Savage Beatings Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 NOT A POLITICAL THREAD. JUST DAILY LIVING AND ECONOMICS. HEH HEH HEH. So the price of a gallon of gas is going up. It's literally ruining the livlihood of many people, seriously hurting others, and at least annoying everyone. 1) What do you believe is the chief reason for the spike in pricing over the last year or two? 2) What do you believe is the best way for us to act in order to bring down the price of fuel (if that is possible)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheShiznit Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 NOT A POLITICAL THREAD. JUST DAILY LIVING AND ECONOMICS. HEH HEH HEH. So the price of a gallon of gas is going up. It's literally ruining the livlihood of many people, seriously hurting others, and at least annoying everyone. 1) What do you believe is the chief reason for the spike in pricing over the last year or two? 2) What do you believe is the best way for us to act in order to bring down the price of fuel (if that is possible)? Walk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controller Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I'm gonna guess that the chief reason is the weakness of the U.S. dollar. And the weak dollar is a direct result of us spending $$$ we don't have - i.e. printing money. Oil is hitting all-time highs versus the US dollar, but is it also at all time highs versus other currencies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 1) Multiple factors. Rising demand (China and India), instability in the Middle East (fear), artificial supply tampering (OPEC), and speculators in futures markets making a killing. 2) Probably not possible. We need to somehow develop a better Middle East foreign policy to set peoples minds at ease (not an easy thing at all). We need to explore oil options here at home not as a fix for prices but for national security longer term interests. We need heavy investment in alternative energy research. We need some conservation from those that can and in ways that are economically feasible. Don't trade in the SUV and lay out a ton of cash on a Prius. Rather telecommute if you can one or two days a week if possible for example. Longer term we need more fuel efficient vehicles. We need Detroit to lead again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I'm gonna guess that the chief reason is the weakness of the U.S. dollar. And the weak dollar is a direct result of us spending $$$ we don't have - i.e. printing money. Oil is hitting all-time highs versus the US dollar, but is it also at all time highs versus other currencies? Yeah, forgot that one. Big big influence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo mama Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Price drops are all but impossible, unless global demand settles down. That is unlikely to happen, however, if countries like China continue to subsidize gas prices for their citizens. Expensive gas is here to stay. The only solution is to adapt our lifestyles in order to use less of it. In the short term there isn't much you can do, except drive less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 Price drops are all but impossible, unless global demand settles down. That is unlikely to happen, however, if countries like China continue to subsidize gas prices for their citizens. Expensive gas is here to stay. The only solution is to adapt our lifestyles in order to use less of it. In the short term there isn't much you can do, except drive less. What about businesses that are bulit upon transportation. Taxis, Freight Haulers, Garbage Trucks, etc.? Is their only alternative to pass along their additional costs to the consumers? Many smaller companies will get squeezed out if they try to do that. It just sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H8tank Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Price drops are all but impossible, How can you say that with a straight face? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 How can you say that with a straight face? Care to enlighten us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo mama Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 (edited) What about businesses that are bulit upon transportation. Taxis, Freight Haulers, Garbage Trucks, etc.? Is their only alternative to pass along their additional costs to the consumers? Many smaller companies will get squeezed out if they try to do that. It just sucks. Many municipal vehicles (buses, trucks, etc) run on natural gas. Its a cheaper, cleaner burning alternative fuel, and one we've got a lot of domestically. I'm not saying its a panacea, but it illustrates the point that NOT using gasoline is a viable option that people/business should be exploring. Sitting around and waiting for gas to be cheap again is a suckers move. There honestly isn't much to do about the short-term pain. The country (government, citizens, and businesses) need take a long-term approach to this issue. Nobody likes to hear that, but its the only honest answer there is to give. Do you think China is going to stop growing anytime soon? India? Do we really believe more oil is going to magically appear underneath the earth's crust? There are certain factors that could certainly help out, like stability in the middle east. But even if the US halts the war in Iraq and was magically gone tomorrow that place is going to be a mess for a long time; it always has been. We've benefited from low-cost gas for decades, relative to other developed countries. Those days are over. We can sit around and lament about those days, like a Detroit auto worker wondering where the hell his job went. Or we can rise to the challenge and reinvent how we consume and produce energy. It just might take a couple decades. Edited June 10, 2008 by yo mama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo mama Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 (edited) How can you say that with a straight face? I'll buy you and your ol' lady a steak dinner (two drink maximum) if regular 87 octane stays under $3 a gallon (California prices) for 30 consecutive days at any time in the future, assuming regular market forces determine that price (i.e., no gas tax holidays, government subsidies, etc). If I'm right, well, that will be its own reward. Edited June 10, 2008 by yo mama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H8tank Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I think we will see the prices ease after the summer, that is my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I think we will see the prices ease after the summer, that is my opinion. Ease as in after it rises to $5/gallon it will go back down to $3.75? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo mama Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I think we will see the prices ease after the summer, that is my opinion. I hope you're right. It'd be cheaper to buy you dinner than to keep filling up at current prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 NOT A POLITICAL THREAD. JUST DAILY LIVING AND ECONOMICS. HEH HEH HEH. So the price of a gallon of gas is going up. It's literally ruining the livlihood of many people, seriously hurting others, and at least annoying everyone. 1) What do you believe is the chief reason for the spike in pricing over the last year or two? 2) What do you believe is the best way for us to act in order to bring down the price of fuel (if that is possible)? 1) Weak dollar. Increased demand. Speculators. 2) Improve the value of the dollar. Decrease demand by using this time to develop alternative fuel solutions. Vote democrat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Step one would be to end tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy development. That's a step in the right direction for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Step one would be to end tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy development. That's a step in the right direction for sure. Eh? How so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Jack Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 I am one leftist who is a big fan of drilling domestically. Whatever damage we might cause the enviroment - we could make up for by starving the islamofacists whose wallets we are making fat. That would save money on the war or at least help shorten it. Domestic drilling would created jobs and the lower prices would help the economy. We should keep on researching on all fronts while this is going on - including bettering existing technologies like coal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 My personal contribution to the high cost of gas is to drive 55 mph on the interstate highways of our great nation. if I remember correctly at one time that was the law. Why not again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Up here tourism is way down. I mean way down. Speculators and the falling dollar are a large part of this problem in my opinion. There really isn't a shortage of supply in my opinion. I too drive 55 and get about 35 MPH in my small truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 My personal contribution to the high cost of gas is to drive 55 mph on the interstate highways of our great nation. if I remember correctly at one time that was the law. Why not again. I too drive 55 and get about 35 MPH in my small truck. I'm as green as they come, but lets not get crazy here. I'll pay 10K to convert my car to electric as long as I can still drive 90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Good luck with that considering all the people driving 60mph in the passing lane Colorado is a drivers paradise compared to CT/MA/RI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotgun Messiahs Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 I was about to leave work Monday and saw the ice cream truck driving buy. An ice cream sandwich was $2.50. I thought I was at a Cowboys game paying that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Wow. Its easy. Bush is an idiot. He's from Texas. His dad is the man with power. Figure it out. Besides that...those little bumbs outside of Targets and Walmarts really piss me off. I feel like my dentures are gonna vibrate out my teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Wow. Its easy. Bush is an idiot. He's from Texas. His dad is the man with power. Figure it out. Besides that...those little bumbs outside of Targets and Walmarts really piss me off. I feel like my dentures are gonna vibrate out my teeth. You mean bumps? We don't have them or one way streets up here, but I hate them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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