Gas prices on the rise!

[safetyobc]

Man, I just heard on the news that gas prices are going to be a national average of $2.15/gallon for regular unleaded. I don't know how much longer us working people will be driving cars vs. riding bikes to work. It is crazy how they just keep raising the price, making more and more profit.

If all of those truckers (ALL OF THEM) would stop for 1 day, just 1, protesting the gas prices, they would have a whole new outlook on those prices.

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by safetyobc

Man, I just heard on the news that gas prices are going to be a national average of $2.15/gallon for regular unleaded. I don't know how much longer us working people will be driving cars vs. riding bikes to work. It is crazy how they just keep raising the price, making more and more profit.

If all of those truckers (ALL OF THEM) would stop for 1 day, just 1, protesting the gas prices, they would have a whole new outlook on those prices.

It's the free market.

Love it ir leave it!

Ask yourself a few questions:
"When was the last time you made a decision NOT to drive due to fuel costs?"

"What car did you buy, could you have bought a smaller more efficiant one (even if it was not as convienent or comfortable)?"

Most of the world pay much more than we do.

I don't like paying it either, but even at $4 to $6 a gallon, there is no fuel as CHEAP as gas and oil!

[RolnCode3]

Originally Posted by safetyobc

If all of those truckers (ALL OF THEM) would stop for 1 day, just 1, protesting the gas prices, they would have a whole new outlook on those prices.

But if all those truckers protested and didn't deliver all of those goods that we all buy, do you know how much we'd pay for everything else? The costs of everything from food to toilet paper would go up, and the little you (possibly) might save in gas would be destroyed everywhere else.

[DonS]

Originally Posted by safetyobc

If all of those truckers (ALL OF THEM) would stop for 1 day, just 1, protesting the gas prices, they would have a whole new outlook on those prices.

Why would "truckers" care about gas prices? The prices of gasoline and diesel fuel don't track each other that closely (except for where they mirror rises in crude oil prices - and those increases are generally outside the control of the big oil companies - blame OPEC). Diesel and gasoline have completely different markets, markets that are impacted by different seasonal changes.

For example, gasoline prices tend to rise in the spring/summer, partly due to more people driving on vacations. However, diesel prices fall during the summer, mostly because the decreased demand for heating oil puts less pressure on the diesel market. Diesel rises in the fall and winter - heating oil and harvesting are a couple of major reasons.

It's all about supply, demand, and the prices people are willing to pay. The oil companies can charge $2 per gallon because people will pay $2 per gallon.

[nmfire10]

Oh here we go with another "don't buy gas for 1 day" BS theory. That is the biggest line of crap ever created out of an e-mail chain letter. I don't know what's dumber, the thought of it actually having any effect, or the fact that people continue to spread the non-sense.

People complain complain complain, call it a travesty, and then go put 40 gallons into their car. If you don't want to buy gas, no one is holding a gun to your head, drive something else.

[AZScanner]

OK N_Jay, I'll play...

Originally Posted by N_Jay

It's the free market.

Love it ir leave it!

Ask yourself a few questions:
"When was the last time you made a decision NOT to drive due to fuel costs?"

Usually every other day (otherwise known as a carpool). I pay 1/2 the gas I would pay if I drove myself to work each day.

Originally Posted by N_Jay

"What car did you buy, could you have bought a smaller more efficiant one (even if it was not as convienent or comfortable)?"

I used to own a 1995 Caprice Classic retired police car. Loved that car. Roomy, fast, comfy... but EXPENSIVE to fill up! I sold that car and bought a 4 cylinder ranger pickup that I hate. Why? Gas prices. It was an outrageous $1.80 a gallon back then. Now it's $2.00+. Has been for over a year now. I rarely see it below $1.90 these days.

Originally Posted by N_Jay

Most of the world pay much more than we do.

I don't like paying it either, but even at $4 to $6 a gallon, there is no fuel as CHEAP as gas and oil!

Now that IS true - Europeans and folks in Japan and Hong Kong would LOVE to pay ONLY $2.00 a gallon (they pay $5-6) but what I have a problem with is OPEC jacking up the price immediately, whenever they find an excuse to, then they slowly lower it back down to a normal level pocketing all the extra money that brings in in the process. That is GREED! And they know they can get away with it, because without crude oil, the world economy will literally grind to a halt. It's greed and extortion, and there's damn little we as consumers can do about it other than find an alternative for our own use, such as electric power, CNG or propane. Converting will lower the price we as individuals pay for transportation, but gas prices will still effect the price of everything else we buy.

-AZ

[Dubbin]

I sure am glad that I don't have to pay for my gas. Company cars (truck in my case) rule!!! Plus I get to use it for all of my personal driving

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by AZScanner

OK N_Jay, I'll play...
-AZ

Well AZ, you are the exception.

But, did you realy NEED that pick-up, you could have got a another 10 MPG out of a realy timy car.

Most people have not changed their habbits much from $0.27 up to $2.00

When fuel gets to near its true value you will the average person making some changes.

[DonS]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

When fuel gets to near its true value you will the average person making some changes.

Just like everything else in a capitalist society, its true value is whatever people will pay for it. If the price increases to a point where people decrease their consumption significantly, enough that it affects the suppliers' profits, then the price has exceeded the value.

BTW - I hope we're not basing "true value" on prices in places like Europe. Their prices are artificially inflated by taxation.

(We should also keep in mind the fact that gasoline is still much cheaper than it was in 1981, after adjusting for inflation. There's a table of prices here, with a link to a DOE Excel spreadsheet at the bottom. According to the DOE's data, we pay less now than in 1919.)

[TXFirefighter112]

Simple solution to the problem:

Nuke the hippies, drill in Alaska.

Is it just me or is everything the left does aimed at destroying this country? From demoralizing troops to making us depend on the rest of the world for everything (just 50 years ago the rest of the world depended on us for everything).

[DonS]

Originally Posted by TXFirefighter112

Simple solution to the problem:

Nuke the hippies, drill in Alaska.

Forget that. Learn from the dogs: you don't s**t where you sleep.

Instead, just annex certain other parts of the world (those that can't seem to take care of themselves).

(Oh - and we don't nuke the hippies. According to my favorite bumper sticker of all time, we nuke the gay whales for Jesus.)

-Don (feet planted firmly to the right)

[TXFirefighter112]

you don't s**t where you sleep.

Wouldnt that be "dont sleep where you sh*t?"

[DonS]

Originally Posted by TXFirefighter112

Wouldnt that be "dont sleep where you sh*t?"

I suppose it depends on which action/location you choose first.

[AZScanner]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

But, did you realy NEED that pick-up, you could have got a another 10 MPG out of a realy timy car.

With 2 kids, a dog, plus moving from one rental to another, yes, a truck was needed, and a tiny car as a primary vehicle just isn't an option. I am in the market for a second vehicle now though, and have my eye on something like a metro, or a civic for that (they also make nice donors for conversion to EV, but I digress...)

-AZ

[unitcharlie]

amen!

[AEMTKieran]

We go through this panic every year...just before spring/summer when the oil companies realize everyone is going to pack into their cars and take off places, and in fall/winter when they realize everyone is scrambling for heating oil.

There is no oil shortage...it's, as stated before, free market. They know when to hit us in the wallet, and we haven't got much choice...

[milf]

MY turnnnnnn!


Trucking Corporations DO cre very much about fuel prices and YES the diesel and regular gas prices DO coincide...

When one goes up.. the other does too.

Do your homework!

The last time prices went roofward- Trucking firms passed the price oon to you the consumer by raising the rates they charge to ship.

Private Truckers get hurt by the price increases.... I know... I have 2 in my family.
And 2 that roll for a private company. One is a rock hauler, the other hauls anything and everything. When the company has to pay more for fuel... they will raise shipping rates if there is no relief over the short term.

[colheli]

I normally like the government to keep their noses (and hands) out of the business world. But, does anyone know what actually causes the prices of gas to fluctuate? It has very little to do with the price of crude oil, or the time of the year even. (Although there is statistical analysis that says gas prices peak during certain months, there are other factors at work) The US only refines gasoline for so many months a year. Let's say it is 4 months: The oil companies estimate how many gallons of gasoline they will need for the next year, and then they refine that amount. Once they reach that magic number, they start refining crude oil into diesel and kerosene. Same thing: once they hit the magic number, they stop. Then, they start refining crude into avgas and JP. Once they hit that magic number, they stop. So, here is what happens: Let's say that they refine gasoline from January to May, then kerosene, heating oil, and deisel from May to August. Then, from August to November, they refine avgas and JP. They take the month of December off. So, back in January, they estimated that they would need 1.5 million gallons of gas, to get through the year. Come October, consumption is ahead of what they expected. Do they make more? Hell no.........there is only so much gasoline left, and the "value" of each gallon is going up exponentially, with the consumption. If they were to leave just one refinery working on gasoline all year long, they could adjust output for demand, and keep the price stable. Here is the real catch, though: what incentive do the oil companies have, to way overproduce gasoline during those four months? If they just barely make enough to get by, then they can jack the prices up, as the supply dwindles. They have a good racket going, and no lawmaker is going to challenge them on it.

[astrodanco]

Originally Posted by safetyobc

Man, I just heard on the news that gas prices are going to be a national average of $2.15/gallon for regular unleaded.

Where the heck are y'all located with such cheap gas prices? Texas? DC? I can't find gas for less than $2.18 a gallon here in San Diego right now. I'm told it'll be $2.50 a gallon soon. (Free market my ass. Captive market is more like it.)

[milf]

Come to MS.... then go to any Wal Mart Supercenter- Get the shopping card.. get 3 cents off every gallon of gas when you use the card to buy it. Currently- Brookhaven, MS Wallyworld- base- $1.78 a gallon.... will be rising.... BUT whatever the price- Shopping Card= 3 Cents off each gallon!