Is there anyone NOT bothered by the price of gas?

[luvsJack]

Gas prices are what they are. We are in no danger of using up all the oil. There are pockets of oil all over the US, Canada and beneath the oceans, but the fantatical wacko environmentalists dont' care about facts. We need to be able to access and process the oil that is within our reach. China is drilling off the coast of the US and will profit from the oil found there. The price of gas is not changing our lives. I would not have bought the SUV I have if the price of gasoline was going to change my life. I filled up today and spent $63. I used to spend $40+ regularly to fill it up. If $23/fill up was going to break me, I've got bigger problems than the price of gasoline. The majority of Americans will not go hungry or lack for anything because of the cost of gasoline, which is much, much cheaper here than in Europe, Canada and quite a few other places. Most people using the "buying gas or eating" argument are just being dramatic. Very, very few people have that problem.
Drilling here would not ruin the environment. There are a lot of ways to drill safely and they are being used everyday. More oil leaks from beneath the ocean naturally than has ever been leaked by accidents.

I agree with everything you say except the part bolded. For some Americans: yes it can be a choice between buying gas or buying food (or some other necessitity.) Many, many people in America live paycheck to paycheck. My weekly fill up has doubled in my mid-sized car. If my budget was as tight as many of the people I work with (and some months it is) it would take a lot of juggling to pay for that $60 fill up instead of the $25 it used to cost.
You are right about the drilling not ruining the environment. We are already drilling all over the gulf. We are not using the oil found, but we are drilling it. As far as Alaska, I don't understand why everyone assumes it will do so much damage there. It doesn't damage the environment here or in Texas where there is plenty of drilling going on on land.

 

[Gymbomom]

Gas prices going up hurt all of us.....if people are having to spend money on gas instead of other things that hurts our economy all around. Jobs are cut, prices rise to keep the big business profitable.

Besides, there are people who are really struggling right now......I worry about the people in the US who can't pay these higher prices.....don't you?

 

[CajunDixie]

I don't dwell on it from a driving standpoint since we don't drive that much, but I do worry about my parents' heating costs for this coming winter. They live in a cold weather state and own 2 houses there to boot I just spoke with my father this afternoon about the possibility of draining the pipes and closing up the lake house for the winter (not heating it). He thinks that it will cost easily 4K to heat that house alone and it's not very big They can afford it, but they shouldn't be spending that on what is soon to be a fixed retirement income, KWIM?

I'm sorry but I can't feel sorry for someone that has a 2nd house. BTW lake houses can easily be winterized.

Untill we stop depending on other counties for most our oil consumption things will not be better. I know I will get flamed for this, but we need to start drilling in our own country. I just found out that we have not opened a new oil refinery since early 1970! Obviously, our consumption has changed in the last 30 plus years. I love the environment and the animals, etc. but we need to start drilling!

There is drilling going on but our lovely <insert sarcasm> government won't do anything with the oil. My neighbor is hoping gas prices go even higher because he's sitting on an oil field in Montana. He inherited through his family and is planning on visiting there this summer. A neighbor there struck a gusher but they need a refinery built up there.

Not flaming!! I definitely agree that we need to stop depending on foreign oil, but drilling here would ruin a lot of the environment. Plus, what happens in another 20 years when our supplies run low? Personally, I think that we need to work harder on finding alternative energy sources not just for our cars, but to heat our homes as well. Hopefully the high gas prices will start to help move the process towards a whole different way of life faster. If the whole country is suffering with the high costs, then the whole country is more likely to help find the solution.

We need to get the automakers to work harder on building quality vehicles that can use alternative fuels. IMHO we need to get our heads out of the sand and demand automakers make energy efficient vehicles common. I have no doubt it can be done, they just don't want it done. One step is using bio-fuels, yes diesel costs more but it makes us less dependent on foreign oil.

It is really hard to adjust the budget when, unlike the federal state and local government, I cannot increase someone's taxes to increase my income. Our property taxes are getting a huge increase next year because our local government needs more money. Wages are not keeping up with the inflation. My budget is super tight right now and I am budgeted to the penny for necessities. I think more people are in the same situation than people realize. My car gets great gas mileage and I don't commute, so it isn't the gas price that bothers me as much as it is the prices of other things affected by the gas prices.

Sorry but local government can't just snap their fingers and increase taxes. I'm at the local government level and we don't even have our 2008 budget approved yet! We start planning the 2009 budget in June and have no idea if we can leave the bottom line the same or not. And we have no way to even ask that taxes be increased!!! Fuel prices hurt us too! Ambulances and fire trucks use lots of fuel. FD training recently cost us over $50 in fuel. And no we can't not have training...it's required by the state. Ambulances could raise their prices on mileage but it would come down to people that don't have Medicare and Medicaid overpaying to make up for the ones that do have Medicare and Medicaid. Mileage costs aren't just for fuel either; you have to factor in routine maintenance, insurance, equipment, tires.....

Not really feeling that it benefits anything. We use less, China and India use more and the price stays high.

When it comes to alternative furels for cars that is actually useful in the American culture -- ie -- range, availability and the cost of the technology, there isn't anything on the horizon.

Hydrogen fuel cells has a higher carbon footprint to create hydrogen than burning gasoline and it takes more energy to create it than gasoline.

Ethanol causes food inflation due to farmers switching to grow corn, causing shortage of supply in other food grains. Dairy and meat products are higher priced due to incresed feed costs.

Hybrid doesn't pay for itself for 4-6 years and really isn't alternative, it's supplemental.

Electric may work in urban areas, but won't really work for the 'burbs or commuting due to short range. Plus batteries are expensive to replace like for hybrids.

I think the best hope is for CNG (natural gas), as that is plentiful and we have huge domestic reserves.

Not on the horizon but Biodiesels are available here and now! But it's not always easy getting the big name fuel companies to buy the bio. But Korea has no problem with buying it. Bio is a much cleaner fuel and actually makes diesel vehicles run better. An average person can even make their own bio. We have a local guy that makes his own from used fryer grease.

 

[brockscandy]

I was listening to talk radio yesterday and they were talking about "side drilling" I think thats the name of it? Where another country can go into international waters and do this side drilling process and get the oil that is under Alaska. Now wouldn't that be a kick

Exactly!! China does not care about us OR the enviroment. In fact, they are working with Canada to buy all the energy they can instead of Canada selling it to us! This came directly from my legislator who went to China. They straight out told him they are buying everything they can. It will only weaken us. He also said they are not ashamed to tell us that. The problem is Washington doesn't want to hear this right now. They just want to point fingers at the oil companies and make it look as if they are really doing something. If we don't drill in oil rich areas, others will.

 

[CajunDixie]

Gas prices are what they are. We are in no danger of using up all the oil. There are pockets of oil all over the US, Canada and beneath the oceans, but the fantatical wacko environmentalists dont' care about facts. We need to be able to access and process the oil that is within our reach. China is drilling off the coast of the US and will profit from the oil found there. The price of gas is not changing our lives. I would not have bought the SUV I have if the price of gasoline was going to change my life. I filled up today and spent $63. I used to spend $40+ regularly to fill it up. If $23/fill up was going to break me, I've got bigger problems than the price of gasoline. The majority of Americans will not go hungry or lack for anything because of the cost of gasoline, which is much, much cheaper here than in Europe, Canada and quite a few other places. Most people using the "buying gas or eating" argument are just being dramatic. Very, very few people have that problem.
Drilling here would not ruin the environment. There are a lot of ways to drill safely and they are being used everyday. More oil leaks from beneath the ocean naturally than has ever been leaked by accidents.

I have to disagree with the bolded statement also. Unless you work with low income people I don't think you should assume people are just being dramatic. It is a real concern with our low income residents. Not only are we getting people that need help with rent and utilities but we have more people that need help with food because they don't qualify for food stamps. We have people that can't afford their prescriptions. We have people that need gas money to get to their jobs. People use the local foodbank and foodstamps but that doesn't always get them things like soap, shampoo, toothepaste, TP, laundry soap, shaving cream, dishsoap, diapers....just that short list there could cost a person $20. That $20 is now going into their gas tanks. Personally I get some of that stuff free at CVS or match coupons to sales at Kroger/CVS/WalMart. But some of these people can't afford a newspaper subscription, dont have internet access to learn about places like couponmom and just plain doesn't have the starter money needed to get a program like CVS' ECB working for them. Some to tell you the truth do not have the intelligence to make it work for them. Sad but true.

Several factories have closed, are on temp. shut downs or have just layed off workers....unemployment only goes so far and only lasts so long.

 

[Melissa]

It's not really harming me, we haven't changed anything we do. I don't worry about it for me, yet anyway. But I work in social service and it is really problem for a lot of my clients- They miss more appoinrments than ever and food prices are a problem for them, so I am aware of it, not worried personally.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I'm sorry but I can't feel sorry for someone that has a 2nd house. BTW lake houses can easily be winterized.

It IS winterized. It was going to be their retirement house once they both managed to retire and sell the other house, but that won't be happening now. They are going to put it up for sale this summer, although I don't guess that there will be a single buyer who wants to take on heating that house this winter either

BTW, I never said that I felt sorry for my parents. I said that I worried about their heating costs this winter as the result of owning 2 houses in a cold climate. Geez.

 

[TifffanyD]

We need to get the automakers to work harder on building quality vehicles that can use alternative fuels. IMHO we need to get our heads out of the sand and demand automakers make energy efficient vehicles common. I have no doubt it can be done, they just don't want it done. One step is using bio-fuels, yes diesel costs more but it makes us less dependent on foreign oil.

That would be a great solution but then you have to get people to BUY them. There are a lot of fairly fuel efficient cars out there but they're not the majority of the vehicles on the road. You can make a BETTER suv but it's still not going to get the gas mileage of your standard compact that is available now. Just my $.02

 

[yensidwiz]

1st I seriously doubt the the people MOST hurt by gas prices are even reading these boards, a trip to Disney is something they can only dream about. Sadly, there are ALOT of people significantly hurt by the price of gas. The other day I was putting gas in my car and a young woman at the next pump was crying because the increased price of gas has hurt her so bad she didn't have any money left for food, and she has a young child to feed. My husband had a similiar experience a few days before that. Personally, I am disgusted by the price of gas. Oil should not be allowed to be traded on the open market, that in and of itself would significantly decrease oil prices which in turn would lower gas prices. The enviromentalists had no choice but to get involved. It is a sad but true fact that big business will do whatever it takes to make more money with no regard for who or what they hurt or destroy in the process. Unfortunately, like most things in this country that has gone from one extreme to the other. As for gas prices needing to reach $6.00 a gallon before the auto makers will produce fuel efficient vehicles. That's just wrong. During the Arab oil embargo in the 70's, one of the actions taken in response to this energy problem in the United States was the enactment of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) in 1975 by the Congress. Among other steps taken by this Act, one was aimed at energy conservation in the transportation sector through the establishment of Federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for new passenger cars and light trucks which federally mandated minimum fuel economy standards for new motor vehicles. At that time congress also enacted a 55 mph speed limit which is proven to increase gas milage. Why hasn't this been done yet? Because there is not a shortage of oil. The prices are where they are because of speculation. Once again the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer at the expense of the whole economy. The bottom line here is pure out ant out greed.

 

[MrsPete]

I can honestly say that it does not effect us personally and for that I am grateful.

No, it affects ALL OF US. Even those of us who drive small cars and who aren't forced to drive long distances for work are still paying higher prices at the grocery store (and other places). And when the lowest-paid people in our country are squeezed even more, that's going to affect us all too.

I can say that the gas prices haven't hurt me nearly as much as they're hurting other people, but I don't think any of us are genuinely unaffected.

I do agree with the people who say that the best outcome of this situation could be a greater awareness of our habits (and an understand of the fact that we cannot continue in the way we've been living for the past few decades); however, this isn't JUST about gas -- that's the tip of the iceburg and the obvious thing of which everyone's aware . . . but we Americans also have to stop our rampant consumption of, well, everything: driving oversized vehicles, eating out multiple times a week, buying big gifts for small holidays, using shopping as a hobby.

The other side of this coin is that we're concerned about the economy -- if we genuinely embrace the "less is more" idea in America, if we cut back on our consumption . . . the economy will spiral downhill fast. It's inevitable.

 

[happygirl]

1st I seriously doubt the the people MOST hurt by gas prices are even reading these boards, a trip to Disney is something they can only dream about. Sadly, there are ALOT of people significantly hurt by the price of gas. The other day I was putting gas in my car and a young woman at the next pump was crying because the increased price of gas has hurt her so bad she didn't have any money left for food, and she has a young child to feed. My husband had a similiar experience a few days before that. Personally, I am disgusted by the price of gas. Oil should not be allowed to be traded on the open market, that in and of itself would significantly decrease oil prices which in turn would lower gas prices. The enviromentalists had no choice but to get involved. It is a sad but true fact that big business will do whatever it takes to make more money with no regard for who or what they hurt or destroy in the process. Unfortunately, like most things in this country that has gone from one extreme to the other. As for gas prices needing to reach $6.00 agallon before the auto makers will produce fuel efficient. That's just wrong. During the Arab oil embargo in the 70's, one of the actions taken in response to this energy problem in the United States was the enactment of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) in 1975 by the Congress. Among other steps taken by this Act, one was aimed at energy conservation in the transportation sector through the establishment of Federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for new passenger cars and light trucks which federally mandated minimum fuel economy standards for new motor vehicles. At that time congress also enacted a 55 mph speed limit which is proven to increase gas milage. Why hasn't this been done yet? Because there is not a shortage of oil. The prices are where they are because of speculation. Once again the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer at the expense of the whole economy. The bottom line here is pure out ant out greed.

Well first of all I'm worried about the price of gas, Yes I do read this board and I know that alot of people that are hurting by gas prices do read this board, you really are making alot of assumptions in this post,

 

[luv2laugh]

I do agree with the people who say that the best outcome of this situation could be a greater awareness of our habits (and an understand of the fact that we cannot continue in the way we've been living for the past few decades); however, this isn't JUST about gas -- that's the tip of the iceburg and the obvious thing of which everyone's aware . . . but we Americans also have to stop our rampant consumption of, well, everything: driving oversized vehicles, eating out multiple times a week, buying big gifts for small holidays, using shopping as a hobby.

I think that if the high prices help the country realize this and make actual changes, then there is a silver lining. America's known as the "supersized" nation across the world. Heck, if everyone around me considered me to the be "supersized" one, I'd be pretty mad!

 

[MrsPete]

That would be a great solution but then you have to get people to BUY them. There are a lot of fairly fuel efficient cars out there but they're not the majority of the vehicles on the road. You can make a BETTER suv but it's still not going to get the gas mileage of your standard compact that is available now. Just my $.02

Two thoughts:

1. The cars are out there, but on every lot they're 1-2 choices among 10-12 larger vehicles. I bought a Honda Civic last year, and I love the mileage -- if I'd chosen the Honda Fit, I'd have even better mileage, but I thought it was a little too small for my family of four. (Though in all honesty, many, many European families larger than mine survive with cars the size of the Fit -- it's just a matter of expectation and habit.)

2. Many people are "caught" in situations that prevent them from buying a fuel-efficient car right now, even if they think it's a better choice. That is, people who've leased a big SUV and still have a year left on their lease. People who are upside down on thier loans so that they literally cannot afford to pay off the loan if they give up the car. I'd guess that these people will make more fuel-efficient choices when they choose their NEXT CAR, but they simply can't make that switch right now.

 

[yensidwiz]

I believe we are all hurt by gas prices but we can budget around it. I meant the people MOST hurt as in the ones who can't afford food or internet access anymore. As in the poorest people in the country. No disrespect was intended.

 

[MrsPete]

I agree with everything you say except the part bolded. For some Americans: yes it can be a choice between buying gas or buying food (or some other necessitity.) Many, many people in America live paycheck to paycheck.

In all honesty, most people have some "fat" in thier budgets, which can be trimmed. Most people, even those living paycheck to paycheck, could cut out cable TV, the cell phone, the 16-year old's personal car, sodas, trips to the tanning salon, beer -- in all honesty, we've all got something that we could cut out --and voila! There's the money for food. For example, a family could buy an awful lot of groceries for the cost of going to the movie theater once. We Americans spend lots of money on our luxuries; they've become habits, so we don't stop to think about them being luxuries. People who are genuinely facing the "gas or food" question are going to have to stop and figure out what else can go (because realistically, gas and food are both pretty high on the "needs" list). Also, we've gotten away from basic foods in America. Beans and rice are dirt-cheap, as are plenty of other healthy foods -- it's expensive cuts of meat and processed foods that cost so much! I can put a plain but decent meal on my table for $2-3; no, it won't be a family favorite, but my family of four will be fed.

And there's another ugly fact that goes hand-in-hand with this discussion: debt. Most Americans have taken on more debt than they can handle -- a house at the top of thier mortgage budget, a new car, some credit card debt -- and now that other prices have increased rapidly, what used to be manageable is now a real burden. Gas prices aren't a simple problem; they co-exist within our individual budgets and our economy.

Finally -- and somewhat unrelated to the paycheck to paycheck topic -- I don't see people making big changes yet. The student parking lot at my high school is still full every day. These kid COULD ride the bus for FREE, but they're still driving private cars. The stores and the mall are still full. The restaurants are still doing a booming business.

 

[CarolA]

Exactly!! China does not care about us OR the enviroment. In fact, they are working with Canada to buy all the energy they can instead of Canada selling it to us! This came directly from my legislator who went to China. They straight out told him they are buying everything they can. It will only weaken us. He also said they are not ashamed to tell us that. The problem is Washington doesn't want to hear this right now. They just want to point fingers at the oil companies and make it look as if they are really doing something. If we don't drill in oil rich areas, others will.

Why should they be ashamed to tell us?? Were we ashamed when we were the number one consumer??? I don't thik so.

They aren 't doing this to "weaken" us, they are doing to because their economy is using it and demanding it. That's the way things work in the world. America doesn't go to the head of the line because "We are America" I mean it's great to live here, but that doesn't make us better. (Maybe luckier, but that depends)

There was an article on the front page of the Atlanta paper today about folks trying to sell thier SUVs. It was actually entertaining. They had people talking about the model of their SUV and the price they wanted. Then they had a table showing the decline in the Kelly Blue Book value of the SUV. EVERY one of the folks trying to sell was asking for MORE then the blue book value.

 

[MrsPete]

Don't people in Europe have socialized medicine and more options for mass transit? If so, then they are not spending a lot of money on doctors and they don't have to drive a car to get to work, etc. I also believe that they get part of their college education paid for.

Yes, but it's hard to compare us to them. To get these services they also pay even more of their income in taxes than we do, and mass transit is more practical in cities -- we have much more "wide open space" here.

 

[MrsPete]

I don't sit around gnawing my nails about it, but it IS a problem that's already starting to ripple through the whole economy. Travel, food, freight, manufacturing, tax bases, education, farming, heating/cooling our homes and offices, fewer charity donations...everything is affected by it. And jobs are next. When businesses have to pay huge fuel bills and/or more for inventory, they raise prices or they hire fewer people - or cut pay or lay people off. And then those folks have less to spend at other businesses...and on it goes. It's not just the cost at the pump to fill our SUVs, it goes much deeper than that.

So yes, I'd say it's worth at least a little bit of worry. It affects us all.

DisFlan

I agree with these thoughts. We as a country are going to have to scale life back to something more like a 50s-60s mentality: Yes, kids can share bedrooms; most kids' clothing comes from friends or cousins' hand-me-downs; one car per family; eating out is a treat, not an everyday affair. If we adopted this attitude towards spending/living, the vast majority of Americans would have enough money for their needs, and they'd be able to save for thier wants.

 

[CarolA]

Yes, but it's hard to compare us to them. To get these services they also pay even more of their income in taxes than we do, and mass transit is more practical in cities -- we have much more "wide open space" here.

There is a lot of "wide open space" in Europe too.

However, they also tend to buy and drive MUCH more fuel efficient cars. When I drive in Europe seeing an SUV is strange. Most of the cars look like the little compacts I rent when I am driving there. Even the big "luxury" cars that are made in Europe (Mercedes etc) aren't as common on the roads as you might imagine.

 

[luv2laugh]

Finally -- and somewhat unrelated to the paycheck to paycheck topic -- I don't see people making big changes yet. The student parking lot at my high school is still full every day. These kid COULD ride the bus for FREE, but they're still driving private cars. The stores and the mall are still full. The restaurants are still doing a booming business.

If our high school students all decided to ride the buses, the district would be in BIG trouble! All of the buses are already filled with 2-3 students per seat and with all the budget cuts going on in the education industry I don't think they have the funds to upgrade. I have noticed in my area that more teens are carpooling to school with their friends (less for gas!).

I do agree with the lack of big changes being made though. I think that our country considers a lot more things as "needed" than "wanted". I-pods are "needed", new clothes are "needed", big vacations are "needed" (sorry Disney, but it's true!). Everyone needs to change their entire mindset. If it's too difficult (it's going to take some time) for this generation, Americans need to pass new values down to the younger generations.