Another bitch about gas prices

[thetroy]

Futures markets are ridiculous. They should not exist.

[VitaminG]

Next, Congress is busy screwing around with Steroids and Spygate while gas hits $4 a gallon. Why? Because they are a bunch of wimps who don't want to tackle the real issues or ones that could hurt them. If they attack the oil companies, it hurts their pocket books. Even though everyone can agree it's absurd what they are doing, congress doesn't have the guts to get up and do anything.

but this is nothing new. Kenneth Starr wasted, what, $3billion dollars trying to determine if the Prez got his knob gobbled by an intern in the oval office.

[442w30]

Futures markets are ridiculous. They should not exist.

Root of the current problem

[charvelguy]

In the history of US oil production though, I believe we never exceeded 40% of our total capacity for heavy crude. America has always relied upon oil imports and even exports a good deal of its own oil if I recall correctly (profit). We're in the light crude market tho, we've never been a large producer of heavy crude even when there were less environmental restrictions. Frankly, I agree with alot of what Gore says but I see his approach as being more global than soley US...to ignore the consequences of what can happen in the global environment within our generation is liken to putting blinders on and hoping you'll not drive off a cliff while crusing the Grand Canyon.

[Spivonious]

Haven't read most of the thread, but here are my thoughts:

I'm already seeing a much lower number of SUVs on the road. There was a story on the news about how empty Atlantic City was this past holiday weekend, normally a very busy time. I've noticed many more drivers obeying the speed limit on highways. If gas continues to go up, these changes in behavior will only increase.

I think we'll see two things for sure:
#1. Expanded and improved public transportation systems
#2. A majority of people moving back into cities from the suburbs.

I'm lucky that I've always used my car sensibly, so the increase in gas prices just takes a little out of my spending cash each month and isn't causing me to lose my house or cut down to two meals a day.

Regardless of the cause of the price spike, I do think that it's a good thing as it really gets people focused on the fact that we are too dependent on oil, foreign or not. Without the price increase we would never have research going into cars like the Chevy Volt or the Toyota Prius. I'm planning on getting a Volt when they are released. GM claims it can go 40 miles on a charge before turning on its gas generator. My commute to work is about 10 miles each way so I would theoretically never use any gas.

Quit with the complaining and the doom and gloom talk. Prices go up, people start using different ways to get where they're going. To think that without gasoline the country would implode is very short-sighted.

Drilling for more oil/natural gas is not the answer. It would only postpone the problem for a few decades.

[Bengal]

Soaps post was very good. I enjoyed reading it.

I'm not so sure that the Amercian Society is going to collapse. It might, but I doubt it. If we fall, a lot of other countries fall. Including China. Where will they sell their shit then? They go under if we go under.

Sometimes I think a good old French Revolution would be a good thing. We have the "army" so it's always a possibility. But it would have to get very, very bad for people to start thinking about taking up arms against the government. Maybe if Bush suspended the fall election because of some shit like he's the only one that can protect us from terrorism, then I could see it. But high gas prices are not going to do it.

I don't know what the answer is.

[goodwood]

Predictions are now $5.00 per gallon by the July 4th weekend.

Already that price here in Nova Scotia Canada man.

[thetroy]

Current statewide average in MI = $4.10

I'm going to dust off my Mongoose.

[SEEGERMANY]

I'm going to dust off my Mongoose.

I think that's what Bill calls his pud!

[thetroy]

:ROTF:

[Spivonious]

I'm not so sure that the Amercian Society is going to collapse. It might, but I doubt it. If we fall, a lot of other countries fall. Including China. Where will they sell their shit then? They go under if we go under.

Hence the reason I'm not worried at all about this whole recession doom & gloom.

[åron]

Step one is lobbyist and campaign reform. Then bring on the solar power, nuclear power and hemp seed bio-fuel revolution, imho. Cut military spending by at least half and pour the money into hydrogen technology and public transit. Save the oil for fabricating necessary materials. I agree that the doom and gloom predictions are way overblown.

[Spivonious]

Step one is lobbyist and campaign reform. Then bring on the solar power, nuclear power and hemp seed bio-fuel revolution, imho. Cut military spending by at least half and pour the money into hydrogen technology and public transit. Save the oil for fabricating necessary materials. I agree that the doom and gloom predictions are way overblown.

Totally agree with everything you said (except for bio-fuels - they just feel like a stopgap to me).

• Get rid of lobbying altogether.
• Line up all of the primary elections and make them two months before the general election.
• Limit campaigning to 3 months before an election.
• Forbid candidates from using their own money for their campaign.
• Force TV networks to invite all candidates to the debates, not just the ones the network deems most popular.
• Limit congress members to two consecutive terms. Reading about people who have been senators for 40 years makes me sick, and is most likely the reason for all of the corruption.
• Ban PACs.
• Pass a "super constitution" that forces the constitution to be reexamined every 15 years.
• Pass an amendment that clearly defines what the purpose of the federal government is.
• Ban political parties. The voters need to look at the candidate, not the label placed on him/her.

I could go on, but I have work to do.

edit:

A few more things:
-The federal government shouldn't subsidize anything that can't survive on its own. This includes the arts, schools, public transportation, trading companies, banks, mortgage lenders, etc.
-No budget that isn't balanced can be passed, and any law/program introduced after the budget is passed that would break the budget needs a 3/4 majority to pass, except in emergency situtations that are clearly defined (our country is being invaded, plague, natural disaster relief, etc.)

[lerxstcat]

Soaps post was very good. I enjoyed reading it.

I'm not so sure that the Amercian Society is going to collapse. It might, but I doubt it. If we fall, a lot of other countries fall. Including China. Where will they sell their shit then? They go under if we go under.

Sometimes I think a good old French Revolution would be a good thing. We have the "army" so it's always a possibility. But it would have to get very, very bad for people to start thinking about taking up arms against the government. Maybe if Bush suspended the fall election because of some shit like he's the only one that can protect us from terrorism, then I could see it. But high gas prices are not going to do it.

I don't know what the answer is.

I think people will start hijacking gas tanker trucks, as well as shooting oil execs and politicians who won't get with the program on doing something tangible about these problems.

Citizens might not be confronted by the military en masse, but shoot a few dozen fat cats and politicians and the rest of them will get the idea and start doing something. Can't ride the gravy train if you're dead...

Yeah, there's a revolution of some sort coming!

[Soap]

I think people will start hijacking gas tanker trucks, as well as shooting oil execs and politicians who won't get with the program on doing something tangible about these problems.

Citizens might not be confronted by the military en masse, but shoot a few dozen fat cats and politicians and the rest of them will get the idea and start doing something. Can't ride the gravy train if you're dead...

Yeah, there's a revolution of some sort coming!

+1
Its needed and long over due.