Gas prices are too high! Boo-hoo hoo!

[cheezus]

Okay, even at $2.50 a gallon, gas is INSANELY cheap! You're telling me that for $2.50 a gallon they can pump it out of the ground, transport it half way around the world, refine it, AND put some fairly high taxes on top of it?

Honestly, I don't feel bad for the people that are putting $50 at a time into their huge SUVs. We're not going to quit wasting energy on the large scale that we currently are until that energy gets to be expensive enough.

[wryter2000]

1. I agree

I do feel bad for people who need to drive for their businesses. But for the SUV's with the shredded flags flying from them...tough!

[MUAD_DIB]

8. The shredded nub of a flag is the best.

I really shows how friggin lazy these guys can be.

[tedoll78]

2. I hope that the prices jump up even MORE.

My fellow Americans are paying for their voting stupidity. May gasoline reach $3 a gallon this summer nationwide.. perhaps then they'll drift into a lighter sleep.

[Flubadubya]

24. Yeah, but the Bushies are blaming it on Kerry....

Can you believe the unmitigated gall of those A$$holes! Here, they are responsible for the entire mess the country is in, but through their fiendish and devilishly clever ads they are making the American public believe that high gas prices are already John Kerry's fault.

This bunch of villains know no shame or limits. GRRRRR... As Mike Malloy would say, "Have I said how much I hate these people?" :grr: :mad:

[RummyTheDummy]

29. So does BushCo.

They're having mad fun blaming it on Kerry and judging from recent poll numbers, it's working....at least on the short term.

[RobertSeattle]

3. And factored for inflation is just a little more expensive than "normal"

It is amazing - one gallon can move you and 2000 poinds of metal 50 miles - try to do that by foot!

But there is sticker shock about the $2 threshold that seems to make consumers irrational.

Voluntary Self Disclosure: I own a Prius :)

[CrownPrinceBandar]

14. I've heard there's a 3-6 month waiting period...

on Priuses (?) now. I realize that compared to Europe our gas is cheap, but the prices now are hitting a bunch of folks (myself included).

I hearken back to the day that Bush said that he was going to dump a shitload of money into "alternative fuel" technology. Whatever happened to that promise? I really hope that the higher fuel prices will force people to take a hard look at their election choices and the choice of what they drive.

[texastoast]

23. Fuel Cell

Was the projection that it would be up and running in 20 years?

[Robbien]

4. When Exxon is at the top of the list of most profitable companies

and where their executives bring home tens of millions of dollars a year in bonuses, yes gas prices are too high.

[Trajan]

5. Gas prices impacts everything ...

From schoobooks to butter ...

Why ? ... because they add a premium to ALL products that require transportation .... which is nearly everything ...

Mock the SUV owners .. that is fair ... BUT ..

This hurts poor families just as badly ...

Milk and butter prices ARE the 'taxation' of the poor ...

Your mockery has unintended victims ....

Careful how you spray your weapons ....

[Sandpiper]

9. For real

My Aunt and Uncle had a small trucking business that is now out of business because of the increase in fuel costs.

[Journeyman]

15. In '73, I laughed at the Cadillac "boats" on the road. . .

and told my brother, "Those fools won't be driving when gas hits $1.00 a gallon. It'll be us Volkswagen Bug drivers who own the road then."

He laughed and calmly explained that as gas prices rise, the only ones who will be able to afford it will be those who drive the big buck vehicles.

So no, I don't expect $3 gas to sideline many SUVs, though I do expect it to devastate those who can least afford it.

[Sandpiper]

18. Your brother was right

If you can afford to drive a $50,000 SUV, spending $60 to fill it up isn't going to hurt you.

[treepig]

25. do you know what else hurts the poor?

you know, people without health insurance?!?

yup, all that air pollution caused by completely wasteful over-consumption of hydrocarbon-based fuels.

but if you wish, we'll keep on destroying the planet for the sake of the poor!

[peachy]

6. say goodbye to cheap oil

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x6599

In this case there is no place to go but up...

[rucky]

7. SUV's are always mentioned

never the people who can't afford to live near where they work and have to drive. Spending an hour's worth of their crappy pay just getting to work & back.

never the people who live in cities with starved public transit systems - or rural areas with none.

If there was some way to charge people for the way they use gas - or offer gas subsidies for working poor...

[cally]

16. We do need to subsidize the working poor

for gas. For all others, I'm glad gas prices are increasing. It will help make alternatives more economically viable.

I wish I had a Prius.

[librechik]

10. wait, I thought the RWers were all in favor of the market controlling

prices? Don't they realize their SUVs are an essential part of the profit-taking system? They should be proud and happy to empty their wallets for the king's war in Iraq!

[liberalpress]

13. after all ..

... he did give them a big tax break on their vehicles.. figuring gas prices would go up... figuring his oil cronies would make huge amounts of money... figuring he would give them a tax break on their excessive profits. Go figure

[LynzM]

11. Yeah, try living in Europe...

$4-5/gallon. Americans are spoiled and don't even know it...

[OneTwentyoNine]

31. The true price per gallon is just as cheap as in the US

Everytime this is brought up people really think that gas is 5.00-6.00 per gallon in Europe. Fact is that its just as cheap as in the US but they get nailed ridiculous on fuel taxes--so vote the bastards out of office.Yes...you still pay the price but its the European governments causing the prices to be so high.



Taxes per gallon,price per gallon on average:

England--5.00 per gallon,fuel cost is $1.00 per gallon.
France--$2.82 per gallon,fuel cost is $1.25 per gallon
Germany-$2.56 per gallon,fuel cost is $1.35 per gallon
USA--.39 per gallon,fuel cost is $1.25 per gallon

[liberalpress]

12. S-a-a-y....Here's a quick idea to help bring gas prices down..

Vote in a president somebody who doesn't have personal ties to big oil! Just a thought. We now resume ou egulrly scheduled thread.

[catmandu57]

17. I'd like to see graduated pump prices

The larger, gas eating vehicles would have to pay more. Let the price graduate up from the hybrid and four cylinder cars and trucks, increasing as the vehicle becomes larger.

[noahmijo]

21. I'm one of those non-suv'ers that has to deal with the prices

I live in Oro Valley and go to the University of Arizona so I have a 30 mile round trip to deal with, plus since my girl also uses the car for work that adds about 5 miles so we're looking at a 35-40 mile trip on the car each day. Why don't I live closer? because I live with my parents so I don't have to deal with the $600+ monthly rent of downtown apartments that are nests for drug dealers and cockroaches.

Thankfully I drive a chevy prism which is about as low in gas mileage as you're gonna get untill you hit the hybrid vehicles, but still having to shell out about $20 or so a week for gas really sucks on a college student's budget. The lady and I share the burden, but we're more than annoyed about the prices. It's not as bad in California as we're around $1.87 range or so as of right now, but still I remember back in 2000 when prices were around $1.

So Europe has $4-$5 per liter prices, good for them hope they're proud, I don't live in Europe I live here, I'm all for responsible environmental practices, I don't pity those who choose to drive an SUV, but at the same time high gas prices in general isn't punishing SUV'ers because most of them can easily afford it anyway. I've never heard of an impoverished Hummer owner.

Well I will admit though I am going to buy an SUV someday when I move outta this damn desert and into a place where 4-wheel drive is highly recommended...when they become hybrid and can get 35+ mpg.

[rene moon]

28. Hey, I live where you say the cockroaches and drug dealers are

Listen, not trying to nitpick but if I live in downtown Tucson and it's pretty nice. I guess all the desert cockroaches crawl down from Oro Valley and want to attack all of us in Tuson, hmm. And as a native, most of the drugs I've seen have been distributed byt the white kids in Oro Valley and the upscale areas.

Think before you type, thanks.

P.S. Gas prices suck here

[noahmijo]

30. I WORKED in the downtown area

I used to frequent and work in the downtown area for over 4 years starting back when it was REALLY bad off in the late 90's. Yea it's not as bad it used to be, but it's still no place I'd prefer to live.

Did they clean up downtown in the last 2 years? because when I worked downtown security I was reporting anywhere from 2-3 drug deals out in the open on a daily basis. Once a Canadian tourist asked me if drugs were legal in Tucson or not because he had seen a trade between 3 men who didn't even try to conceal their actions.

Living in Tucson for the last 10 years and being a student at CDO high school I can tell you that drugs that were being distributed were from kids of ALL races primarily from the hispanics and whites. Also the drugs in question were typically marijuana and maybe 1/50 of the time was it crack. I know you wanted to use this chance to bash the evil white male, (despite that you probably are one) but sorry pally, EVERYONE was dealing them not just evil whitey. BTW I'm Hispanic before you can try to attack my racial opinions.

So having much experience in both areas of discussion I can say that not only did I think before I posted what I said I LIVED it.

To your credit there are some decent apartments just outside of the downtown area whose market are college students, but still it's not much better, and I still prefer the "upscale" area of Oro Valley in my "upscale" house which is worth about $120,000.

P.S. Agreed gas prices suck and with the constant air conditioning required by a Tucson driver it sucks that much more, and quite frankly I could write a book about why Tucson is one of the shittiest cities on the face of the planet and why I will move the first chance I get upon graduation.

[Broadslidin]

19. Hey, Jalopy SUV Owners, Live It Up.......

As fast as you can, Burn, Burn, Burn that oil up.

If your looking for a good paying job
to pay off your 1st and 2nd mortgages
and credit card card indebtedness
and have military experience, now is the time to join the
contract Chilean mercenaries protecting U.S. fortifications
and U.S. corporate interests in Iraq!!
www.blackwaterusa.com
Not only Protect the Fatherland,
but you can Cash in with up to $1000 a day,
seven day mercenary contracts!

[SoCalDem]

20. My hubby drives a small pickup (needs it for work) $350.00 mo for gas

It used to be around $200.00 a month.. It's really difficult when budgets are tight already, and within a month his gasoline expenses increase that much.. He's not on expense accouont and not self-employed, so we cannot "write it off" and pay ourselves back..

There are millions just like us in California.....We have little or no public transportation, and have among the highest gas prices in the US...

The rich fatcats who have the big ole SUV's don't blink an eye when they fill their beasts up, but for ordinary workiing people who must commute, they are pretty much screwed..

For budgets that are already lean, that's a big bite.:(

[noahmijo]

22. Buy a Harley! (Or any other kind of motorcycle)

Ahh those were the days when I rode my Harley Dyna Lorider to school. I had to sell it to help pay for college though sadly. As soon as I can though I'm getting another one, I'm telling you if you live in a place that is motorcycle friendly in terms of the weather and people then saddle up on a bike of your choice. Unfortunately anywhere you go people are amazingly incompetent when it comes to showing some respect to bikers.

Quick tip for motorcycle courtesy of the day: Don't ride up their asses! nothing used to piss me off more than some sneering yokel who would ride my ass for miles despite the fact that I'd be typically going 5-10 miles over the speed limit. It's very scary, give bikers at least a car length just like you would if you were behind a car. Is this too much to ask????!

My advice on choice of bikes, get Japanese model if you want something you can depend on, get a Harley if you want to turn heads.

[MadHound]

26. OK, I can agree with your sentiment, but

Increasing gas prices aren't going to impact the SUV drivers. If they can afford a Hummer or a Caddy Escalade, they won't even blink until gas hits $5.00 a gallon.

Who this is really going to impact negatively is the poor and the middle class who are just trying to get by. And we won't just be feeling it at the pump. Gas prices, due to our gas intensive product transport system, will effect everything we buy, from food to clothes to heating bills. And the burden of that kind of inflation will fall disproportionately on the poor and working class.

Just another blow in this administration's war on the middle class and poor. Tax us and use inflation in order to make us all into good little corporate serfs. A trend that started thirty years ago, and is now coming to fruition. Hang on, it is going to be one bumpy ride.

[MadHound]

27. OK, I can agree with your sentiment, but

Increasing gas prices aren't going to impact the SUV drivers. If they can afford a Hummer or a Caddy Escalade, they won't even blink until gas hits $5.00 a gallon.

Who this is really going to impact negatively is the poor and the middle class who are just trying to get by. And we won't just be feeling it at the pump. Gas prices, due to our gas intensive product transport system, will effect everything we buy, from food to clothes to heating bills. And the burden of that kind of inflation will fall disproportionately on the poor and working class.

Just another blow in this administration's war on the middle class and poor. Tax us and use inflation in order to make us all into good little corporate serfs. A trend that started thirty years ago, and is now coming to fruition. Hang on, it is going to be one bumpy ride.