Posted on 04/30/2008 7:19:14 PM PDT by Charles Bronson Forever
Absolutely, but very tough times are ahead. Really, how the hell are we gonna get out of this mess unless we drill and refine at home? When is Washington going to do something? Easy. When WE do something about it.
One factor to consider is that business, and consumers, can adjust somewhat to the higher energy prices. We spent a lot of money retrofitting our office buildings to save on energy and that has really paid off. I notice the food service companies no longer deliver food exclusively by semi rigs and use smaller vehicles instead.
Yes
Will life change appreciably?
For some, yes. For others, not so much. It depends on your level of income.
Will economic/lifestyle changes occur?
For many, yes, as they come to the realization that they can no longer frivolously afford to jump in the car and drive to the store for a gallon of milk or a pack of cigs. People will start mentally calculating how much a trip from point a to point b will cost in gas. Unnecessary trips to the store or to play will start being reduced &/or eliminated. Folks will start thinking more about how to accomplish multiple things in one car trip to town or while on their way to and from work.
I know people blast the Prius (and other hybrids), but it is very nice to not have to put much money into gas right now.
The impact of rising gas prices has just not impacted the Prius very much.
Now, my mini-van is another story. I’m now spending $70 every time I fill up, and I fill up about once a week at least.
If gas prices go up, then you will see a savings on a Prius.
Now, they are making hybrid SUVs. There is a Toyota mini-van in Japan, but they haven’t started selling it here.
Hybrids are also very nice to drive. They are much quieter than normal cars because the gas motor shuts down at low speeds and stop lights. They also seem smoother to me.
I did some substitute teaching last year. It just wasn’t worth it after taxes.
If I went back to work full-time in my career (software engineering), it would be worth it. However, I don’t think my kids and hubby (or me) could handle me working full time.
Instead of working part-time, I think I could make more money by trying to figure out how to cut some of our expenses.
We obviously linking to different info. My links say up to a few hundred billion barrels.
And mine is the geological survey that your link was referring to that was about to be performed on the site. A lot of the oil that was estimated is not recoverable.
http://www.nd.gov/ndic/ic-press/bakken-form-06.pdf
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?ID=42081
http://geology.rockbandit.net/2008/04/03/bakken-formation-could-boost-oil-reserves/
The last one hates the concept of finding oil. LOL.
BTW, I do not trust the USGS one little bit on this. Hired way too many stumpies over the years.
Well one thing for sure is that every time people predict production they are grossly wrong.
BTW, while every body ‘cept me is complaining about prices I still think it is not too expensive. I just drove up US 41 and it was packed. How many of those trips are necesary. 80% 90% 70%. How many are joyrides or due to bad planning 20% 10% 30%?
Are they all driving new Caddies?
When I see traffic down 20-30% I will believe prices are too high. Meanwhile we need to drill. Even 5 million additional domestic production is a huge impact on prices and exports of petro dollars. We need to get all we can and let price seek its natural level.
BTW, while every body ‘cept me is complaining about prices I still think it is not too expensive. I just drove up US 41 and it was packed. How many of those trips are necesary. 80% 90% 70%. How many are joyrides or due to bad planning 20% 10% 30%?
Are they all driving new Caddies?
When I see traffic down 20-30% I will believe prices are too high. Meanwhile we need to drill. Even 5 million additional domestic production is a huge impact on prices and exports of petro dollars. We need to get all we can and let price seek its natural level.
You’ll love this. I was reading another forum and a poster said President Bush has taken away his right to cheap food and gas. This is the insane crap that is going to send this country into chaos.
“Us regular folk still have to drive to work regardless of the price.”
But clearly that is not what is happening. People with less than caddies are all over the place.
And by “we,” I mean current drivers. Not me personally. I am not borrowing to pay for fuel. I’m just not buying much else.
IMO, the push to remove import tariffs and export US manufacturing to Asia was an effort to improve the bottom line for US companies using cheap labor.
Now because of planned legislation to force banks to lend to unqualified and / or illegal alien borrowers for mortgages, the adjustable rate mortgages, the US is on the way down in its standard of living because of the devaluation of the dollar.
Factor in federally sponsored open borders for an illegal alien invasion to keep domestic labor wages low too.
This my FRiend is all part of the NWO as ID theft is rampant and the US taxpayer in NC is spending on average 700 million a year for the freebies the illegals get.
It is a conspired plan of attack on the middle class here and capitalism.
Follow the money.
Now, US citizens are seeing hyperinflation in the 3 things we use every day...energy, food, and medical care.
Of course there are those that will disagree, but a recession is coming like we've haven't seen since the end of WWII. Watch. It will be global too.
PS....Our taxes will go up and average of 8-9% at all levels after the Nov. election effective 2nd qtr 2009 with blue collar wages remaining stagnant.
“I’ll explain again. Lower income people are still on the road because they have to be.”
This is simply not true. We have bars that “low income” people hang out after work and they are packed. Are these on a direct line from home to work. NO.
I see people driving in “low-income” cars all day long. People complain about price of gas while buying cigarettes!!!
I really do not care what people spend their money on, but to think that there is still a lot discretionary driving and spending by ALL segments of the economy and to think otherwise is frankly just not accurate.
American’s will survive it.. the hyperwealthy investnment bankers and their servants in congress who are behind the mess very likely will not.
“American’s will survive it.. the hyperwealthy investnment bankers and their servants in congress who are behind the mess very likely will not.”
What a shock..I never knew that congress set the price of crude oil for OPEC...I never knew that Chavez was a member of congress...how about that....
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