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gas prices
- Thread starter plexibass
- Start date
The difference between the US and the European countries listed as paying ~$8 a gallon is that besides its size (All of the UK would fit in Oregon) the US was largely created in concert with the rise of car culture.
Unlike much older European nations, America's towns and cities were built with the foreknowledge that people would use automobiles to get from place to place. When I spent time in Paris, I didn't even need a car. The Metro and having amenities withing walking distance made that possible. At the present moment, the closest store to me is well over two miles away.
Americans are concerned about rising gas prices because it impacts our lives more and there are few alternatives.
Unlike much older European nations, America's towns and cities were built with the foreknowledge that people would use automobiles to get from place to place. When I spent time in Paris, I didn't even need a car. The Metro and having amenities withing walking distance made that possible. At the present moment, the closest store to me is well over two miles away.
Americans are concerned about rising gas prices because it impacts our lives more and there are few alternatives.
I read this yesterday, and it looks like some preliminary drilling may start up soon, but I don't look for the oil to flow freely for quite a while for a couple reasons-
1) The oil companies are content having a low supply and a high demand. This boosts profits, which they are going for in a big way during the waning months of an oilman presidency.
2) The age of the SUV is coming to an end. What's on the horizon? Fuel efficient cars, alternative fuels. We are doing the unthinkable by burning up our food reserves in our gas tanks. I know that it is currently 7-10% of our grain production, but there are already signs that this will come around to bite us in our collective bum-cakes.
3) In the future, as the Middle East runs out of oil, wouldn't it be great to have the world's biggest proven oil reserves? Talk about immediately climbing atop the world's economy again! This seems to be a strategic play- use up everyone else's oil first. Then, when everyone else is about out, suddenly "find" a huge, proven reserve that we can tap, and share with other nations or not, as we see fit. Don't like our price? Then find your OWN oil. We have it, you don't. The Middle East will be reduced back to what it was before the oil boom...a whole lot of sand, with a whole lot of tribes squabbling over water.
So I see this sudden interest in the ANWR as a ploy, a way to tell the American people that, yes, there is oil up there, but it's not economically feasible to get it...yet...when we can just buy it from dictatorships overseas.
Let's see who holds out the longest, and how fast the petro-dollar becomes king again once the rest of the world is out. All that money that we pay the Saudis and Iraqis and Libya and whoever else sells to us, it'll all come back home- fast! Someone is gonna get rich off it, and my bet is that person will be an American...
1) The oil companies are content having a low supply and a high demand. This boosts profits, which they are going for in a big way during the waning months of an oilman presidency.
2) The age of the SUV is coming to an end. What's on the horizon? Fuel efficient cars, alternative fuels. We are doing the unthinkable by burning up our food reserves in our gas tanks. I know that it is currently 7-10% of our grain production, but there are already signs that this will come around to bite us in our collective bum-cakes.
3) In the future, as the Middle East runs out of oil, wouldn't it be great to have the world's biggest proven oil reserves? Talk about immediately climbing atop the world's economy again! This seems to be a strategic play- use up everyone else's oil first. Then, when everyone else is about out, suddenly "find" a huge, proven reserve that we can tap, and share with other nations or not, as we see fit. Don't like our price? Then find your OWN oil. We have it, you don't. The Middle East will be reduced back to what it was before the oil boom...a whole lot of sand, with a whole lot of tribes squabbling over water.
So I see this sudden interest in the ANWR as a ploy, a way to tell the American people that, yes, there is oil up there, but it's not economically feasible to get it...yet...when we can just buy it from dictatorships overseas.
Let's see who holds out the longest, and how fast the petro-dollar becomes king again once the rest of the world is out. All that money that we pay the Saudis and Iraqis and Libya and whoever else sells to us, it'll all come back home- fast! Someone is gonna get rich off it, and my bet is that person will be an American...
+1
My office is 37 miles away. There is no way for me to get there without my car. The "commuter van" that leaves from my area only drops off in the downtown area of New Orleans. After cab fare from there, it's just cheaper for me to drive myself.
As Jared said, this is just the way it is here. My particular job requires that I have a vehicle and be ready to leave at any time. So, even if I did carpool, I'd have to drive and my fellow passengers could get screwed out of a ride home without notice.
It's time to accept the fact that gas isn't going back down to where it was. Ever. I'd be surprised if it drops back down below ~$2.80. Prospecting and drilling is an expensive process and will most likely get more expensive. Many times, all of that money is spent for naught as a "dry hole" is punched and the company cuts its losses.
When it came time to replace my two vehicles in 2006, I evaluated my automotive needs and weighed fuel efficiency heavily in the decision purchase. I drive about 35000 miles per year, so this was a must. Our country is spread too spread out for me to not get good gas mileage.
Mike
EDIT: Dave and Basic: Are you guys talking about drilling in ANWAR (or other protected areas) or just drilling in general? If it's drilling in general, I can guaranty that it's going on as we speak.
My office is 37 miles away. There is no way for me to get there without my car. The "commuter van" that leaves from my area only drops off in the downtown area of New Orleans. After cab fare from there, it's just cheaper for me to drive myself.
As Jared said, this is just the way it is here. My particular job requires that I have a vehicle and be ready to leave at any time. So, even if I did carpool, I'd have to drive and my fellow passengers could get screwed out of a ride home without notice.
It's time to accept the fact that gas isn't going back down to where it was. Ever. I'd be surprised if it drops back down below ~$2.80. Prospecting and drilling is an expensive process and will most likely get more expensive. Many times, all of that money is spent for naught as a "dry hole" is punched and the company cuts its losses.
When it came time to replace my two vehicles in 2006, I evaluated my automotive needs and weighed fuel efficiency heavily in the decision purchase. I drive about 35000 miles per year, so this was a must. Our country is spread too spread out for me to not get good gas mileage.
Mike
EDIT: Dave and Basic: Are you guys talking about drilling in ANWAR (or other protected areas) or just drilling in general? If it's drilling in general, I can guaranty that it's going on as we speak.
They laughed when I traded my SUV for a vehicle that averages over 30 mpg. They are not laughing now.
People laughed at me when I bought my Metro when gas was $2.16/gal. Now those same buffoons are the ones I see at the gas stations handing over $100 bills, saying "Fill up on pump 3..."
I casually flip a $20 onto the counter and say "Fill up on pump 4...I don't know if it'll take all that $20, though. Please have my change ready when I come back in, I'm in a hurry today." Their eyes get wide, I can see the fury and resentment build. "What kind of car are you filling for $20?? I gotta pay $130 to fill mine! Where can I get one?"
They still kind of snicker when they see me climb in and out of my Metro (I'm a big guy, my car is not). But it's OK, because I know they're going to go home and talk about fuel-efficient cars with their wives. Especially if they have any kind of commute.
And for the record, I was indeed talking about ANWR drilling, and Alaskan drilling in general.
I casually flip a $20 onto the counter and say "Fill up on pump 4...I don't know if it'll take all that $20, though. Please have my change ready when I come back in, I'm in a hurry today." Their eyes get wide, I can see the fury and resentment build. "What kind of car are you filling for $20?? I gotta pay $130 to fill mine! Where can I get one?"
They still kind of snicker when they see me climb in and out of my Metro (I'm a big guy, my car is not). But it's OK, because I know they're going to go home and talk about fuel-efficient cars with their wives. Especially if they have any kind of commute.
And for the record, I was indeed talking about ANWR drilling, and Alaskan drilling in general.
They seem to get by alright in Europe, and they pay more for gas then we do. Americans need to stop whining and start changing their driving habits.
That was the point of TheBigO's post....the two situations are nearly incomparable. Our country is more spread out and our mass transit system is nearly useless for most of the people in a given metropolitan area. Europeans get by because they don't drive as much on the whole as we do and they don't have to.
Aside from my sporadic driving schedule, my office is 37 miles away. My daughters' school is one mile and they sure as hell aren't walking there. The closest grocer to me is 2 miles away. As far as other shops, I have to go no less than a mile for beer, a haircut, etc. Walking isn't impossible and I do it on occassion, but it is highly inconvenient. My situation is probably average for most Americans.
I agree, there might be a bit more bitching than necessary, but many people are being pinched and aren't in a situation where they can alter their driving habits much.
Mike
The key is to either:
a) get a job close to home
b) get a home close to the job.
Right now I drive 40 km round trip and spending $20 a week on gas in my small toyota. Thats still waay to much for me as I am used to spending $10 a month to drive my scooter/vespa. As soon as this term is over I am going to get a job where I dont have to get on the highway. This way I can drive my scooter/vespa or my bicycle. Cycling is what I really want to do.
This is what I drive (except to work)
a) get a job close to home
b) get a home close to the job.
Right now I drive 40 km round trip and spending $20 a week on gas in my small toyota. Thats still waay to much for me as I am used to spending $10 a month to drive my scooter/vespa. As soon as this term is over I am going to get a job where I dont have to get on the highway. This way I can drive my scooter/vespa or my bicycle. Cycling is what I really want to do.
This is what I drive (except to work)
I'm not sure if this is directed at me or not (and no offense taken if it is). I'll go with "b" first: I should just clarify that I live 37 miles from my job by choice. I bought in the community I wanted to for a number of reasons (cost of living, crime rate, size of tract, etc), bought a vehicle according to my needs, and consider the time and added fuel cost worth it. I have no desire to live where my job is located and would not even if I were paid more to do so.
For "a": I work in a fairly specialized field that I enjoy very much. Finding a similar position closer to home isn't an option. Besides, I have one of those jobs where my projects take me all over the state. Even if my office were right next door to me, I might not set foot in it for weeks or months at a time.
I'm not trying to argue, really, just pointing out that simple solutions don't always work. Personally, I'm planning on paying European gas prices within the next 5 years and have accepted that. I'll continue to drive my commute without complaint.
Mike
i'm really interested in learning about when america will start building plants that'll convert our vast coal reserves into (diesel) oil via the fischer-tropsch process.
considering that the cost of oil is around $120/barrel and showing no sign of decreasing, this option looks economically enticing. i think there's also work being done to help with the carbon dioxide emissions, which is a bit of a concern. :/
physics for future presidents said:
considering that the cost of oil is around $120/barrel and showing no sign of decreasing, this option looks economically enticing. i think there's also work being done to help with the carbon dioxide emissions, which is a bit of a concern. :/
no. its not directed at anybody in particular. I just think the ideal is to live, work and recreate all in the same community. makes sense to me.
I would if I could, but there simply aren't any jobs like mine in my immediate area. I understand the ideal, but it's not a viable option for me.
Mike
Realistic if you rent, not so realistic if you own your own home.
Before my father retired, he was commuting about an hour to work and an hour back. I think he was up around $9 an hour when he retired. Now if he were doing the commute, he'd actually be going in the hole. The problem is that my mother and father own their own home. It's not as simple as saying, "Let's just sell and move closer." Furthemore, he worked in State College, Pennsylvania, which as anybody from the area knows, is an incredibly expensive place to live in. Pretty much if you're not a college student staying at Penn State, you have to be upper-middle class to afford to live in State College. When one purchases a home, it's always difficult to predict economic trends. You may start out working close to home, then find yourself laid-off, so your new job is 15 miles further away.
I do agree that it makes things a lot easier if you live close to the community resources you use. I went to the branch campus of my college for two years, which is 25 minutes from where I live. I then commuted an hour and half each way for the second two years to finish my degree at the main campus. I'll be moving to the town where I'm going to graduate school at come the end of August. As an added bonus, I'll actually be closer to the gigs I play, so I won't be burning up my night's pay as much in gas. I'm fortunate that I don't have economic or social ties to keep me down, which would force me to commute to grad school.
...some people aren't as fortunate.
