Gas Prices Piss You Off?

[Dubh Aingeal]

Dude, I remember when I had a fit because gas was over a dollar a gallon.

I feel so old.

I remember the prices of old...

[Der Nister]

We could always invade Canada - they have oil and won't put up much of a fight.

Just kidding.

[phee]

I have decided to fill my gas tank with water from this point on.... it doesn't work, but it is a lot cheaper

[Scary Guy]

I have decided to fill my gas tank with water from this point on.... it doesn't work, but it is a lot cheaper

The water engine exists if you can find the plans. Oil companies took care of that too though :(

[Amerist]

Not being able to drive I don't look at gas prices very often. However, being that I try to make sure the people driving me around aren't sucking down huge resources -- I've been kinda boggled at how much it sometimes changes when I look out the window.

"Who knows, tomorrow it might be near $4." And I and sitting here, narrowing my eyes, wondering about the stories my grandparents used to tell me about 10¢ coffee.

A boycott seems a little silly; being more responsible about fuel efficiency, pushing for less trips that do more; basically self-saving money based on the fact we have to use this stuff every day is probably a good idea. Gas always felt expensive -- might as well treat it like it is and save some money now for more gas later.

[torn asunder]

The water engine exists if you can find the plans. Oil companies took care of that too though :(

i actually had a couple sets of plans i ound online a few years ago - wonder if i can find them again!? i'll have to look...

[Der Nister]

A boycott seems a little silly; being more responsible about fuel efficiency, pushing for less trips that do more; basically self-saving money based on the fact we have to use this stuff every day is probably a good idea. Gas always felt expensive -- might as well treat it like it is and save some money now for more gas later.

Unfortunately too many Americans refuse to do things that would help us all in the long run.

Car pooling alone would help reduce fuel consumption but most people like to drive alone to work. That of course is just an example.

The other problem we face is this countries short term memory problem.

People initially get angry but then become consumed with their own lives and forget about what troubled them, seems foolish if you ask me.

[know_buddy_kares]

It's also apathy that get's in the way, most rather not bother with an inconvenience of having to remember not stopping at certain gas stations. They just wanna go to the first one they see. It's this mentality that's truely pathetic, and we've only ourselves to blame for the bullshit the govt and fortune 500 companies are pulling on us. The high gas prices, if you don't like them, do what you preach then.

CAR POOL, DRIVE LESS, STOP BUYING FRIGGIN SUV'S!!!!!!

and above all, boycott this shit like we're in the 1960's!!!!

[BrassFusion]

It's also apathy that get's in the way, most rather not bother with an inconvenience of having to remember not stopping at certain gas stations. They just wanna go to the first one they see. It's this mentality that's truely pathetic, and we've only ourselves to blame for the bullshit the govt and fortune 500 companies are pulling on us. The high gas prices, if you don't like them, do what you preach then.

CAR POOL, DRIVE LESS, STOP BUYING FRIGGIN SUV'S!!!!!!

and above all, boycott this shit like we're in the 1960's!!!!

i agree with your first three notions. they all fit under the "use less fuel" umbrella.

but... boycott? if you just try to boycott exxon/mobil, it's a false boycott. you're still being used by all the other oil companies, and it won't do you any good. if you're gonna REALLY boycott, you'd have to boycott all gasoline.

[BrassFusion]

when you say the word "boycott" over and over it starts to sound really silly

[know_buddy_kares]

well i was just pointing out, in my own sarcastic way by simply saying, "use less fuel" and, "just drive less" aren't any help at all. You cannot control your car's gas milage, or having to stop at stoplights ect. You cannot control the distance from your house to your work, if driving is the only option to get there. Alot of people are unable to carpool on the grounds they don't even live close to any of their co workers and the routes to and from work are completely different for most people from eachother.

The truth is, people don't really give 2 shits about something if it isn't affecting them directly. But what they fail to realize, is there's alot of things going on that may not affect them directly, indirectly is a whole different ball game. With fuel prices gone up, shipping and receiving will deffinitely have to go up to cover costs, with that, product prices will start going up, yet wages still remain the same, no new jobs are being brought in, this is making it very uncomfortable to everyone.

The fact of the matter is, if people are so uncomfortable with how things are working, then they should DO SOMETHING about it. Sitting around and just complaining doesn't accomplish anything. At least this myspace group starting out is making an attempt to stand their ground at least. I for one am for the boycott. I'm sick of seeing gas prices constantly being raised at such a fast rate, with no raises to cover the gas costs. Did I get a $60 a month raise to cover for my gas costs? FUCK NO.

I honestly hope this myspace page takes off soon. If it does well enough, it may gain some publicity. Will it happen? Maybe, maybe not. But one can hope, and do what they can to help get the word out.

[Reaper]

Yeah, today I put $50 into my truck, and that didn't even get me to 3/4 of a tank. So I put in the same amount of money and try to make that last every week. If I were to fill up the tank, I might be more apt to drive more, so I don't fill my tank. Trying to do my part by using less gas.

[BrassFusion]

KBK, you could use less fuel by taking a bus than driving your car. i think it's incredible that people who actually own cars in this country are treated like they don't have the option to not use them.

so if you don't use your car, it's using less fuel. it's also kind of a... BOYCOTT! and if enough people do that one, it could actually work temporarily.

thing is, a boycott isn't just something where you decide to stop doing business with some corporation randomly out of a group. boycotts are for when you have an ethical problem with a corporation, so you quit using their product(s). i'm sure you still have an ethical problem with bp, shell, speedway, sunoco, and all those other 2-bit stations, because they all get their gas from the oil companies who all suffer from the same corporate greed.

(the price would be high anyway due to lack of supply and insane demand, but i'll admit they'd be lower if oil companies were more ethical in terms of what they did with their profits.)

anyway. you have an ethical problem with all oil companies. there's no sense in boycotting ONE of them, because you and everybody else still gets shafted, just potentially deeper when mobil raises their prices to make up for reduced patronage (because they can get away with it and they know it) and other gas stations follow suit.

reaper- that works.

[Mizuna]

Anyway... I know this will seem irrelevant, but I am from New Zealand.

About the petrol prices, you will find that the petrol industry is pretty close to a cartel. Cartels are illegal, but can only be proven through admittance of a participant. Basically, you will notice some trends in the market, those are when one rises price they all do, when one drops they all do. This is because that is how cartels work. Basically a cartel is when there is Ogopoly, or the participants in it I should say, join up and basically form a somewhat unstable Monopoly. They basically agree on all prices to sell their goods at, if one person breaks it... Sells for less I mean to try and gain a market share, they will all drop their prices to regain the market share they have lost (This is to avoid price wars, they could indeed drop down till when marginal cost is equal to their revenue, but why do that when you could make a bigger profit?).

Because they have this agreement, its pretty obvious they will try to maximize price by selling as high as possible. People can complain about it but its only rational sense for them to do so... If they didn't it would be miss-representing the share holders in the business, which their main concern is making profit. Inflation however can be stopped by the government, but when the American government leaders most likely get funding from the oil companies in their campaigns it wouldn't be to smart to do.

Furthermore the reason for high prices is primarily the way people live; it may cost a lot to buy petrol, but it would cost you more not to. Why is this? If you didn't buy petrol you wouldn't get to work, you wouldn't do a lot of things, you will also lose a lot of time with public transport (I know, waiting for the bus for 20 minutes a day to get to and from school is not the most productive thing I could be doing). This idea is also is why public transport was used a lot in the 70's and 80's. The cost of someone using a car back then, was higher than the cost of not (Note: cost I am referring to might not just be money, if you didn't guess). This also is shown in China, a lot of people use push bikes, it gets them to work faster than a car. I am not suggesting you do this, that wouldn't be very rational, unless it actually did save you time. But scooters, mopeds, motor bikes etc might be a decent idea if possible. If you want to save money to get to work, move closer or get a job closer to home its simple. Petrol prices won't drop until people stop buying it, they still aren't even close to profit maximization which is shown by people still buy petrol. Thats right America, you guys buy the most. But, you should be glad your petrol is "cheap", compared to other countries anyway... This is probably because America is one of the only countries that are not apart of the Kyoto Protocol. Less tax on petrol consumption, leads to lower prices. Basically stop complaining, boycotting it won't succeed unless you seriously want to screw your economy over. So expect higher prices, and expect more complaining .

Those people who suggest alternative fuels... I suggest you read the news more. It was your country that is producing a lot of corn for ethanol to use as a fuel source. As for the water engines, would that actually be that smart? Specially with the estimates of water will run out in 20 years if population continues to grow at its current rate and water usage is still wasted to such an extent (Don't blame this on China, its you guys who are the worse. Trust me this blaming on China comes up a lot, population doesn't lead to waste, ignorance does). So would it really be wise to have a water based engine? No. Petrol companies did buy these plans... But it was in their best interests, they don't care what you think, they are there to make money, not feel good about what they do. Nonetheless, war over water is predicted to be the next big one, that and America invading Africa for their fuel reserves. Other fuel ideas are being presented and worked on, like engines that run on fat, oils from plants etc even hydrogen (Not water).

I have a really nice question though, what happened to the electric car? It was energy efficient, produced next to no pollution, probable, invented! and the driver said it was fun. So why isn't the most nuclear friendly nation not using those cars when they could do efficiently? Ask yourself that question. Wait I know, your major companies will go under! Thats why you don't hear about that crap no more, I remember a few years ago use to always be on the news, now there is nothing. Use electric cars, and put some sense into your ideas lol. That, or instead of complaining how much you spend, stop buying petrol.

I know its in an individuals best interest to complain about the price, but go do something that would actually help society collectively, go get your country signed up to the Kyoto Protocol. I know I don't want my kids to inherent warmer weather because America wanted to make $1 now for a price for $1000's later and lower living standards, way to go.

[Scary Guy]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasoline.asp#nogas

[Gauge]

This also is shown in China, a lot of people use push bikes, it gets them to work faster than a car. I am not suggesting you do this, that wouldn't be very rational, unless it actually did save you time. But scooters, mopeds, motor bikes etc might be a decent idea if possible. If you want to save money to get to work, move closer or get a job closer to home its simple.

i totally sugest mopeds! in the time that ive had my moped (a few months) ive driven more than i ever did in my car and the amount of money ive put into gas (including the reserve that i just filled that will last me. . .probably 2 weeks or so) would give me. . .1/4 of a tank of gas if that. no considering that my car gets maaaaybe 20 miles to the gallon that would get me to. . .nowhere lol. now if you look at my moped ive gone about 400 miles. . .thats a lot of friggen driving! ive also noticed that i only have to leave. . .maybe 10 minutes early to get to anywhere i wanna go and thats because i havnt got a speed kit put on it yet, when i do i will be able to go as fast as the speed limit on any road i take which means no more leaving early.

[sass_in_the_pants]

I love my little car.

I fill up once every week and a half. When gas prices are high, I pay like $35. When they're low, I pay like $25. It's not gonna make or break me.

I used to live six miles from work. I rode my bike all the time. At first, everyone thought I was crazy, but it actually only took ten minutes longer to ride my bike than to drive (straight shot on the bike, had to drive all roundabout ways in my car.) I had saddle bags on the back that held my lunch and my work clothes and a washcloth for my face. I even had my own storage facility at the office, so that my bike could stay safe.

I tricked it out with a CD player.

Shit, my CAR doesn't even have a CD player. No wonder I liked my bike more.

[Destroit]

Two words for you: MASS TRANSIT

So I realize, yes, it's not that efficient in America at this point...and do you know why? YOU GUYS! If people started to use it more (and their feet) then we wouldn't need the car so much, and mass transit would be forced to become more efficient, reliable, and available. I work 20 miles away from my house, and since I have no car, I take the bus. Believe it or not, our bus system is quite reliable, fun, better for you (you actually have to go *gasp* OUTSIDE and WALK! OMG!), and you meet some really interesting vagrants and junkies. It takes me about 45 minutes - 1 hour to get to work, and on top of that I have a bus pass that's only FORTY SEVEN dollars a month. I can go ANYWHERE I damn well please for just that small amount (and when I had a car three weeks ago I was blowing anywhere from 100-175 a month in gas). Also, that's WHY they can put up with high prices in places like Europe: They're not lazy and have a very reliable mass transit system. Only generally wealthy people have cars and it's pretty much unheard of for teenagers to drive. Kinda like how in NYC you can ride the subway pretty much 24 hours and go exactly where you need to. How do Europians handle groceries? A little bit at a time (and now you wonder why Americans are so damn fat after going to Costco and buying enough food to feed a small army). They'll literally go shopping only a few times a week and buy what they can carry. Everything is more convenient and closer together out there. Also, as for kids? Fuckin, make those little shits come with you. What's the difference between carting your spoiled little things around in a nice cushy car rather than making them take the mass transit alongside with you? To me, that sort of thing humbles them and makes them turn out to be better people once you unload them onto society (i.e. us). If they're out of control...PUNISH YOUR FREAKIN KIDS UNTIL THEY BEHAVE. People have been doing that since the beginning of time, why has everyone stopped raising their kids now? Just my two cents in the matter...

[Saint Germain]

But mass transit is no solution for people who live outside the densely populated areas.

The only way are cars with less fuel usage, maybe with alternative engine concepts or

light weight construction.

By the way, current gas prices in Munich are 1,32 Euro/Liter (is equivalent to 6,75$/Gallon).

so far,

Saint

[Mizuna]

Two words for you: MASS TRANSIT

So I realize, yes, it's not that efficient in America at this point...and do you know why? YOU GUYS! If people started to use it more (and their feet) then we wouldn't need the car so much, and mass transit would be forced to become more efficient, reliable, and available. I work 20 miles away from my house, and since I have no car, I take the bus. Believe it or not, our bus system is quite reliable, fun, better for you (you actually have to go *gasp* OUTSIDE and WALK! OMG!), and you meet some really interesting vagrants and junkies. It takes me about 45 minutes - 1 hour to get to work, and on top of that I have a bus pass that's only FORTY SEVEN dollars a month. I can go ANYWHERE I damn well please for just that small amount (and when I had a car three weeks ago I was blowing anywhere from 100-175 a month in gas). Also, that's WHY they can put up with high prices in places like Europe: They're not lazy and have a very reliable mass transit system. Only generally wealthy people have cars and it's pretty much unheard of for teenagers to drive. Kinda like how in NYC you can ride the subway pretty much 24 hours and go exactly where you need to. How do Europians handle groceries? A little bit at a time (and now you wonder why Americans are so damn fat after going to Costco and buying enough food to feed a small army). They'll literally go shopping only a few times a week and buy what they can carry. Everything is more convenient and closer together out there. Also, as for kids? Fuckin, make those little shits come with you. What's the difference between carting your spoiled little things around in a nice cushy car rather than making them take the mass transit alongside with you? To me, that sort of thing humbles them and makes them turn out to be better people once you unload them onto society (i.e. us). If they're out of control...PUNISH YOUR FREAKIN KIDS UNTIL THEY BEHAVE. People have been doing that since the beginning of time, why has everyone stopped raising their kids now? Just my two cents in the matter...

Lets assume people wil always act in their best interests, not just a economic idea to do with Nash Equilibrium but also to do with human nature. Now, say everyone took the bus, althought you still wanted to get to work fast, you will drive becuase it gives you a greater benefit, and no one else will be on the road only buses. Now say you were on the bus and other people were driving, you would still get their slower becuase there will be excess traffic and you will be at a halt a lot. Now say eevryone drove, they will get to work slower and spend more money if they drove instead of taking a bus, but if they were on the bus they would lose even more time than if they walked. This however, is under an assumption that people value time, this assumption is generally always true.

Time is money, until their time is worth less than the money petrol costs, they won't take transport, it is all good to say they should becuase its true, but to be economically optimal and act as a rational human being, they shouldn't until the marginal price of driving is more than the marginal benefit of driving.

[EAF (1)]

True, and very good point...in my opinion it is unfortunate that money makes the world go round in this day and age.

XD

[Gauge]

mass transit is nice for people in citys but it doesnt always work. i live about 3-5 miles away from the closest bus stop. now, i dont mind walking it (hell, last summer i didnt have my car for weeks in the summer and walked everywhere!) but if you consider the 80-90 degree weather that doesnt work well with say. . .frozen food.

[Shade Everdark]

The only thing I can currently add to this discussion is that....I miss Tokyo.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

This subject is especially painful in Detroit.

This area basically invented car culture. Switching to some other mode of transportation does not even register in peoples minds as a legitimate possibility for most in this region.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Oh and to reply to the title of this thread:

Yes gas prices do piss me off. But since im lazy just like everyone else and don't involve myself in science or politics in any meaningful way, i reap what i sow. "Its THEIR job not mine" (whoever they are that i can blame other than myself)