Get Ready For Record Gasoline Prices

[Jim Warren]

Starting NOW, into and through summer, then, well you know, that hurricane season thing.

Third-quarter retail gasoline prices have averaged a premium to the first-quarter Nymex price of nearly 96% in the past five years. That would suggest a record high price in the third quarter of $3.32 a gallon, smashing the previous record and a summertime average of $3.19 a gallon, up 34% from a year ago and 27% above EIA's forecast.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=27115

[wookie294]

1. I'm hoping we get higher gasoline prices

I hope oil goes to $130 real soon.

[BlackHeart]

3. WHY IN THE WORLD...

would you want to see that?

[wookie294]

6. It will force big change in oil policy

Human beings only change when disaster strikes. Let's hope for the big oil disaster this summer!

[wuushew]

11. Seems like that would hurt poor people very badly

Why not just outlaw SUVs as a way of reducing gasoline consumption?

[wookie294]

13. Poor people are always the ones to suffer the most during change

Blame the oil companies and an apathetic and ignorant American electorate for allowing the current state of affairs to happen. Poor people are also paying for the war in Iraq, too. Pathetic.

[BlackHeart]

17. Great plan!

Screw poor people! Way to go! Are you planning on running for office with that as one of your planks?

[Rude Horner]

30. I'm with you, Blackheart

To HOPE for an oil disaster just amazes me. Do some people not realize that oil plays a factor in just about EVERYTHING you buy, not just gas at the pump. Groceries, clothing, heat, etc...will ALL go up in price. No thanks. Some people are so short sighted. "I've got my gas efficient car so I'm all set". That doesn't cut it. If there's an oil disaster, we ALL suffer no matter what car you have.

[Dora]

19. Poor people are already coping with adversity - they know how.

The people who won't know how to handle this are those in the middle class who have their heads buried deep in the sandhills of their debt. These are the people who thought it made better sense to buy a bigger house further away with a longer commute. And lest anyone think I'm shaming them, I'm not. It's just a sad reality.

My husband and I are ready for any fuel increase. We live near a major bus route, we work less than 10 miles from our home, our offices are close together and we can carpool, and all our household needs (post office, pharmacy, groceries) are within walking distance if necessary. We should probably give our bicycles a tuneup, but all in all, we won't be stuck at home if gas becomes unaffordable.

"Outlawing" SUVs is a silly idea. Eventually the markets will decide that debate, and it's not one that our legal system needs to be involved in unless SUVs become a recognized safety hazard. Gluttony may be a sin, but it's not a crime. Different people drive SUVs for different reasons. Some do it for status, and some because they actually need the space an SUV provides. SUV-bashing is a useless enterprise.

[wuushew]

23. Why were CAFE standards even created then?

Politicans at the time correctly concluded that market forces were either too slow or not effective in reducing average automobile fuel consumption.

Do you feel that CAFE standards were an abuse of governmental power into the "free" market?

[Dora]

29. An answer to your question...

No, I don't feel that CAFE standards were an abuse of governmental power into the "free" market.

Why the attitude? Sheesh.

edit: to correct punctuation.

[BlackHeart]

24. Many poor people

must commute further than you do because they live in poor areas but their job may be in an area that they can't afford to live.

[Dora]

28. Yes, and What's your point?

I'll restate and rephrase what I said in case it wasn't clear.

Many middle class people live further away than we do, and they chose not to live in a closer neighborhood because (take your pick) it wasn't big enough, or green enough, or clean enough, or white enough, or wealthy enough for their tastes. These people have a 20-60 mile commute in gaz-guzzling vehicles, and our bus system doesn't yet service these suburban areas. And why no buses? Because (generalizing here) rich people don't ride the bus; historically, there's been no demand for bus service in these areas.

I don't know where you live, but where I live, the poorer population still lives in a geographically segregated part of town that's "close in" by everyone's standards. Admittedly, this part of town is slowly gentrifying, but with resistance from residents and non-residents alike. As well, I don't see any low-income housing going up in our suburbs.

Yes, poor people will be affected by an increase in gas prices. I don't dispute that. My assertion was that people who are accustomed to living in adversity and struggling to make ends meet will adapt to this increase in gas prices just like they've adapted to all the other sucky realities they must cope with. It's the soft-bellied wide-assed suburban middle classes that are going to really scream when their budgets take a hit because of their gas tanks.

I don't know what you think you're arguing against.

[BlackHeart]

31. Why the class envy?

Why the class envy? It's obvious from your choice of words (soft-bellied wide-assed suburban middle classes, for example) that you have built up some resentment, how come? Now tell me what you think of rich people.

[Dora]

32. Envy? Not hardly.

Welcome to DU.

I have no problem with wealth. It's fools that I can't abide.

[Renew Deal]

8. My boss has a bet

with someone here that Gas will go over $100/barrel by the end of the year. That would be wild.

[Roland99]

26. You mean oil?

:)

[Renew Deal]

34. Yes

D'oh :banghead:

[WI_DEM]

15. Not only that it would almost gurantee big Republican losses in November

[BlackHeart]

21. To save the country...

...we must destroy the country?

[Dora]

33. Well, that's the plan they took to Iraq...

and it's worked so well.

:sarcasm:

[Cobalt Violet]

36. People will get really whipped into a lather over this.

[TommyO]

35. Those of us who commute to earn a living

thank you for your concern!

[JStuart]

2. of course...

there are lots of little trust fund teens who need tuition money.

[Desertrose]

4. yeah and how many billions ( or was it trillions) did...

the giant oil companies rake in this year.......???

[MadHound]

5. Hey, I'm ready

2005 Bajaj Chetak scooter, goes 55-60mph, gets 100mpg. I've been riding it since last fall, and absolutely love it. And with a 52 mile round trip commute every day, it is saving me tons of money. And it's a very fun little bike to ride.

[Jim Warren]

9. Mind asking?

What'd that thing cost? Riding since last fall? You got winter where you live?

[MadHound]

18. The scooter cost $2800

I threw in a few extras, namely a windshield and three full moon hubcaps.

And I live in Mid Missouri, and yeah, most years we get some serious winter around here. But the last couple of winters have sadly been rather mild, hardly any snow, very few days that were really cold. I've found that I can ride until it gets below 30 degrees. Thus, I've put 3100 miles on my scooter since last September.

I do highly recommend this bike, I've found it to be a steady and reliable bike. It is a stable ride, goes fast enough for me, gets excellent gas mileage, and with a four speed manual tranny, it gets good pick up off the line.

If you get one new, make sure that you follow the break in procedures in order to lengthen the life of your engine. Oh, and in most states, due to the engine size on this scooter, you're going to have to get plate for it, and also a motorcycle permit on your driver's license.

For more information:<http://www.bajajusa.com>

[JStuart]

10. that's great...

got a mfg. link?

[acmejack]

20. Here's the link

http://www.bajajusa.com/scooters.htm

[tridim]

7. Thank you "oil man" president!

Remember in the olden days (5 years ago) when gas was close to $1.00? I wonder if the Bushbots remember?

[RebelOne]

12. They have already jumped 10 cents overnight here in North Georgia.

Yesterday, the average price was $2.45. This morning it was $2.55. Who knows what it will be tomorrow.

[LSK]

14. they are not far from where they hit highs last summer

Have the sheeple been programmed to think that $2.50 is cheap gas now???

Remember the Clinton era of under $1??? And they said Gore would tax gas prices to death! :rofl:

[Jim Warren]

16. Yeah, I think so

You know, when you boil a frog, put it in room temp water and turn the heat up sloooow.

[cliss]

22. Prediction:

Gas will go through the roof. Outcome:

1) You'll have some very angry Americans. They'll be looking for someone to blame. That someone will be....

2) Bush's ratings will be swirling in the toilet. I foresee angry mobs at the White House (if they have the dough to drive there, that is).

3) People will FINALLY, at long last, start to look at their driving habits. Like Wookie says, people don't change unless they are forced to.

4) In the cosmic sense, this is good. Sorry about your SUV, though.

[MsFlorida]

25. I'm paying $2.73 a gallon,

and I'm still outraged that it is up over a $1.00 or even 90 cents. For that matter, I want gas at 70 cents or less a gallon.

This is not acceptable to me today or any day. Just think of all the consumering we could do if all the money wasnt going for gas.

[BlackHeart]

27. I don't know about Florida

but even if the oil companies gave away gas I'd be paying more than 70 cents a gallon for it becasue of taxes.

[robertpaulsen]

37. We should protest this shit.

Here's my idea:

America is "addicted to oil"? Let's stage an OIL INTERVENTION!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x841713