price of gas

[jfost]

Money = power. Why this would surprise anybody I'm not sure...

yep really, I went way out on a limb with this one!!! "Golden" rule is as old as time...

[Pura Vida]

Good luck with that. Oil Companies love and thank Al Gore

[IridePow]

.... hurt the lower income classes by taking away independence....

Cry me a river!

If your independence is driving around a big gas guzzling SUV, than I feel very sorry for you!

[4matic]

There hasn't been a new refinery built in 35 years or something? It's NIMBY syndrome just like Nukular power. My opinion is build refineries and nukes on former military bases.

[Trackhead]

isn't that the supersized american way?

Yup, big trucks, big macs, and big guts.

[LFantTitties]

Gas prices are not high because the oil companies are trying to gouge you. Gas prices are high because fossil fuel is a non-renewable resource and we are reaching peak production (the point at which the most possible oil is coming out of the ground/produced per time) while demand continues to rise. In fact, oil companies would love to keep prices lower, it keeps alternative technologies from gaining ground on petroleum technology. At low prices, gas outcompetes all other transportation technologies, making them uncompetative. At higher prices alternative technologies become economically competative with petroleum leading to more investment and use and cutting down on the amount of oil that will ultimately be used in the future (future profits).

[Egon]

At this point I don't care why gas prices are high, I love riding my bike to work.

[Pura Vida]

Gas prices are not high because the oil companies are trying to gouge you. Gas prices are high because fossil fuel is a non-renewable resource and we are reaching peak production (the point at which the most possible oil is coming out of the ground/produced per time) while demand continues to rise. In fact, oil companies would love to keep prices lower, it keeps alternative technologies from gaining ground on petroleum technology. At low prices, gas outcompetes all other transportation technologies, making them uncompetative. At higher prices alternative technologies become economically competative with petroleum leading to more investment and use and cutting down on the amount of oil that will ultimately be used in the future (future profits).

I wouldn't hold your breath. For example the current BOE (Barrells of Oil Equivalent) of Ethanol is around ~$200/Barrell. Sure gov't subsidies bring that number down some so you don't see a much higher price at the pump (if you can even fill w/ ethanol in your area), but thinking its going to cure our oil problem is a pipe dream.

[cj001f]

Yup, big trucks, big macs, and big guts.

America: Where the people are fat and the mountains are flat

[mr_gyptian]

These threads come and go with gas prices. Happens every summer.

How about buying a fuel efficient car, to start.

I go by the middle schools on the way to work, and nearly every vehicle is a soccer mom driving an Escalade, Lexus, Landcruiser, Range Rover, or other dumb ass, gas guzzling vehicle.

I put chains on my car once this winter (2 wheel drive Corolla). You don't need four wheel drive, atleast 99.9% of the population doesn't.

what he said x4.

better yet. stop bitching altogether.

if you have a problem with how much something cost that you apparently need. make more FUCKING money. Energy is a cost of doing business, period. if you don't think you can afford it. you better start thinking of a way to price it in to your product.

Big oil controls less than 10% of the market. they don't dictate its price.

pass that fucking e-mail around.

[Trackhead]

America: Where the people are fat and the mountains are flat

Except Alaska.......atleast the mountains anyway. AND there's oil!

[hop]

e-mail I got-
>> I am sending this note to 30 people. If
>each of us sends it to at least ten more (30 x 10 =3D 300) ... and
those
>300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 =3D 3,000)...and so on, by
>the time the message reaches the sixth group of people, we will have
>reached over THREE MILLION consumers. If those three million get
excited
>an d pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will
have
>been contacted! If it goes one level further, you guessed it.....
THREE
>HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!

And can you imagine if 50 people a day, I mean 50 people a day walk in to the shrink and sing a bar of "Alice's Restaurant" and walk out, well they may think it's a movement! And friends, that's what it is. The Alice's Restaurant movement and all you have to do to join is sing it when it comes around again on the guitar.


As far as consumption and whatnot goes... let's just say that as depressing as Las Vegas is, my brief experience in China is muuuuch worse. We're fucked. "Progress" will be the death of us.

[Steepdeepnlong]

Wanna get oil companies to invest more in alt fuels, or change what they charge for gas, etc.? Easy. Start buying stock. Buy enough stock to swing a board of directors election and get alt energy-minded people running the company. Sound silly? Think it through.

[Kya]

We drive my wife's little 4 cyl. Subaru as much as we can. But I think we should invest in a "highspeed-train-ferry-interstate-detachable-quad-mass-transit system."

Using the current network of American interstates and highways, we build a state of the art electromagnetic controlled highspeed train system. The trains, in this case, will be more like a mini ferry/barge type platform designed to carry a vehicle or two or three or...

So, you drive onto the flatbed-like platform at the entrance to the freeway. You turn your engine off, and the electromagnet locks you firmly in place. You tell the computer your destination, and with the efficiency of a detachable quad at the ski resort, your platform zooms off onto the 200 mph (or faster!) interstate.

Think of all the gas saved by people using a mass transit style system, but people could still take their vehicles to wherever the final destination might be: Berthoud Pass, LCC, Donner Pass, Steven's Pass, or.....

The main system would of course be powered by solar, wind, hydro, and some other stuff.

Now THAT would be sweet. I love FRIdays.

[wildstyle]

I was in the US in feb march this year for the first time. I was shocked by the all pervasive use of the car over there. I wasn't sure what the roads were going to be like from san fran to lake tahoe so i requested a 4wd . I got a reasonably new Jeep grand Cherokee Limited . I think it was a 5litre V8 or similar. [rant] It was also tiny inside considering the size of it outside. Useless interior design wasting tons of space.

I have to say it was one of the most useless cars i have ever driven in terms of wasting power for no good reason.

The car weighed a huge amount, accelerated slowly considering the engine and averaged less than 15 mpg for the whole 2 weeks.

My french 1.9litre Turbo diesel saloon back in the uk was for the most part faster, more comfortable and had more room in it.........and averages 50mpg on the motorway.

Renault now has average sized compacts estates that do, on average, 60mpg. On the motorway at 60mph, they will do 70mpg+.

[/rant]

[lucubrator]

Renault now has average sized compacts estates that do, on average, 60mpg. On the motorway at 60mph, they will do 70mpg+.

Keep in mind that your 60mpg = our 49mpg, since your gallons are bigger than ours, and that it's almost unsafe to do 60mph on freeways here.

I'm waiting for the VW "Rabbit" TDI to make its way to Kalifonia so I can make use of all that waste veggie oil from mexican food.

[StaggerLee]

Gas prices are not high because the oil companies are trying to gouge you. Gas prices are high because fossil fuel is a non-renewable resource and we are reaching peak production (the point at which the most possible oil is coming out of the ground/produced per time) while demand continues to rise. In fact, oil companies would love to keep prices lower, it keeps alternative technologies from gaining ground on petroleum technology. At low prices, gas outcompetes all other transportation technologies, making them uncompetative. At higher prices alternative technologies become economically competative with petroleum leading to more investment and use and cutting down on the amount of oil that will ultimately be used in the future (future profits).

In a perfect market what you say would be true, theoretically. Problem is the oil industry is one big tax payer sanctioned cartel...These pricks were billions (yes, billions with a B) of dollars in arrears on royalties that they owe the government (hence us taxpayers) for drilling access (like all those offshore platforms off the Central Coast of CA)...That story didn't seem to gain any traction earlier in the year...Americans are an apathetic bunch. However, I like the idea of boycotting Exxon Mobil. If for nothing more than self satisfaction. Fuck those pricks. Where is the fuel efficient high clearance 4WD that you can actually get some of your gear into??? Forget that, how many fuel efficient cars are out there (>30 mpg). My wife has been looking for a fuel efficient car to replace her A4...slim pickins if you don't want to buy a Prius. Boycott Exxon Mobil AND force the automobile manufacturers to introduce more energy efficient vehicles. Create some tax incentives for it as well...TMHO.

[gramboh]

Doesn't Exxon own most of the refineries? So if you are buying gas at most stations you are supporting them through their refining and transport margins.

[wildstyle]

......Where is the fuel efficient high clearance 4WD that you can actually get some of your gear into??? Forget that, how many fuel efficient cars are out there (>30 mpg). My wife has been looking for a fuel efficient car to replace her A4...slim pickins if you don't want to buy a Prius. Boycott Exxon Mobil AND force the automobile manufacturers to introduce more energy efficient vehicles. Create some tax incentives for it as well...TMHO.

I noticed when i was in the US that hardly anyone drives Diesels and as such, some gas stations didn't even sell diesel, let alone low sulphur diesel.

All the european spec cars come with highly efficient diesels that give great performance while being miserly on the fuel.

e.g.

BMW europe sells awesome diesel engines for the 3 series, 5 series and X range of vehicles. The 330d touring is an awesome cruiser that gives you 45+mpg with loads of torque and its the quietest diesel i have ever not heard. One look at the BMW USA site and they don't even give you guys the option to buy a diesel.

This seems to be true of nearly all the manufacturers as they percieve there to be no market for their performance diesels in the US. They percieve they car buying public in america to still regard diesels as smoke belching smelly noisy beasts which is becoming a thing of the past now.

[Blurred]

I got a reasonably new Jeep grand Cherokee Limited . I think it was a 5litre V8 or similar.

The car weighed a huge amount, accelerated slowly considering the engine and averaged less than 15 mpg for the whole 2 weeks.

My french 1.9litre Turbo diesel saloon back in the uk was for the most part faster, more comfortable and had more room in it.........and averages 50mpg on the motorway.

Renault now has average sized compacts estates that do, on average, 60mpg. On the motorway at 60mph, they will do 70mpg+.

[/rant]

I'm going to have to call bullshit on this. You probably had the v-6, cuz the v-8 is a FUCKING HOTROD that would smoke your little "turbo diesel saloon".

[southbalto]

how does someone with 7K+ posts forward this drool....?

[Blurred]

I've seen that too.

Or they could build more refineries, and take the oil from Iraq so we actually benefit from "freeing" those douchebags, and pay less.

Of course, nobody discusses that. It's all "supply and demand"......

What a fucking sham.

[Blurred]

how does someone with 7K+ posts forward this drool....?

To encourage intelligent discussion, whether the e-mail is shit or not.
Excellent 7th post, douchebag.

[hairy]

[Blurred]

Is that a duramax?