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Report Your Local Gas Prices Here (retired discussion, please see the new one)
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Can't wait for that next energy bill...no wait, it's a liberal conspiracy! The same liberal elite who made domestic cars unpopular! Really, it gets old.
The same thing is going on with natural gas, and heating oil prices and markets.
What sort of conspiracy is going on with the gold markets? Is there all of a sudden a shortage of gold? Why has the price shot up so much over the last year?
me: Fuel is already out-of-reach for millions in this country, and for billions of people around the world. I would then conclude that people adapt, survive, and live without it. Fuel has always only gone to those are earn a certain amount.
you: Low-wage workers may just not show up for work as fuel for their vehicles would cost more than they'd make on their shift at Target or Wal-Mart.
me: well I don't think many people are driving 20 or 30 miles each way to work for minimum wage; that's a poor choice. Most people live in urban/suburban areas and there are many jobs that go begging near people. Also many businesses could adjust their shifts to be longer and workers to have to come in less days - (4) 10 hour shifts than (5) 8 hr for example.
I like Michael Savage's idea.
Rocky
OTOH-His poll approval ratings across the board also reflect falling support, which isn't just a liberal media conspiracy.
Back to cars/gas......
Rocky
Has it reached $3.10 anywhere yet ? :surprise:
Rocky
The idea of the "liberal media" is a sham in itself, a distraction. Who controls the media, pray tell? There's no conspiracy or anything else the neandercons try to fool the masses with.
What do you want, everything to be like FOX News? Fair and balanced! ROFL
But yeah, everything is on the up and up, it's all hunky-dory. Be positive!
That is forward thinking, though.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Rocky
Similarly, I don't think it's time for a rerun of the French Revolution, bringing out the guillotines and slaughtering the ruling elite. However, it does appear some kind of comeuppance will occur in the November elections.
The problem is in the mirror. We sat on our hands for over 30 years, hoping the looming oil shortfall would fade away like a bad dream. Now world demand is rising rapidly, what with the Chinese rapidly moving to the automobile -- and why shouldn't they? After all, we Americans been driving cars for a hundred years. (It's like us sitting on thousands of nuclear weapons and telling other countries they can't build them also -- not that I think Iran or North Korea should.)
We passed the CAFE law way back in 1975, setting the average fuel economy rating for cars at 27.5 mpg, which was achieved in 1985, bounced around for a few years between that figure and 26 mpg, and finally back to 27.5 in 1990, where it's been ever since.
Meanwhile light trucks (including pickups, vans, and SUVs) had their own much lower standard, and until very recently, little serious attempt was made to improve their required efficiency. During these 30 years, pickups have ballooned up from a typical 3500 pounds for a C/K 10, F-100, or D/W-100 work truck to around 5000 pounds for your garden variety Silverado, F-150, and Ram 1500 (V8 extended cab, with 2WD).
SUVs have mushroomed from a small segment dedicated to sportsmen, farmers, ranchers, miners, forest service workers, etc. to as fintail so aptly puts it, "vacuous trophy wives" who drive(?) their leather-lined cocoons for their "look at me" factor.
While large comfy sedans can now get an honest 26, 28, or even 30+ mpg when driven at sensible speeds on the highway, the big pickups and midsize and larger SUVs can't realistically get out of the teens; that is, no better than the mastodon cars we were driving in the 70s.
Then there's the insane horsepower race -- gains in engine efficiency were squandered on ever increasing amounts of power instead of better fuel economy. Why do we need 300 horsepower Calibers, for example (SRT4 version)? The most fuel-efficient vehicle fleet was produced for the 1987 model year -- it's been downhill since.
Finally, people are driving at speeds on the highway that would have been considered suicidal twenty or so years ago. I had a tour bus (a stupid tour bus, of all things) ride up on my rear and flash its brights at me for having the audacity to go 65 mph (the speed limit) in the far right lane of an interstate. Even the SLOW lane isn't slow anymore.
I'm old enough to remember when I could get into the left lane of the PA Turnpike at 65 mph and pass a whole line of vehicles without having someone bear down on my rear. I also remember that cars routinely passed trucks -- and tour buses -- not the other way around.
We were warned -- many times, but we did nothing. Now the outrage.
What to do? Short term, if you can, drive less and carpool. I never thought it would happen, but 3 guys at my workplace started carpooling back in the Katrina panic days, and have stuck with it.
Hybrids and clean diesels will help in the short term also. I think ethanol from corn is a joke for cost and efficiency reasons, and hydrogen and fuel cells are a pipe dream. Does anyone know if ethanol made from switchgrass or plant stalks would be less energy-intensive (although it'd still be less efficient -- we'd need bigger fuel tanks to get the same range.)
Ok, enough for now, flame away!
me: au contraire; I agree with most of what you say. I also have been around long enough to experience the last 30 years of gasoline supply/price fluctuations.
you: The problem is in the mirror.
me: Exactly. And while higher gasoline prices are a problem for those living check-to-check, because of the wealth and relatively high income of the middle and upper classes, gasoline has not really affected the people who buy new cars. A typical person buying a $20K - $30K vehicle may not care whether it costs $150/month or $200/month for gas. The difference is probably less than 1% of their household income.
you: "vacuous trophy wives" who drive(?) their leather-lined cocoons for their "look at me" factor.
me: pickups and SUV's became popular when the interior comfort features became equal (or near) to cars. Many people said why buy a car when I can have a truck that does more. And many people have the $ to pay for it and the gas.
you: Why do we need 300 horsepower Calibers, for example (SRT4 version)?
me: In that case the SRT4 will get about the same mpg as the R/T model. But your point is taken about people choosing lower mpg/high hp cars over high mpg models.
I do have to disagree with your thought that we shouldn't advance speed limits as cars have increased power, handling, brakes, and safer designs. Speed limits were 15 mph at one time and roads were dirt. As we have advanced, I don't see any reason to stop.
you: We were warned -- many times, but we did nothing. Now the outrage.
me: I suggest instead of outrage, we improve ourselves, becoming more productive, earning more. If we increase our economic power then we will have money to purchase autos and gas. If we want to buy goods from China and such, we send money to those countries to buy autos and gas that we'd otherwise use; and secondly we take better paying jobs from here, have people in low-paying jobs, and then we have a whole bunch of people who can't afford gas (or health care).
It's very simple: If you want something you better make some money, and be willing to pay more for it than the other guy.
Funny how there can't be a conspiracy to control the liberal media (I don't think there's a conspiracy it's just who they are) but the "neandercons" can be a conspiracy? And somehow the oil companies can collude to drive up prices even though they're the most watched industry in the world?
210delray - You're right on with a lot of your thoughts. Ethanol is going to be very expensive and less efficient to develop. We need to keep doing the R&D to find alternative energies but there's a long way to go. ANWR anyone?
Bravo, your eyes work. You know, people sometimes travel.
"but the "neandercons" can be a conspiracy"
I said that? Where? Read again...the consipracy idea is a distraction the neandercons use to get the lemminglike masses under a little more control. Fear and faith.
"And somehow the oil companies can collude to drive up prices even though they're the most watched industry in the world? "
Well, the numbers can't really be explained. It doesn't matter if you are "watched", when you make the world go round, you can move as you please. It's like the idea held by capitalistas that a completely deregulated labor market would not result in massive downward wage pressures by modern day robber barons because such collusion is illegal. Laws are only worth so much. I think last year's little energy bill shows where things really lie...
You're in Seattle I take it...prices are up 40 cents in the past 30 days. Can it really be explained in something other than a classic old 'supply and demand' cop out? I have no doubt it will spike again around September, and slowly fall. Two steps forward, one step back.
Your use of "they" is telling. Lemee guess...disguruntled Rossi supporter...
Rocky
They are about as fair and balanced as Hush, Vannity, and the Leprechaun
Rocky
I'll try to prove my point this way:
Look at Sean Hannity and look at Alan Colmes. Hannity is a pretty boy and Alan looks like a nerd being kicked around and overpowered by a superior intellegent being.
You can't disagree with me on that one can you ? :P
Rocky
Rocky
And that's the cheapest Chevron in town.
I suspect this summer will look like Germany in the early fall of 1923. I have this sinking feeling that last year will look like a cakewalk. But by Christmas it will all be gone.
" If you think the others provide accurate, or even truthful reporting, you sir have been brainwashed!"
And if you think FOX is accurate, truthful, or unbiased, you sir have been either brainwashed or given a brain injury. You get the media you pay for...there's nothing out there without bias...but some are surely greater evils than others.
It's funny how dissent is unpatriotic. It's funny...there's a lot of doom and gloom out there with a regime that makes errors look almost planned...but it's a crime to point them out. Just let the crony capitalist/inheritance elite robber barons have their cake, we'll all be better off. Right.
$2.84 for premium has to be hurting the pocket for your Mercedes cars. They all require premium fuel right ?
Rocky
Regular is now $2.89!
DrFill
Rocky
Rocky
Rocky
I fail to see any evidence of that, but to each his own. The network is mocked across the planet. I pity the fool who uses FOX as their only source.
So, anyone wanna start a pool about where average prices will be in 4 or 5 months?
Think positive, let's have another cup of coffee, etc
Last week on my way home it was one price, then an hour latter it had gone up 6 cents!
I honestly think during Hurricane Season, especially if one hits us again we will see gas prices in the mid $3's to low $4's for awhile. I'm sure the oil cartel is investing R&D monies on weather altering equipment, instead of building more refinery's. :surprise:
Rocky
Still am casually shopping for a gas-mizer Yaris or Rio though.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
i live in connecticut and everything is not far away.
look I've been conditioned to think $2.21 a gal. gas is cheap. :surprise:
Rocky
Anyway, we covered 96 miles, and incredibly all of the gas station owners we passed must have gotten together and agreed that $2.69 was the going rate for 87 today. Gotta be a conspiracy, right? Oh, there were a few holdouts, like a Liberty for "only" $2.65 and a no-name for $2.59.
Near home, the Hess was $2.59, up a cent from yesterday, and the Exxon closest to our house was the same.
We took our best mpg car, the '04 Camry, and it's still showing about 5/8 full with 224 miles on the odo since the last fillup.
I'm just wondering, iluv, if the other Northern tier states also have low gas prices; we don't seem to get any reports from Montana, the Dakotas, etc. Helloooo...anybody out there?
How dare you.....We are going to have to turn you in.
Rocky
P.S.
..Pssss...If you see Black Suits and :shades: .......run !
Hey Iluvmysephia,
How ya doing? Long time no see. I haven't been around in here for the last 2 years, but I'm back again. My 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe now has over 103,200+ miles on it and it's still going good.
Yeah, I'm around 110,900 miles on the Sportsman and she's runnin' like a champ. I, in my car nutzery, am looking for a more gas miserly rig, like a 2006 Kia Rio LX sedan or a 2007 Toyota Yaris, but I'm always looking and probably won't pull the trigger 'cause I don't really need to and my better half doesn't wanna part with the Sportage. I love to try different rigs out, though. Nice to talk to you again and don't be a stranger to this place, OK?
Are ya stayin' with your Santa Fe or tradin' anytime soon, gtgt? Do you get wooed by new rigs often, too?
Oh, and in keeping with the title of this thread, I'm sorry you're paying such high ghastly prices there in Mass.
Yikes. That is truly worthy of the name ghastly when it costs such ghastly amounts as that.
We are spoiled over here in the high desert.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Sunoco at Rhawn and Verree:
Regular = $2.65
Silver = $2.75
Super = $2.85
Ultra = ?
I have been driving the '88 Park Ave exclusively. Thursday is my girlfriend's birthday, so I guess I take the Seville out that night.
I was listening to 101.5 out of New Jersey this morning and the DJ was talking about gasoline being $4 a gallon by summer. I can see it happening. Early August last summer, regular was $2.43 a gallon. My girlfriend and I took her LaCrosse for our vacation as it was the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the fleet. Now, regular is $2.65 a gallon. The highest I paid was $3.05 for Ultra at its peak around last October.
Whining about (what else?) gas prices!
The print copy even had my photo, it was the top story in the Business section, and my quote appeared on the front page, which was cool. My photo was on page 7, inside, in B&W. Had me driving and my son in the back.
-juice
BTW- You girlfriend is getting the royal treatment, eh ?
She gets the Seville. sounds like the Seville only gets driven on special occassions
Well I hope ya'll have a good time.
Lemko, the LaCrosse has the new 3.6 in it right ?
Rocky
Rocky