Thursday, June 12
Gasoline, anyone?
What is going on with gas prices? I know I'm not the most up on the news, but I definitely am aware of paying $4.15 at the pump, and others who are paying even more. What is the deal? I cannot believe that demand has increased that much above supply in just one year and I am sure that someone is making good money off of this. I know that we are dependent on oil and our foreign relations stink, but $4.00, seriously? How long can this go on? When will prices stop going up? How are people affording this? I have assigned myself a research project on the whole gas issue, soif you have any insight/know of good sources explaining the crisis please share. I just want to know why!
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11 comments:
Go to economist.com and search for articles about oil. They've had some interesting ones recently that explain everything (however, I can't really remember the details enough to repeat them). Here's what I think, though. $4/gallon is ridiculous. However, we average 3 tanks of gas a month, so what's normally $120 a month is now $180, so $60 more. This is probably my lack of monetary control speaking, but $60 more a month is not killer to me. I guess if/when gas gets up to $5 or $6 a gallon I'll start complaining more. We do pay tons less per gallon than people in Europe, and the high gas prices also have hidden benefits because it will force gas-guzzling America to find alternative energy uses or do things like take the bus and create new ways to cut down on fuel consumption. There's my two cents.
Here's what I read in the DNews today. "Analysts say oil prices, driven by the declining dollar, are pushing gas prices higher. Oil prices rebounded from a steep early loss to end modestly higher Thursday in another volatile session...." and on and on it goes. Gas has surged past $4.00 in Utah in the last week. We figure we're spending about $15 more a fill up, but we mostly just travel to and from work so we haven't felt it much yet, like Claire said. Prices at $4.00 and up have a psychological affect on people however. It's just too high and all we can do to deal with it is drive less, drive more fuel efficient cars, stick to the speed limit, avoid hitting the brakes aggressively and accelerating quickly, and driving at the times of day when we don't need the AC. This won't work in AZ for some unknown reason. I'm glad we don't have gas guzzling cars.
I think this question baffles most people--that is probably why you only have two responses up to this point. I, for one, have no idea why gas prices are so high. It seems like no one wants to take the blame or come up with a reason. However, I would like to see gas prices rise even further so someone gets mad enough to create an alternative so we can drive on cars fueled by something other than a substance controlled by radical people on the other side of the world. I agree with Vonnie--it is partly psychological--that we freak out over the $4 a gallon thing. However, I know that my sister who lives in Qatar (in the middle east) pays only 88 cents a gallon for gas. To me, that is injustice. What is wrong here?
If you ever feel really bad, just look at prices in California and you'll feel much better ;) If I ever complain to my parents they laugh at me because they pay over $2/litre which is over $6/gallon. And they even drill for oil in Alberta! So yucky. My friend just posted on her blog about a campaign Newt Gingrich has started to allow drilling in the states. It's an interesting post:
http://tickledpinkbaby.blogspot.com. At least you didn't just buy an SUV! What were we thinking?! ;)
I'm definitely beginning to feel it! I used to pay $50 bucks to fill up our mini-van and now it's jumped to $80, and it seemed to be almost overnight! However, I agree with Claire, I won't fight it because I like that people are beginning to look for other solutions. (I heard on the radio that India is looking at using compressed air! Now THAT's a renuable resource!...at least for now...you never know with polution, declining rain forests, etc.) ;-}
I mean, "renewable"
When I bought my van I could fill it for $30ish. Yesterday--$70!!!! Are you kidding me? If my husband didn't work for the Judge, I might be half tempted to do a drive off once a month!
I am tired of always paying more.. It is hard to always limit playing around town and trying to carpool is a pain with kids! So I am boycotting the most I can and we are just hanging out in the pool until prices come down. We miss the zoo though!
I'm glad that everyone is as baffled on these gas prices as me. I really do intend to research it out though and will post the results at some future date. Thanks for the understanding though.
Demand is outstripping supply and the demand is not particularly elastic. If the price of bananas doubles, people eat more apples and the price of bananas comes right down again. If the price of gas doubles, people still have to drive.
I think it's a vast conspiracy, either right-wing or left-wing, to mess with us. What I know is that I hate the high price of gasoline, and I am grateful that I don't have far to drive to work.
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