Can’t be pimpin’ in no Smart car.
Part of the reason for high oil prices now seems to be the failure of global warming to produce. People are using petroleum products to heat their houses.
Global warming has been a real disappointment here in Illinois this year.
And the recent highs have nothing to do with the weak dollar either. My Tahoe did it all by itself.
Could it be that the continuous purchasing of oil to be placed in our national emergency reserves is sustaining a high demand?
Could it be that continuous and expanded military operations are taking oil away from the civilian market?
Or, could it be that supply and demand have nothing to do with current prices and that they are controlled and contrived by speculators with the government's blessings???
One of the few things I miss about formerly living in SE Wisconsin.
I say we make eco-nuts and liberals FEEL PAIN for getting us here.
Was thinking about this this morning. If a politician wanted to score a bunch of points with a bunch of different groups, all they’d have to do is propose stripping off a bunch of the taxes on diesel.
1. This would likely make it more reasonable for people to buy diesel vehicles
2. This would reduce the pain for farmers and truckers, making it easier to put food on their families’ tables
3. This would reduce the cost of food transport, making it easier for everyone else to put food on their tables.
4. This would put another stake in the heart of the ethanol boondoggle, dropping the price of food as we stop burning it
5. This would revitalize biodiesel/alternative diesel (think coal gasification) research, since the lower cost will spur demand (reducing our dependence on foreign sources of petroleum)
6. The (now) more cost-effectiveness of diesel would put more companies to building diesel vehicles, which (if you’re into that kind of thing) would reduce the impact on the environment, and also would put more people to work
7. Would, as a corollary to the reduced pain on truckers, enable more people to remain or go back into business as independent owner-operators, thus improving the employment situation
8. Would reduce the amount of money available for the government to waste on boondoggle road projects like the Big Dig, thus (theoretically; we are talking about politicians here) forcing them to make more cost-effective decisions on projects.
There are probably more reasons to do this, but I don’t see a downside. I mean really, $3.50 for a gallon of diesel is just stupid.
IMHO $3/gal isn’t enough to impact things much - which surprises me because I was sure it would.
I don’t see ANY reduction in traffic congestion or freeway speeds.
It may take $5/gal to do it.
My little 35+ mpg Saturn looks better every day.
The SUV is gonna get a lot of garage time this year I’m afraid.
$4 per gallon gasoline is a liberal wet dream.
It will only happen if we attack Iran.
No kidding. Every time I see a giant SUV and the person in it/owns it whining about gas I just laugh. It's one thing if you got 4 kids and a full house to have a big SUV but most of the people around here that have them are single or married with no kids and just had it as a status symbol.
Some advice, if you want an SUV, get something like the Hyundai Sante Fe. It gets ~25 mpg highway, comes with a 100k mile warranty, and isn't very expensive.
Might?
It’s been predicted. It’s a given.
See, the *experts* were right again....
How about ONE Dollar per day in fuel cost?
Get a Zap yhey are just right for most people around town driving.
Monopoly prices for a monopoly product paid for by deflated dollars.
>>”The bottom line is the consumer is going to pay it,” Bradley said. “My tires, clothing, everything is going to be higher.”<<
Well, I start the bike commuting season soon, and we have a large garden now. Clothing can last quite a while.
I am not calling for a boycott, but my specific family has already started a multi-phase plan for rolling back spending. And it is not so much about money as about principle.
It started with combining trips and avoiding unnecessary trips. My wife is even getting a basket for her bike to pedal to our local produce/meat market a little over a mile away.
So far it is actually quite staggering how much we are saving - and improving our lifestyle to boot!
The overall impact on my family is actually positive, even though we DO pay more for gas. When we use it, that is...
There are two possible routes out of the housing/credit crisis:
1. 1930’s style depression, or worse.
2. Hyper-inflation, effectively monetizing everyones debt.
Some in high places seem to be pushing for the latter. We will see if it is within their power.
I feel like I am living in a movie.
Glad I got my Honda Fit last year, went from 24mpg station wagon to 36-40mpg in the Honda. Little car has lots of room for a small car. So far my favorite car I’ve ever bought.