Ridiculous Gas prices? I'll thank Bush.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004 by ToolWraith | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
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Reply #82 Friday, May 21, 2004 1:05 AM
Reply #83 Friday, May 21, 2004 3:04 AM
Here's a list of the world's largest nations, by area....
1. Russia
2. Canada
3. China
4. USA
5. Brazil
6. Australia
7. India
8. Argentina
9. Kazakstan
10. The Sudan
by population....
1. China
2. India
3. USA
4. Indonesia
5. Brazil
6. Pakistan
7. Russia
8. Bangladesh
9. Nigeria
10. Japan
Of the five nations that reside on both lists....Brazil, China, India, Russia, USA....I think the people in the USA still have the greatest opportunities, most stable economy, greatest income per capita, best healthcare services available, freeist (sic) speech and cleanest environment, but that isn't going to last. At the same time, we are the most resource wasteful, lowest education standards, lowest moral standards and are the most belligerent (war-like nation). I suspect that once China and Russia fully recover from the side-effects of communism and have in full swing a real world economy, China first, then Russia, we're going to be taking a backseat on the shortbus.
Reply #84 Friday, May 21, 2004 3:39 AM
EventHorizon wonders if things would be better with Gore at the helm...
Nah, I doubt it. Jobs are going to go overseas weather you've got a Dem in The Office or not.
How would he slow or stop the flow anyway?
Reply #85 Friday, May 21, 2004 7:14 AM
I'm suprised it's not getting more coverage. I guess there are juicier things to report.
Reply #86 Friday, May 21, 2004 7:55 AM
One liter of regular patrol in The Netherlands is now € 1,25 = $ 1,49.
With this The Netherlands is one of the most expensive countries in Europe.
A few months ago i was in Venezuela.... wow i couldn't believe my eyes.
I did fill my tank (60 liters) there for about 3 !! euros
The problem in The Netherlands is the taxes. Patrol from itself isn't expensive. The taxes on every liter in The Netherlands is about € 0,80 from the € 1,25 liter price.
I wonder how much that is in the United States.
Reply #87 Friday, May 21, 2004 8:17 AM
the market has been adding jobs, and indeed it has taken a back seat to more 'headline' news such as prisoner scandles.. i know my office for one has added several people in the last few months, and we are only a small company (200 people in house). actually my coordinator just walked by a minute ago and confirmed a rumor that we have a new person in our department that HR never told us about..
anyway, truth is jobs are comming but comming slow and hard.. the dollar is still weak and stuff's still expensive with gas not helping.
the only thing any of us can do is start to conserve, and keep things under control.
btw the US appears to be the most wasteful in terms of resources but remember that we are the size of 50 smaller countries. thake the statistics from 50 countries and compare it to us, it won't look as bad. then consider the open space and the distances we travel compared to people elsewhere in the world. now it makes sense why we use more.
i'm not sticking up for @!^%!~ SUV's and hummer's.. that rich people drive for status, but.. well you get my point.
Reply #88 Friday, May 21, 2004 8:53 AM
The gas problem is going to be a long term problem.
First, you can not blame Bush or the US government for gas prices. Crude oil prices are set by OPEC. They will raise prices just because they *think* a shortage may happen. Unless the US wants to go to war with the world, we aren't about to over throw OPECs decisions.
Second, we keep having a higher demand. More cars. More driving. Less fuel efficiency. The EPA wants to make sure we have very clean air. They make tighter and tighter restrictions on emissions every year on both cars and fuel refinery. Funny thing is- the higher the emissions standards, the worse the gas mileage. You need more fuel.
Third, refineries keep closing because they can meet emission standards. The EPA has gone so insane that it is almost impossible to build a new refinery so companies just don't. We have lost about 30% of our refineries in less than 20 year. However, our demand keeps growing but our refineries can't keep up. Europe's gas is quite expensive because of this. They have to outsource almost all of their refining which costs a lot since all of them are already running at 99%.
Fourth, the people don't want more fuel efficient vehicles. How many people do you know that drive a diesel car? A Jetta TDI will get 50mpg (that is real life trial- I had one). Diesel fuel is $1.79 per gallon here versus $2.09. Doesn't take a math wiz to figure that one out. How many hybrid Honda civics do you see on the road? They are available, but they don't have the horsepower of a full gas engine. They don't sell well. These factors tell the car industry that we don't want alternative fuel so they aren't spending the money on research.
But, here is a bit of math for you to see that gas prices aren't as bad as people really think. Yes, it costs more per year, but I think until it gets to $3.00 a gallon people can deal with it if they use a little common sense and quit over reacting.
Here is the scenario (which is real life because it's my car). Monte Carlo gets 28 miles per gallon. It is driven 29,000 per year (I will round that to 1035 gallons per year). Here is what it costs per year to drive at different amounts (I will start with a gas price that we haven't had in years and end with one that could happen):
$1.35/gallon: $1397.25
$1.50/gallon: $1552.50
$1.79/gallon: $1852.65
$2.00/gallon: $2070.00
$2.10/gallon: $2173.50
$2.25/gallon: $2328.75
$2.50/gallon: $2587.50
$3.00/gallon: $3105.00
So, the difference in gas from a few years ago ($1.35) and now ($2.10) is $776.25 per year more. Since the national average mileage per year is less than half of what I drive, that means that the average consumer is seeing an increase of less than $388 per year (at current prices). In comparison, if you were to buy a fast food lunch 3 times a week at $3 more than it would cost you to pack a lunch, that would cost you $468. Heck, even a $1.50 coffee 5 days a week costs $390. Smoke? The yearly average for that is $2,000 per year.
So, pack your lunch, make your own coffee, and quit smoking. Buy a fuel efficient vehicle the next time you need a car, and don't sweat the gas prices.....yet.
Reply #89 Friday, May 21, 2004 10:37 AM
| So, the difference in gas from a few years ago ($1.35) and now ($2.10) |
Gas might be that cheap nationwide but Oregon is much higher at 2.35. California as well.
Reply #90 Friday, May 21, 2004 11:37 AM
My prediction.....
In four/five months from now....Sept/Oct there will be a world glut of oil and the prices will come down again and settle in around $1.70-$1.80 a gallon
Reply #91 Saturday, May 22, 2004 12:16 PM
There is some threshold price, I can't remember what it is, that would make alternative fuel choices like methane and hydrogen more economical to pursue. We won't get to that point, because OPEC will increase production and the prices will come down to avoid competitive fuel choices.
Reply #92 Saturday, May 22, 2004 2:14 PM
| In four/five months from now....Sept/Oct there will be a world glut of oil and the prices will come down again and settle in around $1.70-$1.80 a gallon |
ONLY becuase I believe Bush made a deal with OPEC to help his standings in the election. >
[Message Edited]
Reply #94 Saturday, May 22, 2004 9:59 PM
Reply #95 Saturday, May 22, 2004 10:30 PM
Hiya AR ! Long time no type
Hope all is going well with you and yours.
Reply #96 Saturday, May 22, 2004 11:59 PM
| Trickle Down Economics |
Funnn-eeee
By the way, notice that the outsourcing to Asia and China is becoming less cheap for the people over there are hip to the game.
Also know, not from economics but just from living life these past 29 years, what goes around comes around hard.
Anyway, I never liked trickle down economics... becuase it alway took to long to 'trickle' down to the people who spends the most money... the Middle class.
Reply #97 Monday, May 24, 2004 4:24 PM
| #89 by Skinner kona0197 - 5/21/2004 10:37:54 AM So, the difference in gas from a few years ago ($1.35) and now ($2.10) Gas might be that cheap nationwide but Oregon is much higher at 2.35. California as well. |
Those are average prices, Kona. Obviously some states are higher or lower than others.
Reply #98 Monday, May 24, 2004 5:00 PM
Reply #99 Monday, May 24, 2004 5:03 PM
you'll get tax incentives that will help offset the little more you'll pay for it, but what you save on gas will more then make up for that too. look at what you'll be using the car for.. granted if you're hauling something you need a truck.. but unless you've got 6 kids you don't need a minivan (or far worse, a pointless SUV). if you want a sports car, well.. we all have different reasons for getting a sports car. but if you just need something to drive.. go small, go cost efficient if you go gas. mini's, civics, jettas. us city dwellers will thank you, when you're trying to parallel park the thing on a skinny street.Reply #100 Monday, May 24, 2004 6:00 PM
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Reply #81 Friday, May 21, 2004 1:01 AM
Sorry, but I do not care how many times you dip a turd in Rose Water and wrap it in Silk, it is still a turd.
Economics
The whole damn model has not only changed it has died, no one is willing to admit it or pick it up and put it in a hole in the ground yet.
jobless Recovery... hehehe.... But wait! There are new jobs! Yeah, few 100 thou, when over a million or so were lost... Out Sourcing to China helps build jobs in the USA... I guess McDonald's is going to higher everyone and run one hour shifts, Wendy's and Toco Bell have promise to catch the over flow once over time is taken away, medical insurance is privatized and eventually killed and minimum wage is tossed...
I dunno...
Yeah I can see it now
Quick someone pass me an Umbrella, they are going to claim Trickle Down Economics are in working order once again and it is raining money and I'm not up to being peed upon again...