$ 6.00 @ gal.

[dtucker]

I personaly think if we were all driving cars that got 75 to 100 miles to the gallon it would'nt matter. Our goverment and local goverment is not going to take a cut on revenue and they will get their money anyway they see fit. As soon as we find a way or are forced to change our ways they just come back and get it somewhere else. Gas is not the only place they can attack your pocket book.

Right on, Dan. For example, property tax bills in Florida haven't declined by a tiny fraction of the decline in property values. Florida has no state income tax and the state depends very heavily on property tax revenues to pay its bills.

Suppose government is just too big, then?

Yea and out of control. They are great at spending and wasting money and not producing a thing. Things can't change over night but the wake up call needs to start now in a lot of areas.

 

[queen_stick]

Ole, but why not be able to drive what you want? It is like debates on certain firearms or magazine capacities. The 'need' or the 'practicality' of certain caliber or number of rounds a mag holds. Prices, IMO, are artificially being inflated to bolster certain agendas....

Playing devil's advocate here... (I'll probably get attacked for it....)

Heavies,

People on diets say the same thing... "I should be able to eat what I want, and not get fat." The fact is that you can't do that. You have to change your life style to loose weight and keep it off. You can't eat at McDonalds every day, refuse to exercise, and then complain that you don't have 6-pack abs, yet people complain about it all the time. They'll even spend their money on magic pills to loose wait so they can continue to be hogs.

Gas prices are going up, and there's nothing we can do about it... change your life style to accommodate. Just as another poster said "keep the truck in the garage, and drive it when you need it." Buy an 80's CRX, Corolla, Rabbit, etc (for about $1500)... that gets 30+mpg, and drive that to work.

I use heating oil at my house... I had to turn it down a few degrees to save on oil usage. I bought new windows that provided better insulation, and insulated portions of the old house that never had it before... all things to help save on oil consumption, and it worked great. Lessen your dependency on oil, and the prices won't hit you as hard. It's still a hefty bill to buy 500 gallons of oil, but it is what it is. My next rifle build will have to be pushed back a little further... oh well.

I think this conversation should end, and the focus should be on the decline of the US dollar. That will affect EVERYTHING, not just the oil that we use excessively.

With that said, I agree with everyone here that it's BS to raise the costs for the purpose of making some profit. That question is, what can we (the people) do about it? I don't have an answer to that, and I don't believe anyone does.

Edit: for those with 100+ mile commutes... there's nothing stopping you from moving closer...

 

[dtucker]

Frank, I love that part

Big brother is waaay too big, they continue to look for more ways to control the people and take their hard earned money. Biggest employers in most counties in Pa. are now government. Nobody is doing an honest hard day of work anymore manufacturing goods and services. Too many people on the corporate/guv payroll with zitts on their behinds telling the serfs how, when, why and where to do things. Knock down guv to 80% of its current level people wise, as guv. is only there to serve people not control them. Hard work made this republic what it once was, lack of hard work will destroy us.

The guv doesn't do what they are supposed to do, which is protect the interests of the people. They dropped the ball on this gas thing years ago. No more new refineries being built, limited off shore exploration, too much control by the greenies, et al, on and on. Instead they let a bunch of Wall St. speculators who sit on their you know what control prices of crude. Along with many other scenarios beyond our control. Demand is way down in the US now, people are only driving to work and the grocery store. And when crude was 147 3 years ago, gas was around 4.09, now its 112 and gas is 3.99. So what gives? Are they pushing for 5 bucks a gallon, then they drop it to 4.29? Then everybody is happy?

Frank

 

[15Tango]

Rumor has it several states are looking at mileage devices on vehicles for annual mileage tax (minnesota is one already reviewing the technologies).

Yes, Minnesota. This is BS. I'm looking to get out of MN in a few years, I've just about had it with their taxation. The county I live in makes it so have to give up your 4th Amendment rights by having them enter your home for tax evaluation purposes. They get around the Constitution on this by making it your choice but by not allowing them in they increase your property taxes to the maximum allowable. Our property taxes went up 25% this year because I wasn't about to let them in. Give up your rights or pay the price.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I just read through this entire thread and I learned a lot of valuable information. I live in Michigan and right now 87 octane fuel is at 3.99 9/10 a gallon. I was watching the news the other night, which is an act of self degredation in my belief, and this clown said that the price of fuel was going up due to simple economics. That being said, I can't see where demand has gone up any? I can't see where production has gone down any? Simple economics dictates that if demand goes up, price goes up. If supply goes down, price goes up. The thing this idiot, I can't recall his name, doesn't realize is that there is no elasticity of demand for gasoline. In laymans terms, no matter what the price is, people will buy it and consume it. Beer and cigarettes fall under this category as well. Why do you think the powers that be tax them so heavily? Put that in your pipe and smoke on it for a while and tell me what you come up with!!!

Mike

 

[TonyR]

I personaly think if we were all driving cars that got 75 to 100 miles to the gallon it would'nt matter. Our goverment and local goverment is not going to take a cut on revenue and they will get their money anyway they see fit. As soon as we find a way or are forced to change our ways they just come back and get it somewhere else. Gas is not the only place they can attack your pocket book.

Right on, Dan. For example, property tax bills in Florida haven't declined by a tiny fraction of the decline in property values. Florida has no state income tax and the state depends very heavily on property tax revenues to pay its bills.

Suppose government is just too big and too bloated, then?

No doubt but the specifics of how and what to change are where it always seems to get tough. Appears likely to be the main issue is the 2012 elections unless something very big and unforeseen happens in the meantime to distract the media.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Last time I filled up it cost me nearly $12!! It's making me livid, at least I get 50 MPG. Buy motorcycles, people, with these gas prices they're paying for themselves.

Well, the difference is that if I hit a deer with my F350 I get a broken head light, if you hit a deer with your motorcycle, well... it was nice knowing you!

 

[bozo699]

Fellas,
I will get crucified for this but I guess I don't care, facts are facts.
You have all got used to having gas at one price and when it goes up you get all bent.
I am just a average working man of the 21st century working world, I am a electrician at a ammunitions plant and my diesel pickup takes about $110 to fill up, I can fill it up 3 times on a day's wages and about 4.5 times on a overtime day! In 1931 when my Grandad was trying to pay for the ranch he worked out for a $1.00 a day!
Not $100.00 a single dollar bill per day ??? He stitched sacks of wheat on a stationary thrashing machine, most only got $.75 per day but he was a big man and could jig his own sacks as well as stitch them so they paid him a extra $.25 per day ( WOW )
He had to stay where ever he worked because he couldn't afford the fuel, he made $1.00 per day/ $.010 per gallon = 10 gallon per day, I make $336 per day/ $5.00 per gallon = 67.2 gallons that I can buy per day! so how is gas so much more expensive today then it was back in the GOOD OLD DAYS. I still live on that ranch Walt and its 50 miles from where I work and I have no intensions of moving closer, if things get to tight I will simply get rid of some of the totally unnecessary things like cell phones, cable tv, rv's, 4 wheelers, ect.ect.ect. and the list goes on. Fuel is definitely expensive but not anymore then a loaf of bread or a gallon of water. Make your trips to town or where ever count, save your pennies, if you think stuff is expensive now wait until obamanomics goes full circle and inflation runs rampant, aint the CHANGE great!! keep those printing presses rolling mr.obama : and by all means give the rest of our land, gold , and commerce to China!!!
Wayne.

 

[queen_stick]

Great post Wayne! That's what I was trying to say. You just did a much better job of explaining it!

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Wayne,
I can appreciate where you're coming from friend. Unfortunately, most folks out there don't make the kind of money that you do. Some folks don't make as much in a week as you do in a day. I know electricians get paid well. A very good friend of mine is a union electrician and makes about $30.00/hour but, hes feeling the pinch now too. He just got layed off unfortunately. As stated earlier, the main problem is the continued degradation of the American dollar and our dependence on foreign oil. I agree that we all need to "adjust" our priorities to cope with the CHANGE that you referred to. I don't like it anymore than the next person but, what can little ol me do about it? Not a damn thing! I'm grateful that I have acceptance on my side. For those of you that don't know, to accept something doesn't necessarily mean that you like it!

Mike

 

[bozo699]

Walt, thankyou.

Mike,
Yes little ole you can do something,...VOTE!!!! I am sure you do but keep doing it and tell all your friends to vote. I no, no matter the party there corrupt but we can't stop trying! The problem is liberals have nothing better to do then picket and protest and vote, for some reason and I have never figured out why concervative people are to busy or to lazy to get out and protest and vote, I would imagine there to busy working supporting the welfare programs the liberals start ??? Whatever the problem is we need to fix it , vote and be heard,...Tea parties, NRA and other worth while organizations.
Wayne.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Wayne,
I let my voice be heard in the form of a vote every time I get the opportunity. I agree, the liberals/socialists have things screwed up beyond repair. Doesn't mean that we stop trying though. I would have to say most conservatives are busy working when the opportunity to vote comes up. The way I see it, I can't complain if I didn't vote. I vote therefore I have some grounds to complain. The government is a very corrupt institution that needs a serious overhauling but, things have to get worse than better before it happens. Its amazing how some people won't fight until there is nothing left to fight for.

Mike

 

[40X Guy]

As has already been said, the freefall of the dollar from world reserve status has a large amount to do with the price of gas. And this country was built on the premise of cheap/plentiful gas for everyone to promote commerce based on a sound money system.But now the cheap gas has gone out the window along with a sound non fiat money system, and any and all costs of goods and services have been jacked up to correspond making it tougher for the average middle class American family to get by.

I see alot of indiscretionary spending coming to a halt, and possible hyperinflation in a year or less. Keep buying into the 4 G's fella's. God, guns, gold and grub!

Frank

 

[coyoteklr]

people are posting too fast....i agree with above 3 or 4 posts.... i can relate somewhat with the grampa... i worked for a ranch when i was growing up and ran a buck rake for 12 hours a day for 3 bucks a day pushing loose hay onto a beaver slide...and in relation to the cost of goods it wasn't alot cheaper to live unless you raised some of your food....but what if you have no job to drive to..............the supply and demand theory went out the door in the 80's in this country....
again whom do you think controls the price of refined crude oil in this country and why is the price of gold punching through the roof......why are 98 percent of the states in financial trouble.....
your right about the amount of petroleum consumed in this country... the more that is produced the more is consumed.....how much has the technology improved over the years for reciprocating engines and carberators and don't tell me it can't be improved....the controlled tech. in this country has improved expoentialy (SP?)
yeah it's good to consume less and everything in moderation, but let's do it for the right reasons.... if someone mentions green gas emmisions i'll puck on my keyboard....the powers that be want us to consume more and won't let the tech.exsist to lessen that....you should see what happens to one of those cracker jack boxes when they hit a cow or an elk let alone a horse.... nobody survives... you hit a deer and it bunches your shorts, but anything bigger and it is inside the cab with you...
i'm not sure what the qualification of working on an oil rig has to do with knowing whats going on....nobody knows for sure what the reserves are for sure..... they can guess along with the weather guessers...
i haven't worked on a big platform but during high school at night i would haul magogel to rigs and the next year i worked as a tool dresser..
there are two kinds of motor cycle drivers... one's that have been in an accident and one's that are going to be in an accident....i've wrecked on a couple of 175's irrigating and a harley 74 when i layed it down coming home at night after tool dresser shift...hit an owl right after crossing the marias river bridge...it said in your face ..literally...the worst thing with a motor cycle is people in cars don't see you......

 

[queen_stick]

...the worst thing with a motor cycle is MOST people in cars are RETARDS......

fixed it for ya!

 

[Martin S]

This sums it up.
Martin
545 People".....By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.

I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.

The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.

Who is the speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want.

If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel.

And keep in mind this Congress only worked 93 days last year! The shortest season in history and at a time when we are at war and the economy is tumbling!

 

[coyoteklr]

...the worst thing with a motor cycle is MOST people in cars are RETARDS......

fixed it for ya!
i don't care for the word retard, but you hit the nail on the head.....

 

[coyoteklr]

there is an old classic movie.... clear and present danger.....james earl jones is talking to harrison ford and he said.... remember you took and oath to your employer when you came to work for me... i'm not talking about me or congress or even the president..... you took an oath to the people of the United States......
how great would it be if they all took it seriously.......
now ya'll take care of them easter bunnies that lay eggs.......
may our Savior who gave his life for us return in triump and victory and put an end to the god of this earth......
if not understood pm me.....

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

You summed it up in that quote Martin! The government has entirely too much power, actual and percieved!

Mike

 

[Erik Cortina]

...the worst thing with a motor cycle is MOST people in cars are RETARDS......

fixed it for ya!

Good thing I drive a truck! ;D