Thread: Gas $9 a gallon

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I don't know if this is factual or not, but it seems that I see people driving more slowly these days. I had to run to Cape Coral today and normally on the four lane trip people are going well over the 55 mph speed limit, but no one was passing anyone. I was going 55 and all the other traffic seemed to be doing that or less.

I know I drive with my dashboard fuel monitor on all the time now and really pay attention to what it is reading at any given speed. Maybe these prices will make people think twice about burning fuel needlessly by speeding.

Don

When they made us slow down to 55 most of us didn't like it but it did save fuel. We could do that to help.

Richard

Don wrote:

I don't know if this is factual or not, but it seems that I see people driving more slowly these days.

It's true, Don, including yours truly. My drive to work is 42 miles one way (I 83). Just a month ago, average speed on the rural section of the interstate was just under 85 mph, including the SUV's, Prius', and the Semi's. And me Seems like at least 30% of the traffic is now running about 70 or less and many including the big rigs are doing the legal limit of 65. There are still a lot of zoomers out there in their SUV's, PU's, and little tiny cars, but their numbers are shrinking. I was an 80 - 85'er, but now I'm going 65 - 70. Not easy to do, but I'm saving my gas money for my fun things.


Richard - It wouldn't surprise me if Congress put the double nickel back in again. Many ignored it last time and will again unless the troopers step up their actions.

I believe we are paying about the same , if you look at the exchange rate on the us dollar. but i could be wrong.

I know cousin Severson likes to pretend that party affiliation doesn't matter (on occasion I agree, but not on this issue), but a House Subcommittee voted on party lines today to kill an amendment that would allow oil exploration off our coasts between 50-200 miles off shore..........FITFTY MILES......BTW, the Chinese are drilling 50 miles off the coast of Florida on behalf of the Cuban govt, and with todays sideways drilling technology what would you bet they'll probably be drilling under Miami.

Since most people now see commodity speculators as having a big part in keeping oil prices elevated it is instructional to understand what they speculate on. In this case it's that oil supplies will remain constricted, thus keeping demand ahead of supply, the price varying depending on how many investors think how much and how long those conditions will prevail. If this country said "enough..........we're going to go full bore on producing every drop of domestic oil we can" the speculators would "panic" and start unloading their positions, even though there's obviously going to be some ramp up time to actual production. Right now, the speculators are betting that obstructionists in our Congress will continue to pander to their special interest lobbyists (tree huggers of all varieties), and so far they've been right. Meanwhile the obstructionists continue to blame anyone but themselves............and too many of our citizens let them get away with it.

Thank you.

We can't buy a tomato today in our stores. Last year it was spinach. Recall meat, I'm a vegetarian I don't have to worry about recalled meat but I eat vegetables, and dairy. As a kid I don't remember our food being something we had to worry about. Our kids, or grandkids can't have toys without lead paint. Toothpaste with antifreeze, maybe gasoline is not our biggest problem!!

Richard

Well, this morning I see where better writers than me (and one that's at least as cranky) feel pretty much the same;

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1213...w_and_outlooks

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1213...ays_columnists

[QUOTE=Bob Parmenter]I know cousin Severson likes to pretend that party affiliation doesn't matter (on occasion I agree, but not on this issue), but a House Subcommittee voted on party lines today to kill an amendment that would allow oil exploration off our coasts between 50-200 miles off shore..........FITFTY MILES......BTW, the Chinese are drilling 50 miles off the coast of Florida on behalf of the Cuban govt, and with todays sideways drilling technology what would you bet their probably drilling under Miami as we speak.

QUOTE]

It's not that I feel party affilitation doesn't matter anymore Uncle Bob.....It's just that I now longer see a party I could affiliate myself with.....

IMO the two parties are so damn busy fighting for supremacy and blaming the other party for the problems we now have that absolutely nothing gets done, good or bad!!!!!! Our two party system these days makes about as much sense and accomplishes as much good as rival gangs fighting for turf.... Maybe gang warfare is more effective, if they keep shooting each other maybe we run out of gang members!!!!! Politics is nothing more or less then a power struggle. Whoever controls the White House and the Congress rules with about the same intelligence and mindset as a playground bully in elementary school.....

As for the speculators, as you well know I'm certainly no financial genius, money is just a way of keeping score... I actually take more interest in the standings at the drag strip.... However, I will have to admit that because of my Dad's insistence back in the days that I could actually work hard and generate a decent income I've been fortunate the some investments (and yes some oil company stocks) have done and continue to do very well!!! Maybe I'm part of the problem, too. But occasionally I have to look out for me!!!!

and, don't even get me started on our "unbiased" media..... They really suck!!!!

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Well, this morning I see where better writers than me (and one that's at least as cranky) feel pretty much the same;

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1213...w_and_outlooks

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1213...ays_columnists

Both very good articles!!!! My question would be this.....What the heck are the Feds doing even involved in these issues??? Whatever happened to states rights???? Personally, I hope Brazil is very successful in their development of these new oil finds.... I'd really like to sit on the beach in Rio and see the oil derrecks offshore just pumping out the oil.... Maybe such a find and the resultant upswing of the Brazilian economy would actually serve to WAKE PEOPLE UP in this country....

Want to stop the party fighting and have a Congress that could actually accomplish something?? The first two steps are up to the voters::::

1. Impose term limits on Congress just as we did for the President so many years ago.

2. Vote in some independents who will be accountable to the people and not to the PAC that owns them....

With a little persistence, maybe the rest of the solution would fall into place!!!! When Congressmen's main concern is job security, nothing gets done...

Maybe seeing Chinese and/or Cuban flags flying on oil drilling platforms 60 miles off of the southern coast might wake up a few of the dimwitted people in Congress. Maybe they will want the US to get it's fair share of the oil before China and Cuba suck it dry.

Or maybe Congress won't wake up until they see the gleaming reflection of the sun off the Cuban/Chinese missiles on those platforms. Wouldn't surprise me if the missiles weren't there with in 6 weeks after drilling commences.

Too many people in the Federal government asleep at the switch for my liking.

At one time we couldn't stand the communist, now we deal with them we have changed but you can bet that they haven’t.

Richard

It's sad to say but I don't believe ANYONE in Washington will do a damn thing to help us. 90% of the congressmen dont really care what gas prices are because they dont have to pull up to a station and wonder if there is enough in their checking account to cover filling the tank. All they care about is getting re-elected. The modern legislature is so far removed from the working guy; we're just something they watch on TV. When's the last time a group of them pulled together and made a change that substantially made a positive impact on our paychecks? I sure can't remember it. I've yet to see a positive report over the last several months that says anything about a real solution in the works to bring gas prices down. All of them; from the economic analysts, to the oil industry mogels, to the Washington insiders are saying, "Get used to it. It's here to stay for the forseeable future." Welcome to the new America, boys. It's every man for himself.

Thanks for all your interesting replies and discussion. Just for the record i have a '56 351w F100 but so little used that gas for it does not really count.
My daily is a 270 diesel E clas Merc which is returning 42 mpg on a run and has returned 36.5 mpg over 30,000 miles, so compared with some of the big motors you run over there I am probably spending the same ammount on gas as you are.(my mpg is in UK gallons but the $9/gallon I did do the calculation to US) There are big protests going on in Europe about the cost of Gas but you know us Brits, we do not complain very much but our commercial truck owners are getting wound up. I would love to run a V8 over here.!!
Anyone got an electric Hot Rod.?
Cheers, Rick

If I'm not mistaken the price of gas in the UK covers medical care for all and quite a few other social programs. Gas here in California is 4.50 to 4.95 and as long as the price of gas goes up the state gets more and more sales tax since the tax is per dollar and not per gallon

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I don't know if this is factual or not, but it seems that I see people driving more slowly these days. I had to run to Cape Coral today and normally on the four lane trip people are going well over the 55 mph speed limit, but no one was passing anyone. I was going 55 and all the other traffic seemed to be doing that or less.

I know I drive with my dashboard fuel monitor on all the time now and really pay attention to what it is reading at any given speed. Maybe these prices will make people think twice about burning fuel needlessly by speeding.

Don

Seems to be true.
Along with the slower driving there's less traffic.

We're driving less and combining trips, but I'm still driving the roadster twice a week.
My pals shop, the junkyard and the parts houses aren't too far away.

Neither is the donut shop for Saturday morning get togethers.