to figure that one out.

There's that, and there is also the taxes.  Between federal and state taxes, I've read almost 1/2 the cost of a gallon of gas is going to the government.  I mean, you guys in more populated states have to help pay for all the good old 4 lane roads here in South Carolina that go nowhere, right?

[daveblackeye15]

All of my classes start early in the morning so I have to drive to school every day of the week. If only they started later and then I could take the bus.

[raj]

Regarding taxes, it's not that half the cost of a gallon goes to taxes, it is that the oil companies profits are less than the government taxes.  I read somewhere that oil companies only make about 9 cents on each gallon.  That is, net profit.
The big issues are that India & China are booming and are taking up greater amounts of oil (that's why China doesn't want sanctions on its new trading buddy Iran), there is instability in Iraq (c'mon guys, form a freaking government already), Iran is a big question mark, Venezuela is iffy thanks to the nutjob Chavez, and the gulf coast still hasn't recovered from the hurricanes.

Still, with all that, if you adjust for inflation, we are only paying what we paid in 1980:
http://www.randomuseless.info/gasprice/gasprice.html
Plus there are at least 25 different formulations of gasoline in the US, for various local clean air requirements.  And there hasn't been a new refinery built in the US for about 30 years -- there are too many regulatory hoops to go through.
All in all, a big mess.  The perfect time to go and invest in energy companies.

[ulthar]

You make some excellent points.

Plus there are at least 25 different formulations of gasoline in the US, for various local clean air requirements.

I've heard that number is higher - more like 60 formulations, so that there are multiple ones for numerous states and they vary for different times of year.  In essence, the refineries all constantly have to 're-tool' to deliver specific products, rather than just cranking out 'gasoline' whereever it goes.  Thank-you EPA.

And there hasn't been a new refinery built in the US for about 30 years -- there are too many regulatory hoops to go through.

Interestingly, I was just reading the other day that one of the founders of Greenpeace has announced that he now regrets ever opposing nucular power.  He admits that by opposing the building of nuclear power plants for 30 years, not only has the nation been deprived of a very good power source but also technological developments have been delayed for 30 years.

Nice to see yet more evidence that all this insane over-regulation only hurts the economy and, by extension, us as individuals.

[Scott]

I'm not big on the global warming/cooling thing as I've seen a few reports on how Volcanos cause more pollution that humans and such, but I did watch PBS last night about "Global Dimming" which was interesting. Scientist have been measuring water evaporation for decades for farming purposes and they are saying that water evaporation has decreased by 10% around the world due to "global dimming". They proved their point after 911 when all the jets where grounded for 3 days and the skies became brighter. They showed satilite images of chemtrails that are currently not allowing as much sunlight to reach the earth by reflecting it away from the planet causing lack of evaporation on the planet. This is what supposedly caused drought and death in Africa over recent years as the monsoon season hasn't reached the desert regions of Africa for a few decades now. They say if India and China's monsoon seasons change course then they will experience what Africa has.

The idea that we don't get as much sunlight as 30 years ago is troublesome to me. We are putting a lot of "dust" in the air.

[odinn7]

Ash- You say the gas prices dont affect you...The cost of gas has an effect of everything from food to entertainment.


Also, the points about China, refineries, etc...all well and good but I'd still like to know if the cost needs to go up because of all this, how are the companies reporting record profits? Something is not right and nobody that matters gives a flying f**k because they are all cashing in on it too.

[Ash]

odinn7 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ash- You say the gas prices dont affect you...The
> cost of gas has an effect of everything from food
> to entertainment.

Well if it does, I ain't seeing it.
I live in Iowa.  
Iowa produces HUGE amounts of food for the rest of the U.S.
I benefit directly from that.

Going to the grocery store here is relatively cheap to begin with and if you're a thrifty fellow like me...you can pay even less.
I eat well and probably spend around $100-$175 a month on grub.
Add to that about $20-$25 a month for petrol for my land transport.
Also add $245 a month for rent.  
I don't have to worry about utilities...they are all paid as part of my rental agreement.

I have no dependent children and no wife to buy s**t for.
I average anywhere from $1000 to $1,100 per month in income.
(paltry..I know)

So yeah, I reiterate the fact that $2.75-$3.00 a gallon for gas does not even put the slightest dent in my pocketbook.

[Just Plain Horse]

trek_geezer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> I also find it suspicious that they give all the
> reasons for the price going up, but when the oil
> exec's were called up to the Capitol last year
> suddenly the prices started dropping. Sounds like
> some political deal making going on to me.
>
> We really need to find a way to get out from under
> this dependence on oil. They basically have us by
> the short rabbits (if you know what I mean).


I feel for all of you, but I myself don't use a car. Haven't for about five years. I miss the luxury sometimes, but not the insurance, maintienace or the cost of gas... or the other godawful drivers that seemed to have tripled in numbers. Join with me now in saying the oil companies can kiss my ass!

[LH-C]

I'm really glad currently that I not only don't drive, but that I have a special student transit pass that was made available to students in our community college district. Because even our transit rates have gone up significantly because of the gas prices.

[raj]

Re:  global dimming, part of China's problem is that they've deforested a lot of their west, so now there are huge dust storms that reach all the way to Beijing.

One more thing to worry about is that the earth's magnetic field has decreased by about 10% over the last century.  It has been unusually stable over the last few millenia, not flipping on its usual cycle.  If'when it does flip, it will "power down" first, exposing us to lots of solar radiation, and then apparently the reveresed poles will play havoc with all our electronic gizmos.
We're doomed, doomed I tell ya.  Doooooomed.