It’s the Gas Prices Stupid

CFP ^ | April 26, 2005 | K.L. Marsala

[MikeEdwards]

"Help! I can’t afford to fill my tank anymore!" This is becoming the cry of the American driver and the rising costs of fuel are distressing every facet of our economy. With prices soaring at our pumps, choosing between a gallon of petrol and a gallon of milk is fast becoming a household’s budget dilemma. When it comes to deciding whether we want to drive a gas-guzzler or buy a carton of milk- the milk will win every time. Gas just doesn’t soak up the flavor of our Coco Krispies the way milk does.

Certainly, overall, America’s gas prices are much less than those of Europe… but we’re spoiled and used to having our gas guzzling SUV’s and monster 4x4’s. The problem with the rising costs of our energy sources isn’t just about what drizzles down our auto tanks and burns carbon crap into our air- its how the pricing of energy begins to inflict pain in almost every venue of our lives.

Those big semi-trucks that deliver our groceries to our local supermarket are feeling the gasoline pinch too, this is being reflected at our stores by the daily increase of necessities and food items. The basics such as clothing, food, cooling and heating of our homes are headed for trouble. Inflation has been rising for about a year now, and as of yet we aren’t headed down the path of the 1970’s, but if action and relief aren’t administered to help deter the rising costs of fuel, we could be headed towards an ugly summer and a dreadful year. . . . .

[Argus]

Whatever, e. I just continue to be amazed that somebody takes that black gunk out of the ground and turns it into a liquid that's available on every block in the USA, where for a small fee I can pump it into my car and travel in a style that all preceding generations of humans on Earth would have considered beyond belief. I feel the same way about the electricity piped into my home for pennies a day. The technology remains miraculous to me.

[Protagoras]

What do you suggest?

[mc5cents]

Evil Big Water Co.!

Hey! I resemble that remark. I work for that Big Water Co. here in Buffalo, NY where the average water bill is $34.00 a quarter! That's $11.33 a month! 38 cents a day! Oh, the humanity.

[Niteranger68]

I was in a drug store about a month ago, and struck up a conversation with a little girl in line behind me. She asked me where I live, and I told her, "Oh, just a couple of blocks from here." She said, "Me too; it's not so bad." I asked her what she meant, and she said "the walk." She went on to explain that she and her mom walked whenever they could in order to save money on gas.

It's a cute little story, but somebody in that family needs to brush up on their math skills. Example: Let's say their car only gets 10 miles per gallon, so they walk to save money. If we figure that the average walking speed is 2 miles per hour, that means it takes 5 hours to walk 10 miles. If we also figure that gas is $2.50 per gallon, they save $0.50 per every hour they walk. Even if you walked for 8 hours straight, you would only save $4.00. Do I really need to go on?

[Don Corleone]

Your bottle of 'Evian" costs several times more per gallon than petrol. R U going to stop drinking it? How 'bout booze? It costs way more per gallon than gas. Get a life!

[Realism]

And they're going to be thirsty, so you'll need to factor in a couple bottles of water.

[KarlInOhio]

They're getting our money and the stock in their companies is at all time high which means the stockholders and bondholders are happy,

:-)

XOM up 23% since December. I wish I had bought more.

[Iron Matron]

choosing between a gallon of petrol and a gallon of milk is fast becoming a household’s budget dilemma<<<

LOL! Get the Milk. It's only a gallon, the car won't miss it. Fools.

[ArGee]

Still favor the idea of a coordinated, nationwide one-day-a-week (for starters) boycott on filling up the gas tank.

I doubt that would bother the EEEEVVVVVVIIIIILLL oil companies. But it would help achieve the goal. Reduce demand and let supply catch up a bit and the price will go down.

Shalom.

[Publius6961]

It’s the Gas Prices Stupid

Sierra Club
Friends of the Dirt
Earth First!
Endangered Species Act
Environmental Protection Act

[hermgem]

Yes, it must be Bush's fault.
After Bush asked Saudia Arabia's Abdullah to increase oil supplies, his spokesman later on the news answered:
Even if we increase oil production it would not do any good to America, since you do not have sufficient refining capacity.
With no additional oil out of Alaska, no refining capacity, dozens of different blends of gasoline to meet pollution demands accd. to the EPA, who is it that wins?
These tax exempt Greens by justifying their lucrative jobs besides providing firm guidance to the Democratic party.
As a side effect: Once the economy slows down, less people work causing less pollution.
Who says there is no tomorrow for being against.
It's Nirvana for Democrats.

[Iron Matron]

Oil companies are laughing all the way to the bank<<

No they're not. Local and Federal Taxing agencies are. BTW, Big Oil is not responsible for charges at the refinery.

If anyone wants to make comments about the Gas/Oil Industry, they should at least bother to LEARN SOMETHING about it!

[Mac94]

Ding ding ding ding!!!

[Publius6961]

They were building a larger plant near some Turkey processing plant to turn the waste turkey into oil using the process. Anyone know what happened to that business venture?

Yeah.
The turkeys who used to have to pay to process and get rid of their waste decided to start charging for the waste and raised the cost of the resulting fuel to higher than oil.

I guess if OPEC and the other opportunists can do it...

[Realism]

Oil companies are laughing all the way to the bank<< No they're not. Local and Federal Taxing agencies are. BTW, Big Oil is not responsible for charges at the refinery.

Well, how much IS a barrel of crude going for now days? not so long ago it was $25-$30.

[Iron Matron]

Well, how much IS a barrel of crude going for now days? not so long ago it was $25-$30.>>><<<

Still holding at $50.00+. But, a barrell of crude is NOT a barrell of Gasoline. (ie. REFINED PRODUCT).

Taxes, envoronmental costs and refining is what makes it high for the consumer.

A barrell of oil has 42 Gallons of crude, unrefined product. Divide 42 by 50, tell me where the price at the pump comes from?

If you said taxes and refining, you would be right.

[OpusatFR]

Ummmm....I'm being facetious. The left wants a nation of Mao-dressers and now they scream when they have to walk instead of drive.

I live a very simple life, (when not visiting family in the Hamptons), out of a personal choice. I don't expect others to live as I do. The left expects everyone minus the democrat leadership and all readers of the LA, WAPO, and NYT to live like hermits.

[CGTRWK]

At the risk of sounding like a conservative, who decides what is "frivolous?"

Let consumer gas prices reflect the real costs including state department policy and the increased demand costs towards basic infrastructure and I would expect people to decide for themselves what frivolous is pretty quickly.

[Tallguy]

Oil companies are laughing all the way to the bank.

How do you figure? It's the raw material, crude oil, that is escalating in price. Who gets that money? Hint: It ain't the oil company.

I'm not stupid enough to think that with rising gas prices at the pump that the oil companies might not keep a penny or 2 for themselves. Who wouldn't. But to blame them for the core problem is just, well, ignorant.

[stylin19a]

hey...what is "evian" spelled backwards ?