Talking about budget buster! Gasoline...

[bethk78]

If you google the question, you will find lots of information. Basically, a carbon credit is a permit that allows the holder to emit one ton of carbon dioxide.It has to do with global warming, the stock market, people investing in something that does not exist and redistribution of wealth.

Purchasing carbon credits so that the carbon you produce (industry for example) will offset the carbon footprint you have left. And who do you think will end up paying for these carbon credits that companies will have to buy? Not the owner, that is for sure. They will pass the cost on down to the consumer. It deals with transfer of wealth from richer countries to poorer countries. I believe It will impact every aspect of business and subsequently, the consumer.

Climate change legislation has not passed, but unless we all become aware of the situation, it may.

Okay, I think I understand. Thank you for taking the time to explain.

 

[marie1203]

My commute to work is 1/2 mile and my wife doesn't work so gas prices have little to no impact on our budget. But, as others have pointed out, everything I eat, drink, wear or watch has to be delivered or grown by devices that use oil so we will feel it.

This is our case DH work is 8 miles away and I don't work. We go to school same time so we can take one car that is why I was so surprised by adding up the cost.

 

[drinkme]

Not counting our mortgage, the gas bill for our cars is our most expensive bill! We average around $800 a month now.

It's just crazy to pay that much!

 

[mfduddy]

We have had to cancel our cross country trip due to gas prices. We were taking our fifth wheel camper(pulled by ford 450 duel wheeled diesel). Not pulling the truck only gets about 15mpg. My husband is a contractor and needs a truck this large to haul his big equipment to and from job sites. Needless to say most of the time it is now sitting in the driveway and he uses our Flex. Very expensive lawn ornament.

 

[Purseval]

We have had to cancel our cross country trip due to gas prices.

I wonder how this will end up affecting Disney, Orlando and Florida in general? They depend heavily on tourism. We've already begun to rethink plans to drive down due to the cost of gasoline. Because we live about 7 hours away we would take 3, 4 or more trips down just to hang out and relax for a long weekend. Now it's getting to the point where the gas for the trip will cost more than the trip itself.

 

[Colleen27]

I wonder how this will end up affecting Disney, Orlando and Florida in general? They depend heavily on tourism. We've already begun to rethink plans to drive down due to the cost of gasoline. Because we live about 7 hours away we would take 3, 4 or more trips down just to hang out and relax for a long weekend. Now it's getting to the point where the gas for the trip will cost more than the trip itself.

I'm sure they'll take a hit, especially as airfare rises as well, but it won't be as hard or as immediate as destinations that rely primarily on road trippers from out of the area simply because for most Disney/Orlando is a longer vacation. I can justify $500 in gas for a weeklong vacation a lot easier than I can $300 for a weekend away.

 

[vwaller72]

Just to be clear this is what the president actually said. not debating the right or wrong, thats a waste of time because people these days generally care more about the R or D behind someone's name than what they say. However, it's better to evaluate something on what was said and not it paraphrased in to the worst possible light.

I know some of these big guys, they're all still driving their big SUVs. You know, they got their big monster trucks and everything. You're one of them? Well, now, here's my point. If you're complaining about the price of gas and you're only getting eight miles a gallon--(laughter)--you may have a big family, but it's probably not that big. How many you have? Ten kids, you say? Ten kids? (Laughter.) Well, you definitely need a hybrid van then. (Laughter.)*.*.*.
So, like I said, if you're getting eight miles a gallon you may want to think about a trade-in. You can get a great deal. I promise you, GM or Ford or Chrysler, they're going to be happy to give you a deal on something that gets you better gas mileage.

 

[Purseval]

However, it's better to evaluate something on what was said and not it paraphrased in to the worst possible light.

OK, so how does posting the full quote make it sound any better than what was paraphrased? It's still a terrible response to a question from someone concerned about the high price of gas. Or perhaps you can break down the full quote to show us the good part of what he said so it doesn't sound like he basically doesn't care about the guy's problem and if he doesn't like his mileage he should get a hybrid. If there is something good about it in there I haven't been able to figure it out.

 

[vwaller72]

OK, so how does posting the full quote make it sound any better than what was paraphrased? It's still a terrible response to a question from someone concerned about the high price of gas. Or perhaps you can break down the full quote to show us the good part of what he said so it doesn't sound like he basically doesn't care about the guy's problem and if he doesn't like his mileage he should get a hybrid. If there is something good about it in there I haven't been able to figure it out.

I specifically said I wouldn't waste my time. People see and hear what they want to, debating it is a waste of time. I just wanted to post the actual quote for those who cared enough to read it and not just looking for another excuse to be outraged at the other sides guy. I have work to do, children to play with and ADR's to change. Honestly, I gave up long ago trying to have meaningful discussions about issues in the current envrionment. It's sad really that it has reached that point in a country built on intelligent debate of ideas that we can't really do it anymore but it is what it is.

 

[Colleen27]

OK, so how does posting the full quote make it sound any better than what was paraphrased? It's still a terrible response to a question from someone concerned about the high price of gas. Or perhaps you can break down the full quote to show us the good part of what he said so it doesn't sound like he basically doesn't care about the guy's problem and if he doesn't like his mileage he should get a hybrid. If there is something good about it in there I haven't been able to figure it out.

If anything it makes it sound worse, because not only is it financially out of touch it is completely ignorant of hybrid availability as well. There are no hybrid vans available on the American market.

Toyota has repeatedly delayed bringing their hybrid Sienna minivan, which is available overseas, to the US market. There are plans for a Prius "minivan" but it still only seats 5 (which to me should be called a Prius hatchback - it isn't a minivan without higher seating capacity).

The American automakers have all but given up on a reasonably fuel-efficient vehicle that can seat more than 5. Chrysler is the only of the Big 3 still making a minivan, and it gets the same 17/24mpg as the 7-seater Ford Flex SUV.

 

[spima3]

We went to WDW last Sept, so I had planned on doing some short summer trips, Philly, Ocean City, maybe take a drive up to Niagra Falls for a couple of days.

Now we're only going to do one of them and do more locally. I've already talked to friends about getting together more in the summer with the kids, just bringing the kids to each others houses for swimming, biking, etc.

If the gas prices aren't reined in soon, any progress our economy has been making is going to come to a screeching halt.

 

[Purseval]

I specifically said I wouldn't waste my time.

You wasted your time posting it then wasted even more time replying so it must have some meaning to you that it doesn't have to the rest of us.

People see and hear what they want to, debating it is a waste of time.

Especially if you try to defend the indefensible.

It's sad really that it has reached that point in a country built on intelligent debate of ideas that we can't really do it anymore but it is what it is.

Only if you don't even bother to try. If you think that telling someone that they can get a great deal from GM or Ford on a hybrid is a good answer to his question on the price of gasoline you can make a cogent defense of that statement and see if it flies. In a thread about the high cost of gasoline it may be an exercise in futility but you might give someone pause for thought.

Here's your basic problem. As worthy an idea as alternative energy sources might be they don't do a thing to help a man with 10 kids trying to figure out how he's going to cope with rising gas prices. A statement coming from the most powerful man in America along the lines of "sir, we're going to clear away any roadblocks to domestic oil production so you will have a reliable source of fuel while we work on developing alternatives" would have an immediate and dramatic impact on oil futures because traders would see that we are serious about fixing the problem. Saying "get a hybrid" has as much impact as "just say no" did on the drug problems.

 

[Colleen27]

Here's your basic problem. As worthy an idea as alternative energy sources might be they don't do a thing to help a man with 10 kids trying to figure out how he's going to cope with rising gas prices. A statement coming from the most powerful man in America along the lines of "sir, we're going to clear away any roadblocks to domestic oil production so you will have a reliable source of fuel while we work on developing alternatives" would have an immediate and dramatic impact on oil futures because traders would see that we are serious about fixing the problem. Saying "get a hybrid" has as much impact as "just say no" did on the drug problems.

And that's it exactly - we need someone to step forward and say "This is our plan, let's get this under control". Oil is a publicly traded commodity, and much of what we see in the pricing is anticipation of future demand. We as a nation are doing NOTHING to suggest that demand will decrease in the foreseeable future, so oil is a safe bet for a high return at a time when the rest of the economy is fairly uncertain.

But there is this black-and-white mindset that seems to dominate on the issues these days - people are looking for the one silver bullet solution and don't seem to want anything to do with the complexities of solving major problems. An answer like "We're going to clear the way for domestic oil production to bring down prices in the short term, while focusing on improving efficiency and alternative technologies as well as weaning agriculture (the second-largest consumer of oil, after transportation) off oil-intensive methods, expanding public transportation options and re-localizing communities, to decrease demand in the long run." just doesn't make a good sound bite. But that kind of leadership and goal is what we need, even if each facet doesn't make a vast difference individually, because 1) every little bit helps and 2) sending the message that we're serious about decreasing dependence on oil makes oil a less "safe" and therefore less attractive vehicle for speculator dollars.

 

[momof1princess]

And that's it exactly - we need someone to step forward and say "This is our plan, let's get this under control". Oil is a publicly traded commodity, and much of what we see in the pricing is anticipation of future demand. We as a nation are doing NOTHING to suggest that demand will decrease in the foreseeable future, so oil is a safe bet for a high return at a time when the rest of the economy is fairly uncertain.

But there is this black-and-white mindset that seems to dominate on the issues these days - people are looking for the one silver bullet solution and don't seem to want anything to do with the complexities of solving major problems. An answer like "We're going to clear the way for domestic oil production to bring down prices in the short term, while focusing on improving efficiency and alternative technologies as well as weaning agriculture (the second-largest consumer of oil, after transportation) off oil-intensive methods, expanding public transportation options and re-localizing communities, to decrease demand in the long run." just doesn't make a good sound bite. But that kind of leadership and goal is what we need, even if each facet doesn't make a vast difference individually, because 1) every little bit helps and 2) sending the message that we're serious about decreasing dependence on oil makes oil a less "safe" and therefore less attractive vehicle for speculator dollars.

best post of the entire thread.

 

[Purseval]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/17/us-saudi-oil-idUSTRE73G14020110417

Saudi Arabia's oil minister said on Sunday the kingdom had slashed output by 800,000 barrels per day in March due to oversupply, sending the strongest signal yet that OPEC will not act to quell soaring prices.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Actually if you read what Obama said about gas prices in 2008 you will find he has no problem with higher prices. Even adding to the tax on gas to help encourage people to buy the hybrid cars.

This is from Economists For Obama 2008

http://econ4obama.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-to-do-about-gas-prices.html

But the fact of the matter is that gas prices should be high. They should be high for the very simple and now very obvious reason that the pressure on the world's climate needs to be reduced. Our country's foolish policy of keeping gas prices low while providing implicit (and sometimes explicit) subsidies to the vehicles that get the worst mileage should have ended many years ago. Demand-side pressure on gas prices is finally pushing gas prices into the range they should have been for many years.


http://factreal.wordpress.com/2011/...d-have-preferred-a-gradual-adjustment’-video/

 

[RebeccaB]

My husband drives an 18wheeler The last time he got fuel he only filled one tank (it has tanks on both sides) and it was appx $400.00. We have friends that have two trucks and equiptment used in the woods, and their fuel bill every two weeks was $7900.00 this winter.

 

[Muushka]

Actually if you read what Obama said about gas prices in 2008 you will find he has no problem with higher prices. Even adding to the tax on gas to help encourage people to buy the hybrid cars.

This is from Economists For Obama 2008

http://econ4obama.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-to-do-about-gas-prices.html

But the fact of the matter is that gas prices should be high. They should be high for the very simple and now very obvious reason that the pressure on the world's climate needs to be reduced. Our country's foolish policy of keeping gas prices low while providing implicit (and sometimes explicit) subsidies to the vehicles that get the worst mileage should have ended many years ago. Demand-side pressure on gas prices is finally pushing gas prices into the range they should have been for many years.


http://factreal.wordpress.com/2011/...d-have-preferred-a-gradual-adjustment’-video/

Good job! I tried to find that info yesterday and couldn't.
But it does show that clearly, the president does not have a problem with high gas prices.

 

[marie1203]

But the fact of the matter is that gas prices should be high. They should be high for the very simple and now very obvious reason that the pressure on the world's climate needs to be reduced. Our country's foolish policy of keeping gas prices low while providing implicit (and sometimes explicit) subsidies to the vehicles that get the worst mileage should have ended many years ago. Demand-side pressure on gas prices is finally pushing gas prices into the range they should have been for many years.


http://factreal.wordpress.com/2011/...d-have-preferred-a-gradual-adjustment’-video/

I agree that we have to do something to help the environment but the fact that gas prices raise the price of everything. There is not a hybrid 18 wheeler so that is not even a choice of changing cars or not. When we bought our last car we consider a hybrid but it just didn't work for us. I don't like SUV and all the hybrid cars that were in the market were too small. We have 5 dogs (and most times a foster so 6) and 2 cats. We live were close to the water and we had to evacuate a couple of times. We need a car that could fit all our animals because leaving them behind it is not an option. We even took them to the dealership to try to see if they fit it was a no.

 

[momof1princess]

exactly. higher gas prices raise the price of EVERYTHING, and trucking companies don't have the option of buying hybrid vehicles.
there is also the problem of those who can't afford to buy new cars, even though they work their butts off, day after day...what are THEY supposed to do? many hardworking folks don't have the option of going out and buying a new car. i guess that's just too bad for them, huh? they'll just have to go without food, medications and decent housing so they can afford to drive back and forth to work. yeah, good plan, way to stimulate economic recovery.