"Low Gas Prices,"????? When did $2.25 a gallon become a low gas price

[Flabbergasted]

(Personally I'm not one to complain about gas.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp -

dyn/content/article/2006/10/12/AR2006101200939.html

Bush: 'We're Too Dependent on Oil'

By Bill Brubaker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 12, 2006; 4:44 PM

President Bush today said he worries that declining gasoline prices will make Americans less concerned about the nation's future energy needs.

"Energy is -- look, let me just put it bluntly: We're too dependent on oil," he said at the Renewable Fuels Conference in St. Louis, sponsored by the departments of energy and agriculture. "Now, see, low gasoline prices may mask that concern."

Bush said he frets that the "low price of gasoline will make . . . us complacent about our future when it comes to energy."

Gasoline prices have dropped sharply in recent weeks, in part because of a slowdown in U.S. demand and a buildup in crude oil and gasoline inventories.

Today, the average price in the United States for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.25, compared with $2.61 a month ago, according to the AAA motor club. In the Washington region, regular unleaded has dropped from $2.80 to $2.36 over the same period.

[rodeodance]

1. that silver boot in his mouth that he was born with gets in the way of

thinking how 'others' live their daily lives!

[Webster Green]

2. No shit!...It went from $1.60 to $3.60, now its "down" to $2.34...

Its still pretty high-priced gas.

More lies and deception.

[Riddler]

4. Because in a right-winger's simple mind, $2.25 a gallon under Bush

is lower than $1.25 a gallon under Clinton. Besides, it's Clinton's fault they're as high as they are now.

[DinahMoeHum]

3. The gasoline prices are not "low", they are VOLATILE. . .

another "incident" in the ME, or another natural disaster, and they'll shoot back up quick.

[OllieLotte]

13. That is true.

I expect gas prices to continue to fall unless a "crisis" occurs. Hurricanes are pretty much done for 2006, but Iran could get them to spike again. Still, that $70+ a barrel price caused a lot of exploring and drilling and that oil is going to be coming to market.

[donheld]

5. "When did $2.25 a gallon become a low gas price?"

The same day war = peace.

[razors edge]

6. It's like we tell the detainees,

"It'll feel better when it quits hurting."

[CTD]

7. For once, he's right. Gas prices ARE too low.

Gas in the US needs to be priced like it is in Europe. Add $2-3/gal in taxes and earmark the revenue for mass transit projects and existing road maintenance.

Unless the price of gas is $3.50+, there is inadequate incentive to get the penis-extenders (er, SUVs) off the roads. People who drive those things need to feel it in their wallets. And that doesn't really happen at $2.25/gal.

Move prices up north of $3.50 permanently and there will be market incentive to drive fuel efficient vehicles and for manufacturers to further develop alternate fuel vehciles.

At $2.25/gal we just get more SUVs.

[Flabbergasted]

8. Agreed. The sooner we go there the less it'll hurt later.

But....you agree for radically different reasons.

[haele]

9. problem

Gas taxes would be horribly regressive, punishing people who don't have the economic ability to switch to a hybrid. Much higher gas prices would also hurt the economy, as most goods are shipped via trucks on the highways. So look to higher prices for everything, across the board, which would be another form of regressive tax punishing the poor.

The folks who drive Hummers don't care what the gas price is, they can afford it.

[Flabbergasted]

17. I think for long term stability we need to focus on an approach that heads

in this direction. We are talking about lifestyle changes but these changes are going to happen anyway. I think the question is how drastic is the situation? Gas prices are going to rise until we have implemented alternatives. I think that rise is likely to put us into the situation you are talking about much sooner than we're prepared for. I expect by 2012 we will be well on our way

[haele]

18. agreed

but artificially increasing the price by 80% is going to cause extreme hardship to many people. The two areas I can think of are rural areas and southern California, neither of which have much in the way of public transport.

I'd like to see tax credits for fuel efficient cars, and easy retrofits for existing automobiles to hybrid technology. We'd drive a hybrid minivan if we could afford one, and we'll be even less able to afford one if gas prices suddenly jump 2-3 dollars a gallon.

[Flabbergasted]

20. Agreed

Thats why I used the phrase "Head in that Direction."

[MrCoffee]

12. Exactly right. Gas needs to be taxed upwards of $5/gallon.

It's shit or get off the pot time for getting serious on developing the alternative energy economy. Petroleum is on its way out, in 5, 10, 20, or 50 years.

The changes that come with getting off the petroleum economy and onto a hydrogen (or other alternative fuel) economy are going to be nothing compared to the water wars.

[Virginia Dare]

10. Since we started elected oil barons as our leaders?...n/t

[zalinda]

11. It's still $2.53 here in CNY, I guess

it must be because it's such a blue state.

zalinda

[HockeyMom]

14. Upstate New York

is more expensive than Downstate. I have no idea why. It didn't used to be. My daughter is in school at Cortland and is screaming that the gas is about 40 cents a gallon more expensive than back home on Long Island.

I filled up this morning at $2.27 and on the way home from work today the same station was selling it at $2.23.

Unfortunately, the decline isn't reflected in any of my Utility Fuel Surcharges. No, I do not think it will last. After the elections and with an invasion of Iran, it will go through the roof.

Call me a pessimist if you will.

[rock]

15. The same time 250 billion $ became a cut in half deficit

(thanks to you know who*)

[Capn Sunshine]

16. I'll choose "When it's an election year" , Alex

DING DING DING DING DING DING!
CORRECT!


What do I win?

[Bullshot]

19. It's the same game they play with the federal deficits

Project $400-billion deficits, they come in at $200 billion--still larger than any deficit under Clinton. They proclaim that the economy is running well. The lemmings in the media parrot the rhetoric. And everything's hunky-dory.