Gas Prices - My 2 Cents - Stop Whining!!

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by mhmank

If you do some research the Oil companies are only making 9 cents on a dollar. My investments do better than that... quite a bit of what we pay for a gallon of gas is taxes.

Exactly! We must have been posting at the same time (read my reply above yours).

If the Auto Parts store I work at tried to operate on a 9% margin, we'd be out of business in 2 weeks and i would not have a job. But it is easy to blame Exxon for everything.

[Inferno07]

Originally Posted by kevenj

the absolute worst thing that could happen would be for the government to "step in" and try to regulate prices.

The government COULD help by doing a couple things:

(1) stop printing money out of thin air (inflation). But that's not going to happen and none of the leading presidential candidates are talking about it. The Federal Reserve needs to be eliminated and our money has to have something real backing it again (i.e. Silver or Gold) or we are in big trouble.

(2)Get the **** out of Iraq and the other 129 countries we have military personel in. Our ridiculous foreign policy is one of the main reasons the government has to inflate the currency (which destroys it's value). The government can never actually repay its debts so it must print more "fiat money" backed by nothing to finance what it is doing (all of which is unconstitutional by the way). It would be politically unpopular to raise taxes to finance such stupidity, but inflation if in fact a tax on all of us. But for the government it's even better and more expedient because we don't even know what's happening to us and they don't have to pass a tax increase.

Anytime a market is flooded with anything its value goes down. No different for dollars. The price of oil is primarily a reflection of this debasement of our dollar. Since 2001, a barrel of oil has gone up 319% in U.S. dollars, but only 92% in Euro's.

The printing of worthless dollars by the Federal Reserve (which is not Federal and has no reserve - - it is a privately owned bank!) is nothing more than stealing from me and you. The price of oil is where we now see it's effect most blatantly, but in the coming months and years it will become painfully aware to everyone who currently has their heads buried in the sand, when it starts to manifest itself in the price of everything.

I guess the main point that people miss is that rising prices are not inflation; they are merely the result of the inflation of the money supply. Don't punish the entrepreneurs with government price controls when the problem is government monetary policy in the first place.

^
Smart man...... You all should listen to him.. He speaks the truth!

Well Kev, on the positive side.. I can afford to sustain the higher gas prices.. The Third World Countries that greedy Corp America has helped develop to the point where they became "comsumers" won't last long.. Bet they can't sustain these prices like we can!



There NEEDS to be Third World countries!

[OoTLink]

Rule #64: The bigger the business is, the more holy it is. :P

[44mpg by 2010]

Here is a proposal to help "slow down" the rate of fuel cost increases in the US.

Suppose there were VERY HIGH mpg vehicles in the US for the consumers that want them for their "daily drive/commute".

That could start to reduce fuel demand and subsequently reduce the upward pressure on fuel prices!

These VERY HIGH mpg vehicles already exist ... from FORD and GM/Opel/Vauxhall ... and Chrysler to a lesser degree.

Here are some comparisons:

The 2008 US vehicles rated 25 (and greater) mpg combined average compared to their European offerings:

US Chrysler = 4 vehicles ("best" @ 26 mpg) [Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep]
EU Chrysler = 7 vehicle configurations rated ~32 to ~40 mpg(US) combined

US Ford = 5 vehicles (2 "bests" @ 32 mpg) [Ford and Mercury]
EU Ford = 22 vehicle configurations rated ~42 to ~58 mpg(US) combined

US GM = 24 vehicles ("best" @ 29 mpg) [Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, Pontiac, Saturn]
EU GM/Opel/Vauxhall = 50 vehicle configurations rated ~42 to ~53 mpg(US) combined



[NO reference links will be allowed before my 4th post]

There are NO Detroit3 US vehicles rated above 33 mpg(US) average.

Note that these vehicles range from large to very small ... another personal choice option. How about a Saturn Astra (station wagon) that gets about 47 mpg(US) average? Or a mid size FORD (wagon) that gets 44 mpg(US) average and can TOW two (2) tons?

Even 25% penetration of these 40 to 58 mpg(US) combined cycle vehicles could potentially reduce oil imports by over 30%.

These might also be an alternative as a "daily commuter" and backup to the "fancy big ride".

Maybe ya'll should advocate for the availability of these types of vehicles here in the US for those who ARE WILLING to BUY THEM ... just for self preservation.

I am not to suggesting elimination of fancy "gas guzzlers/trucks/SUVs" ... simply an alternative for those that need (or want) something radically different in fuel economy.

These "conservers" might reduce the rate of fuel cost increases ... if nothing else reduce the "speculation adder"!

Your thoughts please ....

[44mpg by 2010]

Currently, my 95 Civic is averaging 38 mpg(US) and it will cruise between 60 and 75 mph resulting in about 45 mpg highway.

That will have to do, until one of those clean small (under 2 liter) turbo diesel vehicles, that are in the 44 to 55 mpg average range, is available ... that I believe is worth the money.

[44mpg by 2010]

Originally Posted by 44mpg by 2010

Here is a proposal to help "slow down" the rate of fuel cost increases in the US.

Suppose there were VERY HIGH mpg vehicles in the US for the consumers that want them for their "daily drive/commute".

That could start to reduce fuel demand and subsequently reduce the upward pressure on fuel prices!

These VERY HIGH mpg vehicles already exist ... from FORD and GM/Opel/Vauxhall ... and Chrysler to a lesser degree.

Here are some comparisons:

The 2008 US vehicles rated 25 (and greater) mpg combined average compared to their European offerings:

US Chrysler = 4 vehicles ("best" @ 26 mpg) [Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep]
EU Chrysler = 7 vehicle configurations rated ~32 to ~40 mpg(US) combined

US Ford = 5 vehicles (2 "bests" @ 32 mpg) [Ford and Mercury]
EU Ford = 22 vehicle configurations rated ~42 to ~58 mpg(US) combined

US GM = 24 vehicles ("best" @ 29 mpg) [Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, Pontiac, Saturn]
EU GM/Opel/Vauxhall = 50 vehicle configurations rated ~42 to ~53 mpg(US) combined

[ the NO reference links will be allowed before my 4th post]

There are NO Detroit3 US vehicles rated above 33 mpg(US) average.
....

Here are the reference links

Choose Make 1

http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.

[Cool_V_300C]

Originally Posted by PureEnjoyment

I'm sorry, but I can't stand to read these forum posts about people b!tching about the gas prices. Honestly, if gas price hikes are affecting your budget......then you bought a car that was too much of a car for your pocketbook.

I'm sorry, but someone had to say this. I wouldnt go out an buy a hemi if all I could afford was a sebring....that's just common sense. People need to know their limits and come back to reality.

My parents always used to tell me that if you were to lose your job TODAY that you should have enough money in your bank account for the next 6 months to live off of "just in case" to pay every single one of your bills. If slight gas price increases are causing people THIS much harm then they need to re-evaluate what they are doing with their hard earned money because it sound like they arent living within their current budget.

I'm sorry, I usually stay out of these discussions, but question for you:


Why does every rant about gas mileage have to revolve around whether
the person or persons can afford this car (meaning 300)??????

Frankly, complaints about gas in this country are not relegated to
owners of Chrysler 300C's and SRT8's. Haven't you been watching
the news or filling up your car?

I don't complain because they'll have to OUTLAW V8's before I stop
driving my car and it completely my choice, but you DO NOT have
the right to assume it's about someone's budgetary choice and assume
it's because they have an automobile with a large displacement engine
and a thirst for fuel.

I have the only 300C on my block and even the guy on the corner driving
a Prius is complaining about price of gas.......

[Cool_V_300C]

And BTW, our local grocery store chain was fined by the FTC because
they were caught in a scheme fixing the price of milk.......Now were consumers crying about the unusually high price of milk because they
all couldn't afford it???? Or was it because the price of milk just seemed
to be a little too high????? Well because of the FTC ruling we know
the answer......

Be careful and cautious about painting with broad brushes.......

my 38 cents......

[Inferno07]

Originally Posted by 44mpg by 2010

Here are the reference links

Choose Make 1

http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.

If you drive a Honda Civic why are you posting on a Chrysler LX forum????


I will never drive a Honda Civic or any "small" car. I can afford the price of fuel for my vehicle (and I don't start topics to whine about it) I may jokingly leave comments about my boat getting 4MPG but guess what? I can afford to fuel it, too.


If someone wants a 44MPG small car, let them buy it... I won't be one of them. And don't roll your eyes at me driving your 50MPG clown car with a holier than thou attitide.. Kinda like the Prius owner who has done more harm to this planet than my "Fancy Gas Guzzler" ever will.... At least I don't live with my head stuck in the sand.

There are REAL solutions to the current fossil fuel prices, if only the moron tree humpers would let the people in the fuel biz, do thier JOB!

[fadertoo]

Originally Posted by Inferno07

My boat gets great gas milage, yep it does! It gets 4 Miles to the gallon at 28MPH! She's an economy ride!

I've seen your pic of your boat. If that's an economy ride I'd bet I'd piss my pants if I ever rode in a luxury ride!