Gas prices

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by tw

Anyone hurt by a gallon of gas at this price needs to review their excessive life style.

Oh yeah, my lifestyle is out of control. I go to work. I go home. There is no public transportation to speak of in these parts. Oh, and I visit my mom and dad in a neighboring town every Sunday. I'm livin' on the edge! The gas prices hurt, and we should all be sick of bending over and taking it while the fat cats get fatter.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Oh yeah, my lifestyle is out of control. I go to work. I go home. There is no public transportation to speak of in these parts. Oh, and I visit my mom and dad in a neighboring town every Sunday. I'm livin' on the edge!

These are the good time. It does not get better than this. We are due for another 1970s or another 1989. Can you withstand a downturn?

It does not get any better than this. If life is tough now, then one must make plans now for when times actually become tough. If one is living on the edge now, then one is already in serious trouble. If trivial price of gasoline is so harmful, then one must reassess one's precarious situation.

TheMercenary demonstrates it. His boat holds 135 gallons. Will he stop using his boat? No. Price of gasoline has not increased significantly.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by tw

It does not get better than this.

I understand what you are trying to say, but I have to ask, wasn't it better than this two weeks ago when prices were a little lower than they are now?

[tw]

Originally Posted by glatt

I understand what you are trying to say, but I have to ask, wasn't it better than this two weeks ago when prices were a little lower than they are now?

Two weeks ago, things were sunnier. Today we have some clouds. How bad has it become. I am thinking of people sunning on a beach when a cloud blocks the sun for 30 seconds. Then one says to her companion, "It was so much better yesterday".

Remember what I had been saying years ago. Gas prices were way to low causing stifled innovation. Since I always look at the bigger picture, then I consider those price increases to be a very good thing.

Did you notice how stifled innovations are suddenly become 'new breakthrough technologies'? These ideas existed. Why now are they suddenly 'new'?

Some examples - hybrid technology which is based on concepts used in 1930s locomotives. CFL bulbs which have long been possible - I remember an article about building the circuits in Popular Electronics. A now defunct magazine which implies how long ago that technology existed.

Energy prices were so low that a company notorious for stifling innovation was using SUVs to cover up their hateful management. GM executives get promoted by cutting costs - which means stifling innovation. SUVs only made such anti-Americans look good. SUVs only possible because energy had become the cheapest ever in mankind history. Way too ridiculously low as indicated by even the new BMW SUV with 500 horsepower.

For those whose eyes glaze over when numbers are provided - the new BMW SUV has as much horsepower as the larger engines in the larger 18 wheel trucks. Why? Energy prices are just too low.

A 30 second cloud. It was so much nicer yesterday.

BTW when was the last time I drove a car that got less than 30 MPG? It was a 1969 Ford. And yet I read here MPG numbers such as 22; and that is good? That is pathetic. I have never had a Honda Accord average less than 30 MPG. Even my 1970s GM Chevy got 30 MPG - which is how long minimally acceptable technology has existed and avoided - because energy prices are too low.

[HungLikeJesus]

Well said, TW. When gas gets to $5/gallon, people will react - there is some movement already, but not enough. Most people and companies look only at simple economics (payback), and ignore long-term impacts of their decisions. I don't expect this to change, but the economics will change, and that will make all the difference.

[tw]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Well said, TW. When gas gets to $5/gallon, people will react - there is some movement already, but not enough.

Using perspective from the 1970s - no effort was made to innovate in American cars until gasoline prices rose to $7 per gallon in 2007 dollars. Shawnee123 - what will you do if that happens? That was late 1970s.

Oil industry analysts are asking why prices are spiking when nothing serious is ongoing. Review where the oil comes from. Even Nigeria may be on the verge of a country wide civil war. Iraq and Iran could be shutdown by military actions. Saudi Arabia could have more than half their export abilities impeded. Even Ethiopia may be drawn into regional wide war. Russia is slowly gripping their energy industry for one obvious reason. Russia must be prepared in case another cold war mentality starts. Did you notice how Europe - even Netherland and UK - are now dependent on Russian gas?

Last year, prices were high because so many providers had long term contracts. They had to hoard as much oil as possible with so many uncertainties and with long term contract requirements to fill. (And yes, many parts of the oil industry had to cover big losses as a result.)

Same situation applies this year except that more oil sources are now at risk. No, it does not look like $5 per gallon gasoline. But then it also did not look that way before it happened in the late 1970s. The fact that oil prices are rising early means prices will probably remain stable - not go to $7 per gallon of gas. Yes, an early rise of gas prices may actually be a good thing (for this year).

[HungLikeJesus]

I am currently on a web seminar/conference call with the Union of Concerned Scientists regarding the IPCC Working Group III. The final Summary for Policy Makers was released today and they are discussing the options for reducing "greenhouse gases" in the environment.

Questions, so far, have covered everything from vehicle fuel economy standards to eating habits, which they seem to feel are two of the major factors contributing to greenhouse gases.

No one has mentioned human population yet, which I think is the most important factor.