Gas Prices -- the Cause

[777 fixer]

See Pelosi suddenly is for drilling?

She wants to release oil from the strategic reserve....I think thats stupid.

Politicizing the reserve doesn't make it a very good strategy.

All opening up the Strategic Oil Reserve does is give politicians the mistaken impression that they are actually doing something. Bill tried it in 2000 when oil was getting close to, GASP!!, $30 dollars a barrel. The price went down a tiny bit then went right back up. Ironically AL Gore was all for it.

 

[Cosworth]

It doesn't occur to any of these people to get it and they still drive all over, crashing into people.

Did it occur to you that insurance might be a luxury for some of these folks as well?

Also, according to the latest info, CA is leading the paxk in REDUCING their driving. I'm sure you are doing your best to stop that trend though.

 

[777 fixer]

Well...let's factor in the cost of a 300M transmission. Replaced one (actually they had to put 3 in to get it right) and it was acting up again. Replaced power window motors twice. None were under warranty. Yeah..I'm saving money. You know how much gas you can buy for the price of a Chrysler tranny?

I bought the Prius because 1) I wanted something more reliable than a Chrysler, 2) I wanted something that was more versatile since I got dogs, 3) I wanted something that got decent mileage. Yes, I could have hung on to the Chrysler...and paid close to $80 a week to fill it (with gas over $4 a gallon). Or I could buy a Prius and pay $40 to go almost 2 weeks.

Yeah...I guess I contributed some to the price of gas when I opted for a 300M in 1999. But even then, it was getting twice the mileage that most SUV's got. And when I bought the Prius, gas was "only" about $2 a gallon. But...how come, when gas hit $4 a gallon, nobody seemed to stand up and say "mea culpa" because their vehicle of choice for the past 20 years got abysmal mileage? Very few. Instead it was speculators, OPEC, democrats for not letting us drill offshore, and treehuggers for not letting us drill in Alaska. Nobody said "gee, I was burning 50 gallons of gas a week for the past 20 years, mostly to and from work...I wonder if THAT had anything to do with today's gas prices".

You forgot to add the warm fuzzy felling you got when you bought it.

Have you really saved any money yet? Let’s say that transmission cost $3000. Subtract that off whatever you paid for the Prius. That's how much gas you bought. Has the Prius saved you that much in gas the past three years? Yes eventually it will save you money. At $4 dollars a gallon it saves you $2880 a year. However at $2 a gallon the savings were $1440. As you can see it will be a number of years before you see an actual savings.

Now granted it's doubtful the 300M would have lasted this long. Chryslers are not known for their longevity, that’s why I don't buy them. However an economical four banger would have fit the bill and been a lot cheaper than a Prius.

 

[777 fixer]

Also, according to the latest info, CA is leading the paxk in REDUCING their driving. I'm sure you are doing your best to stop that trend though.

It’s all relative when you think about it. Even with the reduction the roads there are still clogged with cars.

For years if you were to tell the average Southern Californian that they had to invest in public transportation they would give you a speech about how it's not practical. They handled population growth by building new and expanding existing freeways. It was not until recently that they started investing in public transportation. And it will be years before they have what cities like Chicago and New York have in terms of train and bus service.

 

[Bobbie]

The Los Angeles public transit system is a joke. It's a homeless shelter more than anything else. I like parking in downtown and taking the subway to Hollywood sometimes, but that's mostly tourists and there's ample police presence.

The entire system is geared toward Park and Ride...there aren't a lot of good options unless you take the bus and get home 2 hours later than if you drove through traffic.

 

[delldude]

All opening up the Strategic Oil Reserve does is give politicians the mistaken impression that they are actually doing something. Bill tried it in 2000 when oil was getting close to, GASP!!, $30 dollars a barrel. The price went down a tiny bit then went right back up. Ironically AL Gore was all for it.

Agreed...and now as they fill it , we pay..........

 

[KCFlyer]

However an economical four banger would have fit the bill and been a lot cheaper than a Prius.

And a stripper F150 would pull a lot of boats - Shoot...you could buy a base F150 for boat pulling duty and a nice economy car for the daily commuter for less than than price of most of these luxo-yachts. which rarely see the lake...even more rarely go "off road", and can't haul as much as a minivan.

At the time there was no vehicle - 4 doors that would carry 5 but a hatchback that I could use to "haul things" by folding down the rear seats. Also...don't forget to add in the tax credit I got for buying one.

 

[JS]

Really? Because you proudly burn that gasoline so freely...
blah blah blah
... That sounds like you are partly responsible for making the poor poorer. WWJD?

Congratulations, you are the master of extrapolation!

 

[Seatacus]

Did it occur to you that insurance might be a luxury for some of these folks as well?

Not quite sure what you mean by this................

 

[cltrat]

Did it occur to you that insurance might be a luxury for some of these folks as well?


did it occur to you that many are illegal aliens in SoCal? or have no drivers license? or multiple DUI's or all of the above?

the number of innocent people killed in my city by these types is horrid

let me guess you think the government should provide them affordable car insurance?

 

[KCFlyer]

Congratulations, you are the master of extrapolation!

Read your bible JS...then read Bobbie's posts on the US board...and then ask WWJD?

Here's how I extrapolate - it's a simple theory of supply and demand...you burn gas in a most wasteful manner and are proud of it...then say that Jesus doesn't want to make the poor people poorer. When you are a big part of the demand equation, you are forcing the price for the poor folks up...but you don't mind because you're driving a Mercedes and can afford it, and accept that gasoline or driving might become "a luxury" some day. Again, WWJD?

 

[tech2101]

Read your bible JS...then read Bobbie's posts on the US board...and then ask WWJD?

Here's how I extrapolate - it's a simple theory of supply and demand...you burn gas in a most wasteful manner and are proud of it...then say that Jesus doesn't want to make the poor people poorer. When you are a big part of the demand equation, you are forcing the price for the poor folks up...but you don't mind because you're driving a Mercedes and can afford it, and accept that gasoline or driving might become "a luxury" some day. Again, WWJD?

I think you missed her point. She has him (Jesus) riding shotgun, so anything she does is "in his hands".

I wish I could absolve myself of all social responsibility by placing my life in Jesus' hands. I my world, I am accountable for, and have to answer to real people when making such decisions.

 

[Bobbie]

I think you missed her point. She has him (Jesus) riding shotgun, so anything she does is "in his hands".

I wish I could absolve myself of all social responsibility by placing my life in Jesus' hands. I my world, I am accountable for, and have to answer to real people when making such decisions.

Absolutely. Everything is in His hands! Through Him, all things are possible.

 

[JS]

Read your bible JS...then read Bobbie's posts on the US board...and then ask WWJD?

Here's how I extrapolate - it's a simple theory of supply and demand...you burn gas in a most wasteful manner and are proud of it...then say that Jesus doesn't want to make the poor people poorer. When you are a big part of the demand equation, you are forcing the price for the poor folks up...but you don't mind because you're driving a Mercedes and can afford it, and accept that gasoline or driving might become "a luxury" some day. Again, WWJD?

One consumer cannot have any effect on the market price of gasoline no matter how much you burn. The market is far too large.

Regarding your religious attack on Bobbie, perhaps some perspective is in order. The Bible mentions gluttony in only four places:

Deuteronomy 21:20
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

OK, that's nice (not a command, just a statement).

Proverbs 23:21
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

This means drinking too much or eating too much will make you sleepy, which means you can't work, which makes you poor (and in America today, you're a "victim" of capitalism, deserving of a handout and free health care).

In the other two passages, people were actually accusing Jesus of being a glutton! They also despised him for being a friend of sinners and tax collectors.

Matthew 11:19
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Luke 7:34
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

 

[Cosworth]

did it occur to you that many are illegal aliens in SoCal? or have no drivers license? or multiple DUI's or all of the above?

the number of innocent people killed in my city by these types is horrid

let me guess you think the government should provide them affordable car insurance?

No. I think the government needs to developer public transportation so that those with out insurance will not have an excuse.

Seatacus,

What I meant is that the cost of insurance can be so high that it would seem like a luxury item too some. So they drive with out insurance because that is the only way to get to work.