The_Kat Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 I wanna know why in the crap gas prices are so high and why the government hasn't stepped in and done something about it. My economy car costs what my truck used to cost to fill up. When it costs 40.00 to fill up a TOYOTA CAMRY, something is wrong! If you have a truck it's costing anywhere from 56$+. What I am getting at is this is getting ridiculous. It's getting to the point where I can't go anywhere because it costs 5$ dang bucks to start your truck! Can anyone explain why BUSH and these pathetic people in our government can't do anything about it!~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! Cost me $76 to fill my Dodge Dakoda the other day and it was above empty when I filled it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted August 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! See That is absolutely PATHETIC! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! 40 years of libs complaining about refineries. no oil drilling here. no oil drilling there. no pipelines. no this, and no that. get used to it. these are really the good old days. we are now more deendent on foreign oil than at any time in world history. things are only going up from here. want the good news? we, the usa, is the ONLY country in the world with gas prices less than $4.00 per gallon. that's right. at 2.60 a gallon, we are still 30% underprices. look at the big picture, and be scared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! [ QUOTE ] Can anyone explain why BUSH and these pathetic people in our government can't do anything about it!~ [/ QUOTE ] YB, do you have any idea what the tax is on every gallon of gas you put in your truck?Somewhere around 40% if I read it right, one graph posted in the lounge i think showed it closer to 45% tax on every gallon. Now 40% of $2.50 is quite a bit more than 40% of say $1.10.So why would the government step in and do anything?It would cost them a lot of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! We'll see what it cost our government when the working class man says that's it !! It's costing me more than I bring home to get to work,,,, I'm all done working PERIOD...... ,,this is scarey because this is going to be realality very soon...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdickey Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! You can start by reading and understanding how it is OPEC that dictates oil supply and pricing throughout the world. Try this link for a start OPEC Then, once you THINK you know how they are supposed to function, then read the peripheral material about OPEC, and how they ACTUALLY operate. You probably didn't know that they actually told Russia to stop "over production" of oil! Look around and you'll see who's controlling production and pricing! OPEC has the WORLD by the short-hairs, and they know that NOBODY can do anything about it! Judging by your picture... you probably weren't around in the mid 70's ... when you couldn't even buy gas for a period of time! GAS RATIONING was the way of life then! At least you can buy it now....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popgun Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! All prices updated May, 2004. Nation City Price UK TEESIDE $5.64 HONG KONG HONG KONG $5.62 UK MILFORD HAVEN $5.56 UK READING $5.56 UK NORWICH $5.54 GERMANY FRANKFURT $5.29 DENMARK COPENHAGEN $5.08 NORWAY STAVANGER $5.07 NORWAY OSLO $4.93 ITALY ROME $4.86 TURKEY ISTANBUL $4.85 PORTUGAL LISBON $4.80 KOREA SEOUL $4.71 SWITZERLAND GENEVA $4.56 KOREA KOJE/OKPO $4.53 AUSTRIA VIENNA $4.50 CROATIA ZAGREB $4.32 JAPAN TOKYO $3.84 AUSTRALIA SYDNEY $2.63 CAMBODIA PHNOM PENH $2.57 TAIWAN TAIPEI $2.47 GEORGIA TBILISI $2.31 LAOS VIENTIANE $1.66 THAILAND BANGKOK $1.60 CHINA TIANJIN $1.54 CHINA SHANGHAI $1.48 RUSSIA MOSCOW $1.45 KAZAKHSTAN ALMATY $1.36 KAZAKHSTAN ATYRAU $1.35 TAJIKISTAN DUSHANBE $1.32 AZERBAIJAN BAKU $1.15 VENEZUELA CARACAS $0.14 Gasoline Taxes by State 2002 (Source: American Petroleum Institute) State State Excise Other State Taxes Total State Taxes Total Federal & State Taxes Alabama 16 5 21 39.4 Alaska 8 8 26.4 Arizona 18 1 19 37.4 Arkansas 21.5 0.2 21.7 40.1 California 18 14 32 50.4 Colorado 22 22 40.4 Connecticut 25 4.7 29.7 48.1 Delaware 23 23 41.4 Dist. of Columbia 20 20 38.4 Florida 13.6 16 29.6 48 Georgia 7.5 4.7 12.2 30.6 Hawaii 16 19.1 35.1 53.5 Idaho 25 25 43.4 Illinois 19 11 30 48.4 Indiana 15 3.1 18.1 36.5 Iowa 20.1 1 21.1 39.5 Kansas 23 1 24 42.4 Kentucky 15 6.4 21.4 39.8 Louisiana 20 20 38.4 Maine 22 1.5 23.5 41.9 Maryland 23.5 23.5 41.9 Massachusetts 21 0.5 21.5 39.9 Michigan 19 7.2 26.2 44.6 Minnesota 20 20 38.4 Mississippi 18 0.8 18.8 37.2 Missouri 17 17 35.4 Montana 27 0.8 27.8 46.2 Nebraska 24.5 0.9 25.4 43.8 Nevada 23 10.3 33.3 51.7 New Hampshire 18 2.6 20.6 39 New Jersey 10.5 4 14.5 32.9 New Mexico 17 1 18 36.4 New York 8 22.3 30.3 48.7 North Carolina 22.1 0.3 22.4 40.8 North Dakota 21 21 39.4 Ohio 22 22 40.4 Oklahoma 16 1 17 35.4 Oregon 24 24 42.4 Pennsylvania 12 14.7 26.7 45.1 Rhode Island 27 4 31 49.4 South Carolina 16 0.8 16.8 35.2 South Dakota 22 2 24 42.4 Tennessee 20 1.4 21.4 39.8 Texas 20 20 38.4 Utah 24.5 24.5 42.9 Vermont 19 1 20 38.4 Virginia 17.5 1.4 18.9 37.3 Washington 23 23 41.4 West Virginia 20.5 4.9 25.4 43.8 Wisconsin 28.1 3 31.1 49.5 Wyoming 13 1 14 32.4 U.S. Average 17.9 5.7 23.6 42 I know these are outdated but the only ones I can find at the moment. There are remedies, but none will be very palatable to the American Citizens. If someone were to say that our government was going to lower the price of gas to $1.25 pr. gal. but ration gasoline and all products made from patroleum, Only those with important jobs would be able to purchase enough gas for their use. No Gasoline for retirees, students, teachers, homemakers, etc. You might get mail delivered twice a week. You could not buy tires, raincoats, boots, any products with a petroleum base. We would scream. We don't know how to grow our own war gardens any more. We wouldn't stand for a college graduate with a growing family selling peaches on the corner to buy food for his family. These are the good old days. ....popgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popgun Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! [ QUOTE ] YB, do you have any idea what the tax is on every gallon of gas you put in your truck?Somewhere around 40% if I read it right, one graph posted in the lounge i think showed it closer to 45% tax on every gallon. Now 40% of $2.50 is quite a bit more than 40% of say $1.10.So why would the government step in and do anything?It would cost them a lot of money. [/ QUOTE ] 40 cents a gallon is a lot different than 40% on each gallon. Iowa pays about 16% in total gasoline taxes. All the rest is expenses for getting the gas to the consumer and profit for the companies and their stockholders. ....popgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted August 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! Well the cost of living is going up. My job no longer pays for the gas to work and back! You would think OPEC could be handled by the government. Good old days or not, it's RIDICULOuS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! Cost about $120 to fill both our vehicles and one 5 gallon gas can yesterday. Tried to fill them both up in the morning before the prices were raised again. Seems to me that it is time for us to start opening some of the reserves, and quit being so dependant on the arab nations who are exploiting us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markyj987 Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! stevebeligard, you really hit the nail on the head here. Even if we had unlimited, inexpensive oil, government red tape kills our refining capacity, driving up the cost of production. OPEC does indeed hold the cards and raises the prices by reducing output. At the same time, growing economies like China and India are buying up as much oil as they can. Prices are skyrocketing internationally because of the combined decrease in supply AND increase in demand. William, though the idea of tapping reserves in the short term sounds appealing, I GENERALLY do not think of it as a wise decision. The fact that as a nation we are not driving less and are apparently willing to keep paying these prices indicates to me that the spike in gas prices isn't that bad. However, in instances like Hurricane Katrina where our output is severly affected, tapping the reserves for a VERY short term might not be a bad idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! Really dont think for a second that there is a limited supply of oil as is often suggested as to why it is that we are paying so much. If we quit buying oil from those exploiting us for a period of time being that we are ther largest consumer it would in effect hit them where it hurts and would in all likeliness create quite a surplus, driving the prices back down to reasonable. Tap the reserves here at home for a short period, just long enough to accomplish managing the prices American consumers are paying. Oil prices are so volatile any more and fluctuate with anything that may or may not have any true impact on oil production. The news reports that oil will go up due to the hurricane, you see everyone filling up their vehicles and every tank they own. Spikes like that only help to also drive up the prices. Then you have the gas stations raising their prices due to what they hear on the news which causes more frustration and panic for consumers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markyj987 Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! William, maybe that is the way to go....I really don't know. If we tap our reserves, OPEC lowers their prices, and developing countries in turn buy even more oil, that may drive the gas prices even higher again. It's funny that as I was typing that post, a news report came on that some stations in the area were going up to $2.99 a gallon--and I ran out and topped off at $2.69/gallon. I do think the higher prices from Katrina will be very short term and will be back to their normal high prices after Labor Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! 65% since January. Its a scam. Driven by speculation and greedy oil companies. Like I said everytime somone burps the price goes up. When Hurricane Dennis was in the eastern Atlantic there was talk on how its will affect the cost of oil. Give me a break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! I want to know why we haven't spent more money developing machines that run on less or no gas/oil. I vaguely remember the problem in the 70's, and may be wrong, but I think there were problems before then. If it was known, over 30 years ago, that we were headed towards this mess, wouldn't it have been smart to work on vehicles that run on alternative energy sources? I know we have the hybrid cars now, but they are expensive, and even if you have the money, you have the waiting lists. Instead of being at the mercy of OPEC, it would be a lot better to be self sufficient! If they had started working on this problem when it first came up, we would be well ahead of the game right now.... IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! [ QUOTE ] Instead of being at the mercy of OPEC, it would be a lot better to be self sufficient! [/ QUOTE ] Couldn't agree more. One of these days I'm going to have to start brewing my own biodiesel to run in my truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! Almost all invention is driven by necessity. Otherwise, it's not economically feasible. Unfortunately, until recently there has been no necessity to develop alternative fuels, so there's been very little production done in that area. I think our current delima is from a combination of factors. A lack of domestic production caused by strict environmental regulations. A lack of new refinery capacity, also due to environmental regulations. An unexpectedly high increase in demand from China and other developing nations. And last but certainly not least, we're seeing a lot of speculation in the markets based on the uncertainty of the supplies from the Middle East, Venezuela, and the Gulf coast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldksnarc Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! Oil companies are reporting record profits (DUH!). Is there really all the reasons for high prices like they say, or are all the "problems" just excuses for high prices? Price gouging. We haven't seen that Katrina has caused any problems with production or refining but they raise prices because of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooBear Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! Opec money elects the politicians in this country. The Gas & Oil lobby is the largest in Washington! Thats why nothing is being done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! There was an editorial in the paper from the editor of the editorial page in the Fayetteville paper the other day talking aobut gas prices. He talked about the gas rationing in the 70's, according to him ,there waqsn't actually a gas shortage, just the threat of one, I think thats what he said anyway, I'll try and find it online, as far as prices, he mentioned the government instituting price controls. I don't know enough about how that works to say yay or nay, but it's a possibility, but not under this administration I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! [ QUOTE ] Oil companies are reporting record profits (DUH!). Is there really all the reasons for high prices like they say, or are all the "problems" just excuses for high prices? Price gouging. We haven't seen that Katrina has caused any problems with production or refining but they raise prices because of it. [/ QUOTE ] Not exactly price gouging. It all goes back to the way commodities are traded. The people who buy the oil futures think, for a whole variety of reasons I stated in my earlier post, that as time goes on there will be more demand and less supply. That makes them bid more for the oil. It's still costing the oil companies approximately the same amount to produce a barrel of oil today as it did 2 years ago, so the net result is more profit for the company. But also think about this. Every year that the oil companies make $1.00 more than they did the year before, it's still going to be "record profits". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Daddy Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! I was in line in the '70s - getting calls in the middle of the night to be at a gas station at 2am and I could get 10 gal - only being able to buy on certain days of the week. Yes we knew there were problems then and little has been done about it. Why? Do you expect the gov't do do something about it? It won't happen. The government produces nothing - it just takes. What will fix the problem is the free enterprise system and the promise of a profit for the ones that do fix it. We are now getting to the point where some of the alternative technologies will begin to pay off. I predict that you will see some new developments in the coming years because someone will be able to make money for producing solutions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popgun Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! Most of the price gouging is going into profits for the oil companies. The CEO's and the stockholders are going to make a killing. Only a short time ago there was a discussion in this room about Social Security, and how very few trusted it, and most were investing their money in 401k's and mutual funds in order to relieve the slack in what Social Security will not cover. Many of these 401K's and mutual funds own stock in the oil companies and are gaining ground quickly. So now many of those with 401K's and mutuals are making a good return on their investments including their dividends. Force a lowering of the gas profits and these investors will scream just as loud about their stock funds as they are the high gas prices. Rob Peter and pay Paul. The average of 40 cents per gallon we pay in gasoline taxes is going to keep up the interstate highway system as well as the state and county roads. It is time to stop complaining and ride motorcycles and bicycles, or come up with a viable solution instead of simple complaints. ....popgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Re: I want answers! I seriously don't know what the wife and I are going to do when it gets up to 3.00 per gallon. She only makes 6.50 per hour and by the time she pays daycare, gas, and food for the week her check comes out to about 80 bucks. I told her that if it gets to high she will be coming home. I won't be able to afford for her to drive to work which is 10 miles one way. Rediculous is not the word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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