How Bad Are Gas Prices Hurting You? - Page 6

joedelt · #**126** 04/30/2006, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Retail gasoline marketing is all about getting people into the store to by their smokes and beer. If they can pay for the utilities with the gas profits they are happy.

absolutly, but they still need to buy the gas

its an interesting business model to look at. they cant keep the high margin items selling w/out the gas, and and they cant keep the gas w/out the high margin items.

NewMariner · #**127** 04/30/2006, 08:26 PM

What they actually need to do is to spend money in researching batteries. Yes I said batteries....We are using the same battery technology as 50 years ago. If we could get more storage and higher outputs into a battery just think what that would open up. You could have solar reflectors on a car creating energy, storing into your battery, and off you go. You dont have to worry about non-renewable sources for oil.

Or how about creating MR Fusion from back to the future? Throw in your garbage and converts it to energy...you kill two birds with one stone.

The problem is no one wants to think outside of the box anymore, and try anything different. We all want to convert what we currently have to work with something else. We just need to scrap our current fuel sources and consider alternatives that are outside of the box...such as solar energy, or even off the wall items such as Mr Fusion.

Poorcollegereef · #**128** 04/30/2006, 09:35 PM

I have a small car so gas hurts but it hasnt kill me yet. My GF has an SUV and that could kill her. Luckly her grandfather has an gastank at her farm so she gets 'free' gas. (He filled the tank last year when prices were low)
Really, I dont know how people with SUVs can even live anymore and it really sickens me to know that exxonmobil is making record profits. I wont even go into the political aspects of it all but if prices remain high and debt/making ends meat becomes difficult... the we might start enforcing socialistic reforms to stop the price gouging that is taking place.

goodluck to all of yall that gas is a serious problem for, but I guess this is what we get for getting in bed with oil barrens

Buckeye ME · #**129** 04/30/2006, 10:15 PM

Is there something you don't understand about keeping politics out of the thread?

As far as battery technology, I think we've gone as far as we can from battery technology. There is only so much voltage you can pull from electron transfer between metals. I'm sure there's a chemist on here somewhere that could prove the maximum voltage possible between two metals.

The Grim Reefer · #**130** 04/30/2006, 11:31 PM

The battery technology is pretty much there. Need to work on generation methods. Someone mentioned turning roads into solar cells. Not a bad idea except that in places with heavy traffic and congestion the cars would keep the majority of the light from reaching the road surface.

drouner · #**131** 04/30/2006, 11:51 PM

socialistic reforms

Well, there you have it. I was waiting for that. Solialistic Reforms.....Mmmmmm, sounds like communism or anti capitalism. You can't make a buck. Why does the government have to step in everytime someone does not like something. Man, let the free market do it's thing. If there is way to solve this let the private industry and consumers solve it. If somebody makes some cash well great. Everytime the government trys correct or fix something it usually gets screwed up worse.

So if Exxon was making record profits @ $1.25 gallon would you still be yelling about "price gauging"?

As far a SUV's well, it does get expensive, but I would say the marjority of the folks that can afford the payments probably can afford the gas. If not they are selling them as fast as they can. Used pick-ups and SUV trade in values have dropped because their gas mileage and the number that are being traded in.

joedelt · #**132** 05/01/2006, 06:24 AM

does somone hvae the inflated values of the fuel crunch in the 70s? if i recall, we're stil no where near what fuel cost then.

while i agree that free market economic systems are generally the best available, they do have their shortcomings.
for example. when your primary motivation factor is $$$, if you dont see a profit in a line of research you're less inclined to do it. with gas being as cheap as it has been for as long as it has been there has been no economic insentive for agressive research into alternatives. even now, with 3 dollar gas its just getting to the break even point for a lot of 'newer alternative' technologies. but lest we forget, henry fords changed FROM bio fuels to petroleum because petroleum was far cheaper at the time for people to buy.

the sooner we stop whining about costs and recognize that gas will NEVER go back under 2 dollars, the better off we'll be. more money will be pored into research, money coming from the so called record profits in big oil.

aynoT79 · #**133** 05/01/2006, 01:46 PM

These gas prices are nuts.. Ever since all this with the jump in prices we have been living paycheck to paycheck, I dont have the extra money to do things on the weekends with the kids, Both my kids are in baseball and to travel to games is hurting us bad.. So bad to the point its monday now and i have no gas in my vehical to take them to there games this week, had to cancel my daughts dr appt because im on empty and wont make it there, not to mention this dr appt was her physical for her to begin school this comming school year.. Its all nuts.. I just want the prices to go down so we can all live a happy life.. I have been late on a credit card payment 3 times, that hurt my credit score.. Its not fun, its just hurting all of us in the end.. Something needs to be done!!!

BrianD · #**134** 05/01/2006, 01:53 PM

Perhaps a part-time job for that extra gas money?

Jamie2337 · #**135** 05/01/2006, 03:38 PM

Good thread!

My aunt just spent 4 months in India helping people who have nothing...clay huts, barely any food, no medical care. People who have lepracy and are starving. I bet they would be happy to complain about putting $3 a gallon gas in their SUV.

I know it is hard to make ends meet. But I don't know that we as Americans understand how truly lucky we are. I for one don't mind the gas prices. Of couse I likes it a lot better at .99 cents a gallon when I graduated high school 10 years ago!

And we are a family of four that makes less that $50,000 a year. I feel lucky that I have a vehicle to put gas in!

Wilafur · #**136** 05/01/2006, 03:39 PM

^^ amen to that.

reefpeep2004 · #**137** 05/02/2006, 02:01 PM

I live in Los Angeles. I see thousands of BIG pickups, SUV's, and Hummers every day. Seriously now...in a metropolitan city of 15 million people you need 4 wheel drive ?

I drive a car that gets 30 mpg. I fill up once a month. I might notice gas prices when they get up past $10/gallon

Travis L. Stevens · #**138** 05/02/2006, 02:14 PM

Well, though prices are really hurting me at the moment, I have to say that I'm thankful to live in Oklahoma. Gas Prices were all the way up to $2.99 in Dallas this weekend when I was gone. When I got back, Tulsa, Oklahoma's gas prices had dropped to $2.57. It was such a nice relief to see them. On Friday, though, Gas Prices in Stillwater, OK were $2.79. 85 miles away in Tulsa, OK they were $2.62. Why is the gas prices so drastically different in such as short distance?

oz · #**139** 05/02/2006, 02:14 PM

All this talk about supply and demand, free market setting the price you pay reminds me of the time Enron manipulated the energy market and exploited the people of California. Yeah some pople were arguing back then too, its the free market, its simply supply and demand, etc. Now we know better what Enron actually did. In future I hope the truth will come out about Exxon. Wow, they even rhyme, Enron and Exxon.

sfaribault · #**140** 05/02/2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefpeep2004
I live in Los Angeles. I see thousands of BIG pickups, SUV's, and Hummers every day. Seriously now...in a metropolitan city of 15 million people you need 4 wheel drive ?

I drive a car that gets 30 mpg. I fill up once a month. I might notice gas prices when they get up past $10/gallon

These are the people that grip about prices....

Same here....

Steve

The Grim Reefer · #**141** 05/02/2006, 04:25 PM

You see the same thing with politicians. They are driven in black Surburbans to a gas station for a photo op where they can make a speech about high prices. 7 or 8 media outlets show up in their vans to cover the event, of course there needs to be the security detail for the Senator and congressmen who of course can't lower themselves to car pooling so it is multiple black burbs making the trip.

Wilafur · #**142** 05/02/2006, 04:51 PM

^^lol, there was an article in the la times this week that was along those lines.

it seems that the guy that the mayor appointed for the energy conservation post recently purchased a hummer. the mayor himself drives around in a city owned yukon as do a bunch of city councilmen/women. good times!

drouner · #**143** 05/02/2006, 08:22 PM

After dropping .03 this weekend, it went up .10 in the last 2 days.

Paid $2.90 today.

We typically head west for vacation. I am glad that we are not going to Colorado this year.

Scuba_Dave · #**144** 05/02/2006, 08:30 PM

Gas prices...buying the gast itself....is not what will kill you
(Chuck Norris will do that)

It's the fact that anything that is made with a petroleum product will increase in price. Anything that has to be shipped...will increase in price
THAT is what is going to HURT

The Grim Reefer · #**145** 05/02/2006, 09:33 PM

I am getting ready to move and the moving company has a big fuel surcharge right now. Like 7%.

fat-tony · #**146** 05/04/2006, 01:03 PM

What I want to know is how soon before the speed limits change???

The Grim Reefer · #**147** 05/04/2006, 01:10 PM

What they ought to do is encourage high speed commuter trains. They can't give the Railroad a mile of land on the right of way as incentive but they could do something as far a taxes go.

oz · #**148** 05/04/2006, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fat-tony
What I want to know is how soon before the speed limits change???

Couple weeks ago, I was driving down I-95 to Florida and most speed limit south of Richmond is now 75 mph.

I was averaging 90, ofcourse.

Wilafur · #**149** 05/04/2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
What they ought to do is encourage high speed commuter trains. They can't give the Railroad a mile of land on the right of way as incentive but they could do something as far a taxes go.

great theory but ain't gonna happen with all the politics that surround such an endeavor.

for example, the state/feds are expanding the 405 freeway which is one of the main freeways in socal. this is all well and good, but the folks out here are very reactive not proactive. since they are demo'ing and constructing a couple new lanes in the center median and far right, this is the ideal time to sink a foundation in the median that will support a raised train/lightrail system in the future. by constructing the foundation now, it will cost only a fraction of what it would should they decide to construct this in the future. grrrr!

The Grim Reefer · #**150** 05/04/2006, 04:16 PM

I still remember sitting in the traffic jams while they slapped a coat of asphalt on the 5 because it was cheaper than resurfacing the concrete.