NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm sure you've all seen it at the pumps; gas over $2. Guess what? It may get worse. OPEC today said that it'd cut production by 4% as planned. It may send crude oil to $40/barrel. That's unnecessarily high, because oil prices are now at about $35/barrel. The difference doesn't represent 4%, but rather closer to $10. Then again, that's oil politics for you.
Anyhow, I find it of interest what the energy policies of the president/candidate are. Left wingers beware; I tend to lean toward the right on this. The Bush plan's short term solution would be to drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Of course, since we have technology to drill sideways, 99.9% of the refuge won't be touched. But still, it languishes in Congress.
John Kerry has another plan. First, he wants to pressure OPEC. However, that didn't work for any president since LBJ. He also wants to halt the government filling the Strategic Oil Reserve, the government's huge backup oil supply. Clinton did that in 2000, and prices did fall, though analysts say that was because of a warm winter that year and a global economic slump. Nevertheless, this issue will never go away, even if oil prices hit $.01, or $100.
BTW, here's an article.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=4718158§ion=news

bump

Petrol in the UK is about 80p per litre. About $7 per gallon.

Petrol prices rising isn't a bad thing, as it will force people to stop buying cars with ridiculously large engines.

i've never understood why americans call it gas, it isn't a gas, it's a liquid

unfortunately, it also screws the poor people with their tiny cars and no money. like college students such as myself.

I propose that gas hogs (read SUVs and other light TRUCKS not used for business) be taxed like mad for wasting gasoline... and that car manufacturers be forbidden to make them as digustingly huge as they are now.

TFT has a good point. Maybe we should call it liquidoline.

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"But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality."
Free your mind! (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/berkman/comanarchism/whatis_toc.html)
I like big butts!

http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/terrapvlchra/images/steatopygia.jpg

I am not surprised.

Sometimes I think the new American business plan is to declare a shortage and raise prices.

A few years ago, Taiwan had an earthquack. All the RAM people said "oh my god, we will have problems getting RAM" Prices almost tripled in some cases.

One day I called up our office and asked about the earthquake. "Was there much damage, are any factories, etc. shut down"

He said no and was blown away by the ram costs....

The oil people are playing the game of "let's see how much we can squeeze this little piggy until it screams!"

We need to end our dependency on oil/gas. We need to come up with a new way to power cars, etc. We should reduce oil to lubricants! ;)

i've never understood why americans call it gas, it isn't a gas, it's a liquid
Short for gasoline. Don't know where the name came from, though.

Gas is the abbreviation of gasoline, like photo for photograph, I'm sure you guys know. So it really isn't that bad.

i've never understood why americans call it gas, it isn't a gas, it's a liquid
Short for gasoline. Don't know where the name came from, though.

it's still stupid!

http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/

Now you can see exactly what everyone else in the country is paying for gas.

Petrol in the UK is about 80p per litre. About $7 per gallon.

Petrol prices rising isn't a bad thing, as it will force people to stop buying cars with ridiculously large engines.
I know it will, and I do think we need to conserve. But that, I believe, should be the role of society, not the government. Unless, that is, a dangerously low supply of oil is imminent, but it's not. For the next fifteen years or so, there'll be enough oil. I've even heard that if global demand doesn't rise, we have enough oil for another 106 years.

I am not surprised.

Sometimes I think the new American business plan is to declare a shortage and raise prices.

A few years ago, Taiwan had an earthquack. All the RAM people said "oh my god, we will have problems getting RAM" Prices almost tripled in some cases.

One day I called up our office and asked about the earthquake. "Was there much damage, are any factories, etc. shut down"

He said no and was blown away by the ram costs....

The oil people are playing the game of "let's see how much we can squeeze this little piggy until it screams!"

We need to end our dependency on oil/gas. We need to come up with a new way to power cars, etc. We should reduce oil to lubricants! ;)
I think we'll see it in our lifetimes, a better energy source than oil in nearly every aspect. I believe that with the advances in hydrogen and fusion technology, our entire power grid can be powered by it in decades. With one catch, of course. To make this possible, a new Manhatten Project will be needed. But what I am saying is that if worse comes to worse, it can be done. Quite frankly, I'm not afraid. Then watch, Tactical Grace comes along to make me afraid :D .

http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/

Now you can see exactly what everyone else in the country is paying for gas.
No wonder why BJ's is cheap. Wholesale is cheap.

Actually, I've read (from reputable sources, don't all jump on me here) that at current consumption rates oil is due to be used up within about 50 years...and that's assuming that consumption doesn't increase. With India and China rapidly modernizing, I think it's safe to assume that consumption will increase a significant amount. Oil is a finite resource. We need to find some new way of getting energy (fusion would be really really nice) and powering automobiles (I would say hydrogen, but that won't happen until extraction and purification methods get more efficient).
At any rate, we need to at the very least curb consumption (that means no more huge SUVs) and hopefully make a gradual transition to new sources of energy.

i've never understood why americans call it gas, it isn't a gas, it's a liquid
Short for gasoline. Don't know where the name came from, though.

it's still stupid!

In the early days of the oil industry, kerosene was the premium product and gasoline was a troublesome byproduct of petroleum refineries. Sometimes it was burned off or just dumped on a field or down a river. It was called gasoline because it could vaporized so easily. Some people in the oil industry hoped that it would be used by the coal gas systems being built in most cities and towns, but thogh the fuel was highly volatile it condensed to a liquid too easily, which caused problems in gas systems.

http://chemcases.com/fuels/fuels-06.htm

To hedge your exposure to oil prices with ease...
BUY OIL COMPANY STOCK!

so the US's petrol prices are ALMOST as high as the rest of the world? Shit, whens the next war?

I filled the tank today for $1.61, same price as last week and the week before. The highest I have even seen was $1.79 out in BFE but I keep 'hearing' that gas is over $2 a gallon. Where?

Well, I guess GWB will be looking for WMD's in Iran next, aye?

I filled the tank today for $1.61, same price as last week and the week before. The highest I have even seen was $1.79 out in BFE but I keep 'hearing' that gas is over $2 a gallon. Where?

Chicago, probably.

P.S. What's BFE?

Maybe we should invade a country and steal their oil!

Oh wait, that's what the left keeps saying we did in Iraq.
Hmm..... I guess it didn't work.

Your petrol is incredibly cheap, be thankful.

I think one of the first things that needs to be done is to outlaw SUVs, Hummers and all the other petrol-devouring beasts that you really don't need.

I understand that many Americans do not like the idea of averting climate change; however, this is not simply a national issue. The environment is inherently international. Your nation's production of pollution is grossly out of proportion to your size. It affects all nations, not just your own.

As for the Alaska drilling - have you seen what's been happening there? The consequences of climate change are being felt more keenly in Alaska than anywhere else in the world. The land itself is becoming deeply unstable. I'll have a root around for an article to back this up.

I liken the US to a precocious child. A nation full of promise, talent and wonder, yet sadly lacking in maturity and wisdom. Little sense of responsibility.

Your petrol is incredibly cheap, be thankful.

I think one of the first things that needs to be done is to outlaw SUVs, Hummers and all the other petrol-devouring beasts that you really don't need.

I understand that many Americans do not like the idea of averting climate change; however, this is not simply a national issue. The environment is inherently international. Your nation's production of pollution is grossly out of proportion to your size. It affects all nations, not just your own.

As for the Alaska drilling - have you seen what's been happening there? The consequences of climate change are being felt more keenly in Alaska than anywhere else in the world. The land itself is becoming deeply unstable. I'll have a root around for an article to back this up.

I liken the US to a precocious child. A nation full of promise, talent and wonder, yet sadly lacking in maturity and wisdom. Little sense of responsibility.
First of all, the Alaskan legislature passed a resolution long ago in favor of ANWAR drilling. And secondly, according to your case, we've grown up a lot. According to the EPA, pollution in the US has halved in less than thirty years. And for the most part, it's on a general trend downward.
As for global warming. Even if the effects are gonna be so grave, can we avert it now? Most of the pollution that caused climate changes was caused decades ago. If anything, the new pollution superstar is China.
And btw, petrol is not cheap, here. It'd be more expensive, I think, as we need to import most of our oil. I'm guessing that your petrol is more expensive because of either different refining requirements, and/or higher taxes.

Your petrol is incredibly cheap, be thankful.

I think one of the first things that needs to be done is to outlaw SUVs, Hummers and all the other petrol-devouring beasts that you really don't need.

I understand that many Americans do not like the idea of averting climate change; however, this is not simply a national issue. The environment is inherently international. Your nation's production of pollution is grossly out of proportion to your size. It affects all nations, not just your own.

While we're at it, why don't we outlaw other things which we really don't need such as news organizations and televisions, which do after all use up a far amount of energy in their production and usage. Or we could just let those people who are able to afford their luxuries to keep the luxuries they've earned.

sorry about double posting, browser problems

Your petrol is incredibly cheap, be thankful.

I think one of the first things that needs to be done is to outlaw SUVs, Hummers and all the other petrol-devouring beasts that you really don't need.

I understand that many Americans do not like the idea of averting climate change; however, this is not simply a national issue. The environment is inherently international. Your nation's production of pollution is grossly out of proportion to your size. It affects all nations, not just your own.

While we're at it, why don't we outlaw other things which we really don't need such as news organizations and televisions, which do after all use up a fair amount of energy in their production and usage. Or we could just let those people who are able to afford their luxuries to keep the luxuries they've earned.

Hm, maybe now I'll actually be able to afford a Hummer, since no one else will want one.

I won't have to drive it, just park it if front of my place and have my picture taken with it.

Yeah, you get a Hummer and you can write it off your income taxes. :?

Gas is up to $2.10 per gallon on I-80 in out state Nebraska now.

Many years ago, we lowered highway speed limits to conserve gas. They must figure it cost more in labor then it would save or we would be doing it again?

Have to agree with Black Forrest about reducing our dependency on oil.
Wonder how much oil profit goes towards supporting terrorism?

P.S. What's BFE? BumF_ckEgypt. Meaning out in the middle of nowhere.

I am, on the one hand, thankful for our low gas prices. However, if they were comparable to those in Europe, we would find other methods of transportation, use public transport much more, and likely get a lot more exercise. Not to mention, people would live closer to where they work, cutting down on the need for gas.

The downside to that is that housing in or around the city tends to be expensive. By living 35 miles south, I have a decent home (too big, anyone wanna buy half?) at a price that wouldn't buy an efficiency condo near DC, bought on an income that wouldn't even rent an efficiency nearer DC. So fewer Americans would be able to afford to own their homes.

Maybe we should invade a country and steal their oil!

Oh wait, that's what the left keeps saying we did in Iraq.
Hmm..... I guess it didn't work.

Yeah, where's my oil!

Yes!

My portfolio has 2 oil stocks.

Yes!

My portfolio has 2 oil stocks.

Which ones? How are they doing? What's their P/E ratio?

When I moved to PA from CA and heard people complaining about $1.75 a gallon for gasoline, I laughed, it's a bit over that here now, but I'm still not complaining after almost paying $3.00 a gallon in CA during the energy crisis a few years back.

so the US's petrol prices are ALMOST as high as the rest of the world? Shit, whens the next war?

Well, I guess GWB will be looking for WMD's in Iran next, aye?

Maybe we should invade a country and steal their oil!

Oh wait, that's what the left keeps saying we did in Iraq.
Hmm..... I guess it didn't work.

i think that the fact gas prices are up is just proof that Iraq was not a war for oil. if it were, we'd be swimming in gas right now.

sorry for the edits i've been adding quotes

Yeah, you get a Hummer and you can write it off your income taxes. :?


Isn't that nuts? I cannot deduct my vehicle to the degree that a realtor (who has zero need for a 6000 lb. vehicle) can deduct that Hummer, yet mine actually does hauling for my business and was purchased specifically for that reason. It made no sense to me at to buy something weighing twice as much, using that much gas, just so I could end up getting it free. At least they mended that particular loophole.

When I moved to PA from CA and heard people complaining about $1.75 a gallon for gasoline, I laughed, it's a bit over that here now, but I'm still not complaining after almost paying $3.00 a gallon in CA during the energy crisis a few years back.
Really? Here in New York State, it's higher than that. Almost $2.00 for regular, unleaded fuel.

You might want to save that oil in alaska until you really need it. In a few short decades a war for oil is going to sound very appealing.