Here's an interesting variation on the gas boycott scheme. The suggestion is to continue buying gas as we all must but to boycott one particular company. Maybe they'll have to lower the price to get the business back and start a gas price war! Yes, I know, then they'll all boost the price back up to compensate. Just a thought.
I can't do anything about gas prices so if I would have to accept them, at least I had looked forward to some decrease in traffic. Apparently gas prices are a complete anomaly to the supply/demand/price economic models because the roads are packed more than ever. People are out bopping around in their vehicles around here like the stuff is free.
We have not built a new refinery for over 30 years so now we even have to import refined product (now about 15%) at a higher price. The EPA is demanding somewhere up to 30 different gasoline blends nationwide which messes up production. The demand for gasoline is climbing globally at a rapid pace. We are restricted from needed drilling for crude oil in Alaska, the Gulf coast, and Pacific Coast so we are at the mercy of foreign oil suppliers. In Chicago, for example, there are five different taxes levied by governments on the product to the tune of over 70 cents. Bottom line: look for even higher prices.
I gotta tell this one...again.... Let's start with the present day situation here in Michigan. Here in MI we topped the average price last weekend in the coninental US. There is a reason, or so we are told. We don't have enough local refineries. I bought a 20+ acre wooded parcel in mid-Michigan in 1988. It had two operating oil wells on it. The oil trucks emptied the tanks a couple times a week. The small amount that we got for royalties wasn't enough to want to put up with the mess the oil company employees made all the time. An added bonus was that many people like to party in the woods where ever they find an access and the oil well access roads are perfect for entrances. It was a constant battle to clean up after both of these problems. In 1997-98 the oil well workers started coming around much more than normal. I had a talk with the forman and he said they were capping the wells. He also said that they were going to close the local refinery. The reason was that the company wasn't making enough money. I found out that they had a plan to cap dozens of wells in this area. We were SOOO happy. They capped them by filling the complete tube with cement all the way down to the core of the well. Permanent and unreversible. You can even build right over where the wells were. They covered the access roads and planted grass. We were SOO happy! There always was that question in the back of my mind that this isn't quite right. Why cap producing wells????? I think that the answer became clear around the time Katrina came through. The oil companies have helped to create this shortage. I know this for a fact in my area. I wouldn't have a clue if I wasn't directly involved with the capping.
[The reason was that the company wasn't making enough money.]
Key word there is "enough" Time was when profit was enough. Now it has to be enough profit to satisfy share holders who are now used to getting a maximum profit, not just "A" profit. We've had the same issue with the Textile industry in the Southeast. While competing with foreign companies is partly to blame, maximum profit seeking is the biggest culprit. It's starting to come out in the news now and some companies are getting tagged as anti American worker profit seekers. The result is some companies are pulling some products back due to quality and image issues. Seems there's more profit in a better product than just more cheap stuff that doesn't sell. You want to help? Stop shopping places like Wal-Mart.
The Oil industry is a rouge giant. We're to dependent on oil as a country that maybe it should be considered a public service function like power, water and natural gas, etc... and regulated accordingly. Power companies and public utilities are not allowed to make over a certain amount of profit, why can oil companies? During the WW the govt took over the railroads because it was to important to the country to be left to profit seeking Railroad barons, maybe we should start looking at the oil companies the same way?
Wanting a Custom fit in an off the rack world.
I don't have time for a job, I just need the money.
I'm one to work backwards from a result to find who and why. For example, the gas prices go up. I look to see who gains. In this case it's obvious when you see the record profits. They set themselves up on the very edge of being able to supply. They have all the info and we know nothing. They know what will happen just as soon as a big huricane hits in the gulf. They know it will happen. They know the results. They kick back and wait. The goverment knows all of this stuff too. Just like they knew what would happen to New Orleans and the people there. If you were an oil company executive or someone in the administration nothing that has happened is not forseen or wanted. It's all good and well planned for them. They act as 'bunglers' but really are 'burglers'. I don't draw the line in America between blue and red, democratic or republican, conservative or liberal. This is all smoke and mirrors to get more people on board the burglers ship. For every burgler there are scores of wanna bes that follow them. Whether it is for ideals or not for these wanna bes, the real issue is money. The line is between the classes. This is all about a redistribution of the wealth in this country. Whether you agree with this or not, it's happening. Since it is happening, work backwards and see who gains. They are most definitely the cause.
well,now you see one reason why i don't need a 400 or a 455 ci engine in any of my cars.the price of gas probably wont go down once they figure out that we will pay the price for it
Let's not forget governments lined pockets to steer clear of makeing the oil companies’ acountable. When the average Joe marches in Washington D.C. to protest the price, something might happen.
another option people shhould think is everyone by a harley davidson sprotster 883. they get 67 mpg plus there made by americans. ya think they would have adds all over tv. and there only like 6k for the cheapest version. it would pay for it self after awhile.
Let's not forget governments lined pockets to steer clear of makeing the oil companies’ acountable. When the average Joe marches in Washington D.C. to protest the price, something might happen.
I really don't think so. When they see the average Joe hurting then they know their plans are working. They say, "Get back to work Joe, you don't have time to protest..."
Their is almost nothing the US government can due to bring the price down, unless they remove the huge amount of taxes or remove the BS boutique gas requirements. (although most of those are required by state law, not federal.) Prices are controlled by the world market supply. The only thing they may be able to do is force some communities to allow a new refinery to be built. Good luck with that tough.
We would be better off in having the government drop large amounts of cash into alternative fuel(s) and/or battery research (and not ethanol or similar, it just does not have the potential to feed the huge market). I believe it was Penn and Teller's Bullshiat show that said that with 50 new nuclear plants and current batteries technology, the entire US transportation markets fuel requirements could be met.
Another thought is to have a 1 billion dollar prize to the individual or company that can provide a sustainable alternative fuel with at least 150 mpg equivalence could spur backyard inventors. It worked in other areas, why not here?
68' Firebird 400 convertible, numbers matching, solar red w/ deluxe parchment interior. 66' Pontiac Ventura Hardtop 66' Pontiac Catalina Convertible
Let's not forget governments lined pockets to steer clear of makeing the oil companies’ acountable. When the average Joe marches in Washington D.C. to protest the price, something might happen.
I really don't think so. When they see the average Joe hurting then they know their plans are working. They say, "Get back to work Joe, you don't have time to protest..."
I understand that you were being optomistic and that's good.
The handwriting is on the wall. We will use the oil until it can't be supplied at the level of demand. Barring any large economic set-backs the fuel wil be guzzled until the price goes up so high that people simply have no money to buy it. With credit cards and other quick ways to get money there's going to be more cushion and time before it happens. I keep going back to the dog with a steak on the floor analogy. He's going to eat it.... Americans have the same self control. They will quit eating the steak when it's gone.
Us Americans are not the only ones to blame for oil consumption. Don't forget the industrial revolution that is taking place in China and India right now. Those people are buying more and more cars everyday in those countries.
and other countries pay the same we do for the gas...their taxes are just higher...right now a gallon of gas in US $ is $6.60 in Sweden...some of the less increase over there I think is the $ lost value last year....that also has some to do with the increase!
Prices are secondary. If you look at the graff of consumption and compare it to the graff of production you will see that there will be a tipping point. Soon, if things stay on the path that they are on. Very soon, if there is an interuption in production even from one huricane hitting the Gulf.
well,if hurricanes have something to do with it,brace yourselves.they predict a very active hurricane season this year.i am not looking forward to see another one hit me.katrina and wilma distroyed all i had.i don't want to go through that again
well,if hurricanes have something to do with it,brace yourselves.they predict a very active hurricane season this year.i am not looking forward to see another one hit me.katrina and wilma distroyed all i had.i don't want to go through that again
well, they predicted that last year too....they were wrong...of course less chance of being wrong twice in a row, but , stranger things happen....I beleive it when I see it...
I keep going back to the dog with a steak on the floor analogy. He's going to eat it.... Americans have the same self control. They will quit eating the steak when it's gone.
EXACTLY! Between the oil companies serving up "relatively" cheap oil, and consumers reluctance to change their habits, their will be no sweeping change unless it is basically at gunpoint (i.e. no supply, very high prices, oceans 20 feet higher etc etc)
The oil companies won't change wholeheartedly into biofuel/wind/wave/nuke companies until there is a large incentive for them to do so: "We have it good. We are making profits like crazy. The shareholders are happy and the Board of Directors are getting big fat annual bonuses. Why should we change ANYTHING? Make us."
