Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

Justin — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:37:26 GMT

GET OVER IT, OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD HAVE BEEN PAYING THIS PRICE FOR A LONG TIME..... LOOK AT CANADA.... IT LOOKS GOOD ON THE AMERICAN'S TO PAY 4.20, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PAYING $5+ A GALLON.... US IS LOOKING LIKE A VERY SAD COUNTRY.... DEFINITELY NOT THE POWERHOUSE THEY THINK THEY ARE.

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

Dave — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:38:44 GMT

WE DON'T HAVE AN ENERGY PROBLEM............WHAT WE REALLY HAVE IS A POLITICAL (& SOCIAL) PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY! And the fact of the matter is the Democrats and Republicans are both to blame!

Don't get me wrong.........I'm all for cars and even suv's (I drive a little Tracker that averages about 30mpg) that are more fuel-efficient. Do you really need that huge Escalade or Pickup Truck (just to impress someone)? (And these are types of people do the most bitching about $4/gallon gas!) COME ON! WAKE UP AMERICA!

Some say we must drill, drill, drill.....And I'm all for that. Open up ANWAR! Who actually tours up there anyway? It's not like Hawaii or Jamaica for God's sake! Alternative Energy? GO FOR IT! (Although I do have a small problem with Solar Energy......It would work in California, but not in the Northeast cos we simply don't get enough sunlight!) My point is: WE NEED EVERY BREAK WE CAN GET! And STOP PLAYING POLITICS! There's simply too many damn laws/restrictions (i.e.: environmental). We need to deregulate!

HEY! I GOT ANOTHER IDEA (for all of us Americans): Instead of driving your car just to go 1/4 mile (to work/shop), WHY NOT GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS AND WALK (or even ride a bicycle)?! It does you some good. LET'S FACE IT: We are the fattest/laziest country on the face of the planet! BTW: I'm all for a bicycle/trail sidewalk system (on major highways).

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

paul — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:03:04 GMT

We need smaller cars with smaller motors ( like in asia & europe & south america) & governors on the transmissions that prohibit rapid accelaration &/or exceeding a government mandated speed limit (say 45 vs. 55 as in the 70's). if you bring back 1 liter cars, 2 passenger cars, allow alternate fuels,vegetable/gasahol, reduce emission requirments such as California has adopted, etc., drop the 8 airbag requirements, etc. you will have a much faster effect that drilling, nuclear, plug in hybrids, etc. Plus we definitely need massive mass transporation investments.

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

Nam Dang — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:42:20 GMT

Gas price of $4.00 per gal in USA is still much cheaper than any other countries in Europe as Germany, England, etc.. where gas is almost 2 Eu per litre or 10 US per gal. Last month, only 1.8 % reduction in miles driving in US, and soon the $4.00 will become normal and more cars will be back on the road again. I think gas price of $6.00 per gal will start diiscourging people from driving and use more of public transportations. There are some benefits of higher gas price:

- Less traffic accidents and air is cleaner.

- People can bicycle to work and getting healthy

- Less depending on import oil

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

whammer — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:41:12 GMT

Well I don't see anyone changing their driving habits or trading in thier gas slurping SUV"S!!!!

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

Mavis — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:32:35 GMT

So...some of you don't want me to complain?? Have you donated to worthy causes lately to ease the poverty of the masses? Or do you keep it all yourself, then get miffed when someone tweaks your conscience?

Wake up already. Some of us make it on 25k a year. We have to. Up until utility prices skyrocketed, I was able to survive and stay DEBT-FREE on that 25K. I have a rural job that pays half what my skills are worth. I froze last year (in MN) to keep my heating costs down, live on one shower a week, and eat only oatmeal, peanut butter sandwiches, and instant coffee to keep my grocery bills to a manageable 20 dollars a month. There are no new clothes bought, so I re-style, or alter old freebies. I go without health insurance, do all my own house and yard work, beg for help (no one has come yet) and hope I don't die slowly or alone. I am buying my house. Insurance didn't pay for hail damage, so this year I need to borrow for a new roof. But I might have to borrow also for heat and electricity.

So, those of you who hate complainers, have you done anything to help anyone who is need? Have you written letters to the government to help us? Do you vote only when the government makes you uncomfortable? If you are so wise and eloquent, put your money where your mouth is. Quit complaining about complainers. Help them. Usually a complainer is that way out of necessity. If you can't find any nearby, here are a few for starters: The Elderly, Flood victims, Earthquake victims, War refugees, Low-income families and poverty-stricken countries, the Unemployed, the poor and homeless in your city. Need more? Think Winter.

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

Larry — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:51:06 GMT

The Democrats ruled Congress and the Presidency when the energy prices were 25 cents per gallon. Unfortunately, they were also in power during the 1970s when the prices quadrupled. But, on the other hand, the GOP has been in power since 1994 and the situation is the same now. And, your point is? Do Americans get any education or know how to solve problems anymore? Or do we have to import problem solvers too?

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

Larry — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:44:35 GMT

Do any of the "free market" types actually make decisions PERSONALLY that affect the movement of labor or capital across boundaries? Or actually have worked in that situation? My guess is NO. The determinant is COST. And, in most businesses today, the tax burden is actually MINIMAL in the United States; the touted official rate does not match the actual rate paid. The EFFECTIVE corporate tax rate in many industries (read your proxies!) are lower than labor costs (and in some cases a lot lower - Exxon's tax load is 8.9% of revenue). When India and China pays 1/10th what they pay in America and Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia pays even less, the determinant is labor costs (followed by the logistics of shipping products).

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

Larry — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:31:35 GMT

On a personal level, there is relatively little that people can do quickly. Carpooling. Consolidating trips. Forgoing long trips by car. Using public transportation. Adjusting your thermostat. Picking a more fuel efficient car. Moving closer to work. It all sounds good and it will save you some money. But, there are practical limitations to each thing listed. That limits the overall impact.

The reality is that a lot of what is driving prices up have very little with what we do personally. So much of our lifestyle is predicated on. The fact that just about everything we use is made from plastic (made from oil and gas byproducts) and that our entire supply chain requires products traverse the entire globe is not something most people can personally change. And, neither does the behavior of energy users in developing nations.

In order for things to shift on a large scale, corporations will have to take responsibility because they are the largest users of energy. And, government needs to guide a more pro-active energy policy model. We cannot drill ourselves out of this; that is only a short-term fix. We need a model that can deal with the growing global population and the inefficiencies in the way Americans use energy.

re: Enough with the complaints about gas prices already

Roy Savary — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00:26 GMT

Wouldn't it be great if there were an answer out there; and there probably is, but as long as greed and profit are the driving forces; NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING is going to change. We all helped to dig this hole over the last 30 plus years, and today I watched all the oil leaders, OPEC people and reps from governments around the world, get together today and try to assess "who is to blame" for the oil prices. Nobody had a clue why or who, but I'm sure they had a really nice lunch, perhap got in a little golf. Aside from that, what do you suppose came out of it??? I'm just sure I have no idea what REALLY happened, huh...