• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

So Much for the Recovery

#21
i_got_a_mohawk said:
People are still smart enough to try and live within commuting distance of their jobs ;)

(or do most Americans tend to drive across the country every weekend?)
Click to expand...

I wish I could drive across country every weekend,lol. It can be tough to find a job in your field that's close to you even in the states. I live 45 minutes from Baltimore and Philadelphia. 45 minutes can equal 4 hours of travel if traffic is backed up which it normally is. I think the biggest problem in America concerning gas prices is traffic! We spend most of our gas in stop and go traffic. -Luke
 
#22
VS said:
How can you compare the cost of living in America when every state varies A LOT?
Click to expand...

No, that's very true and many non-US folks tend to forget that.
gas prices even vary from state to state as does reliance on public transportation and such.
Granted, we are fortunate and have been lucky with gas prices so far in comparison, but it's going to cost us big - just look at the per capita amount of cars and vehicles compared to other nations. We have a LOT of vehicles to feed... this is going to ripple down into everything. Our economies are interdependent so we ALL may be crying a river soon :)
 
#23
Right now, speculators are using a phantom recovery of the U.S. economy, plus Middle East instability and the "threat" of democracy, to drive oil prices far higher than fair market value.

If stability returns and democracy actually does arrive in the Middle East, I'm sure they will figure out a way to use that to hold up the prices as well.
 
#24
VS said:
I wish I could drive across country every weekend,lol. It can be tough to find a job in your field that's close to you even in the states. I live 45 minutes from Baltimore and Philadelphia. 45 minutes can equal 4 hours of travel if traffic is backed up which it normally is. I think the biggest problem in America concerning gas prices is traffic! We spend most of our gas in stop and go traffic. -Luke
Click to expand...

Our cities aren't any better in that respect! Again, similar problem here, if I stay working in the field that I'm studying, I'll need to stay in either Edinburgh or Glasgow to make it worthwhile/avoid several hours driving each day.
 
#26
VS said:
I live in one of the most expensive areas in the USA. The cost of fuel and food seriously impacts my finances. Rent here is looking like NYC more and more. Electric flows up to $500 a month here too. -Luke
Click to expand...

Try NJ dude...property tax, vehicle insurance, utility prices...ughhhh it's a killer.
(though I definitely know you guys are being hit hard down there in MD as well!)
 
#27
Relic said:
Try NJ dude...property tax, vehicle insurance, utility prices...ughhhh it's a killer.
(though I definitely know you guys are being hit hard down there in MD as well!)
Click to expand...

I hate your state...no offense,lol. I worked in the petroleum field for 8 years. It's sick how much gas stations can make when they feel like taking a little off the top. I managed service stations on Interstate I-95 for years at the Chesapeake House and Maryland House. I managed the 2nd and 3rd busiest gas/service stations by volume in the United States. Our average profit margin at the time was around 6 cents per gallon. There were times that gas would drop in price and we would be making about $1.50/gallon. -Luke
 
#31
VS said:
How can you compare the cost of living in America when every state varies A LOT?
Click to expand...

The same way the UN does, averages and medians. I know the cost of living greatly varies between areas, it does here too. My parents house is worth $240k where they live, put it in Toronto it would be $1.24 million. When comparing in economics, you use averages.

lowsound
 
#37
Balog said:
The higher prices on gas in non-US countries is generally a result of higher taxes. If you don't like it complain to them.
Click to expand...
Hey, we're not complaining so much. We're just commenting on you guys complaining. :D

Higher taxes on gas in the US would help to address deficits, increase sustainability of resources and reduce environmental damage. It's been a long time coming, but it looks like you're finally catching up. $4 a gallon isn't anywhere near enough, but it's a move in the right direction. In the long term, prices just reflect the reality of the market and the global energy situation. Yes, it will suck, but it's in the post and that is pretty much that. Reality gets us all sooner or later.
 
#38
So when are bar owners going to increase what they pay their bands to cover the higher costs of getting to gigs?

I thought so.

There's a band I may be joining that pretty regularly travels 80 to 200 miles (roundtrip) for their gigs... and you can bet their manager is starting to sweat the economics on those jobs... especially if he already locked in rates assuming $2.50 gas.
 
#40
i_got_a_mohawk said:
People are still smart enough to try and live within commuting distance of their jobs ;)

(or do most Americans tend to drive across the country every weekend?)
Click to expand...

Your cities were built hundreds of years ago when a car wasn't even conceivable, and as a result are much more tightly packed and centralized. People in New York City don't need to own a car because everything is so close and public transit is such a part of life. In many US cities that really expanded and became hubs after the 1900s, like mine, Tampa, living without a car really isn't feasible for 99.9% of the population.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back