Gouged

[getsome]

Well I filled up the pickup yesterday and paid $3.09 a gallon I stopped pumping when it got to $70.00........What is going on with gas prices now?....I hear crude prices are down and Iraq is starting to produce again so what gives????...I understand the law of supply and demand and expect to pay more around holidays and in the summer because demand is up BUT the latest excuse for the price spike is that we are driving LESS and not using as much fuel so the price is higher to keep profits up!!!!!...Now don't get me wrong, I don't like government involvement to control free enterprise but for other essential commodities we buy such as natural gas, electricity, and telecommunications, there are things like the Public Service Commision and the FCC which sets the rates and doesn't allow price gouging....Now some may say that gasoline isn't essential and shouldn't be regulated because there is public transportation available but here in Atlanta you must have an automobile to get most places and due to another useless government organization, the EPA we have to have special gasoline in the metro area because of smog which we all agree causes Global Warming!!!!.....:32:

[Vinikahr]

Well I filled up the pickup yesterday and paid $3.09 a gallon I stopped pumping when it got to $70.00........What is going on with gas prices now?....I hear crude prices are down and Iraq is starting to produce again so what gives????...I understand the law of supply and demand and expect to pay more around holidays and in the summer because demand is up BUT the latest excuse for the price spike is that we are driving LESS and not using as much fuel so the price is higher to keep profits up!!!!!...Now don't get me wrong, I don't like government involvement to control free enterprise but for other essential commodities we buy such as natural gas, electricity, and telecommunications, there are things like the Public Service Commision and the FCC which sets the rates and doesn't allow price gouging....Now some may say that gasoline isn't essential and shouldn't be regulated because there is public transportation available but here in Atlanta you must have an automobile to get most places and due to another useless government organization, the EPA we have to have special gasoline in the metro area because of smog which we all agree causes Global Warming!!!!.....:32:

What solutions do you propose to solve this predicament?

[Dietrich]

Hi Getsome,gasoline here in N.C. is running about $2.65 per gallon on average.I wonder why it`s so much higher where you are? Where are you anyway?

[ripley16]

What solutions do you propose to solve this predicament?

Teleportation. Where is it? :32: Every other darned gizmo we saw on Star Trek is in our hands now EXCEPT the teleporter. I'm going to ask my computer this question after I use my communicator to talk to my wife...was it bread or milk??

[getsome]

Well we are trying with things like hybrid cars, electric cars, fuel from corn, biodiesel and such....Hopefully there will be a break through with something like an inexpensive hydrogen fuel cell but thats most likely not going to be any time soon....IMHO our best short term solution is to drill for more of our own existing oil in the Gulf of Mexico and to open more land in Alaska such as the ANWR area....Another solution is what T. Boone Pickens is pushing which is to use more naturel gas which we have a very large untapped supply of in this country......Feel free to throw out some of your ideas if you have any....

[jeep45238]

Simple solution - get a more fuel effecient vehicle, walk or bicycle when possible. Don't like that solution? Don't drive as often. Ease off the gas pedal. But ultimately, sit down and figure out if you NEED a vehicle that has over a 22 gallon gas tank, and apparently goes through the fuel quickly. If you don't need an ineffecient vehicle to make an income, but are keeping it out of luxury because you don't like smaller fuel effecient vehicles or motorcycles, stop whining. Don't like it? Tough. Be proactive about things instead of rolling with the punches and complaining the whole way, while continuing to pay for what you're bitching about.

My old truck got 10 mpg, and had a 33 gallon tank. I would have to swipe my card twice to fill up from 1/8 tank when gas was $4/gallon. I distinctly remember having $110-$150 fuel bills, and got a 330 mile range.

My saturn that I owned at the time (and still drive) has a 12 gallon tank, and has a 330 mile range. As much as I loved my truck, I couldn't afford to keep it (1993 K2500, all running parts brand new, rebuilt/hopped up 350). I've had the car since 2002, purchased used, and have replaced every wear out item on it at some point save the engine, brake booster, and master cylinder. I'll keep driving it until the hubs and knuckles are beyond repair, meaning I literally can't drive it any more.


Stop complaining. It's drilled from the ground, piped to a freighter, which travels across an ocean for several thousand miles, is pumped to a refinery, which is pumped through thousands more miles of pipe, put on a truck, pumped into a tank under the parking lot of a retail location, and then pumped into your tank, as much as you want to purchase.

If you drink orange juice or buy coffee, you should be slapped upside the head.

[Vinikahr]

Well we are trying with things like hybrid cars, electric cars, fuel from corn, biodiesel and such....Hopefully there will be a break through with something like an inexpensive hydrogen fuel cell but thats most likely not going to be any time soon....IMHO our best short term solution is to drill for more of our own existing oil in the Gulf of Mexico and to open more land in Alaska such as the ANWR area....Another solution is what T. Boone Pickens is pushing which is to use more naturel gas which we have a very large untapped supply of in this country......Feel free to throw out some of your ideas if you have any....

There were lots of alternative, but were killed by those we buy cars from. Do you remember the electric car? There was 3 cylinder car same as the Smart Car, but actually bigger and will hold 4 passengers ( I had one) made by Suzuki in the 80's, that car was efficient.

[jeep45238]

Well we are trying with things like hybrid cars, electric cars, fuel from corn, biodiesel and such....Hopefully there will be a break through with something like an inexpensive hydrogen fuel cell but thats most likely not going to be any time soon....IMHO our best short term solution is to drill for more of our own existing oil in the Gulf of Mexico and to open more land in Alaska such as the ANWR area....Another solution is what T. Boone Pickens is pushing which is to use more naturel gas which we have a very large untapped supply of in this country......Feel free to throw out some of your ideas if you have any....

Oh, I'll put up a paper I wrote about 2 years ago on exactly this topic. I made it a point to drive my truck after my english prof shoved the hybrid **** down my throat. I got a lot of humor out of seeing her face cringe at the statement of me more than offsetting her 'carbon footprint' for a helluva lot less money per month in fuel/maintenence/insurance than her fuel/insurance/car payment/maintenence.

[getsome]

Hi dietrich, I'm in Atlanta and even though there is a major tank farm right ip the highway it cant be used to supply the metro area because the EPA says we have to use low sulfur oxygenated fuel to help with smog...This fuel has to be transported in a special pipeline to avoid contamination....this drives up the price plus I have to use premium.........To ripley, yea that would solve alot of transportation issues....I personally want one of those flying motorcycles that Luke Skywalker has in Star Wars then I would get me one of those shirts that say on the back: If you can read this the bit@h fell off....

[Vinikahr]

Simple solution - get a more fuel effecient vehicle, walk or bicycle when possible. Don't like that solution? Don't drive as often. Ease off the gas pedal. But ultimately, sit down and figure out if you NEED a vehicle that has over a 22 gallon gas tank, and apparently goes through the fuel quickly. If you don't need an ineffecient vehicle to make an income, but are keeping it out of luxury because you don't like smaller fuel effecient vehicles or motorcycles, stop whining. Don't like it? Tough. Be proactive about things instead of rolling with the punches and complaining the whole way, while continuing to pay for what you're bitching about.

My old truck got 10 mpg, and had a 33 gallon tank. I would have to swipe my card twice to fill up from 1/8 tank when gas was $4/gallon. I distinctly remember having $110-$150 fuel bills, and got a 330 mile range.

My saturn that I owned at the time (and still drive) has a 12 gallon tank, and has a 330 mile range. As much as I loved my truck, I couldn't afford to keep it (1993 K2500, all running parts brand new, rebuilt/hopped up 350). I've had the car since 2002, purchased used, and have replaced every wear out item on it at some point save the engine, brake booster, and master cylinder. I'll keep driving it until the hubs and knuckles are beyond repair, meaning I literally can't drive it any more.


Stop complaining. It's drilled from the ground, piped to a freighter, which travels across an ocean for several thousand miles, is pumped to a refinery, which is pumped through thousands more miles of pipe, put on a truck, pumped into a tank under the parking lot of a retail location, and then pumped into your tank, as much as you want to purchase.

If you drink orange juice or buy coffee, you should be slapped upside the head.

Strong Words.
But you are correct.

[Dietrich]

From what I understand,methane gas is very flammable so if someone would think of a way to capture and store flatulence,we`d be in business.Besides,I`ve heard that cow flatulence is a major contributor to global warming so we would also be driving "green" so to speak.
It was ingenuity and clear-headed thinking that built the Dietrich fortune.

[Frankhenrylee]

Global warming is a myth

[jeep45238]

Just a quick follow up before I hole away before my calc exam, but stop and look at TAXES per gallon for a change.

The federal gov takes 18.4 cents per gallon, while the state of Georgia takes 7.5 cents per gallon in addition to 4% sales tax.

So let's see here...70 dollar fuel bill... that's $2.80 sales tax, $1.65 in state taxes, and $4.05 in federal taxes.

You just paid $8.50 in taxes on that tank of fuel. Think that's bad? Here in Ohio I pay almost 47 cents per gallon in taxes - 50 cents if I'm fueling up a commercial vehicle (paid at the end of the year).

Not to mention registration fee (that's a tax)
mandated insurance on the vehicle (may as well be a tax)
license plates (another tax, duplicate of the registration fee more or less)
the taxes taken our of your pay check that you worked for to pay a $70 fuel bill.
Any tickets you have (that's a tax)



Like it or not, when you break down all the money you pay state and fed .gov per year, you hand them more money than your food, clothing, and mortgage COMBINED. All thanks to entitlement programs to keep career politicians in office, because those that benefit from the programs usually vote for the person "who faught for them" at the expense of everybody busting their hump for an honest buck.

Don't believe me? Do a little research on Roman times and politicians renting out the Collesium, buying slaves (gladiators), and throwing extravagant blood bath parties. The politician with the most money (and blood spillage) got the most votes, and stayed in office.






So, how about being proactive about it instead of bitching? Reduce your tax burden.

[getsome]

Hi jeep45238, I'm kinda fond of my truck....Its a 2002 and still runs like a top and I need a truck to pull a trailer and a boat so a smaller car wouldnt work for me plus the only cost of the truck is the tag, insurance, maintenance and gas....Now if i went out and bought a new smaller car for 25 grand or so then my transportation cost would be much much more....I like to take good care of my cars and trucks and like you drive them until they die.....

[getsome]

Thanks dietrich, we depend on you and you always come through in the end!!!.... Personally I'm working on a way to run my truck on beer....