Remember 1999 - The Era of $1.31 Gasoline. And We Complained Then!

[Gisteppo]

I just got back to this thread, those graphs crack me up.

Raff, I agree with you that until a major change is made, that prices won't change, but I can't agree with you on supply and demand. A 4 million gallon crude oil hiccup due to an offloading issue in the south caused a 30 cent bump in fuel price in Spokane. Also, every drop of oil we burn in Spokane is not distributed from the vast tank farm we have here in Spokane, it is shipped over from Anacortes..... They do this shell game with the local tanks in order to utilize shipping delays at the refinery to manipulate prices at the pump and show shortages when we have millions of gallons right here in town. This is just the local version.

Say I am an oil company. My product prices can be driven up by fear, speculation, apparent shortages, and blaming things like the EPA (yes the EPA has given the green light to new refineries, over 20 years ago. Guess the oil companies have to get through their OWN red tape to build one). My materials suppliers are very wealthy people with a stranglehold on the commodity. Because my product is based on a commodity, my prices fluctuate even more thanks to the commodities markets (know a farmer? Ask them about wheat prices over the past 3 years). I now get to charge even more. I then make MASSIVE profits over a few years through these tactics, and the government who taxes me gives me larger tax breaks because Im a model citizen (corporations are people too, right?). Now I have a high value, higher return, commodities based product, which I also own the shipping, refinement, distribution, and retail portions. Why would I lower my prices unless my hand was forced? If I can make profit, Im going to make it however I can, my shareholders require it.

On Europe:

Please remember that their prices are considerably higher for a reason. They have the most incredible infrastructure you have ever seen. Cheap trains, beautiful roads (the streets in Rome are amazing), safety programs, strong policing, etc etc. Much of their tax is based on roads.

Max, this is a good time for you to do some serious reading. Learn about crude oil fields, oil sands, shale oil, and the various other types of deposits. Each has a different price tag to lift the oil, refine the oil, and transport the oil. We utilize the Dakotas to a point, but there isnt as much value in the oil once the refining gets into the mix due to the type of reserves they are. Plus we don't have the infrastructure there like Canada and Texas have.

WE NEED AN ALTERNATIVE!

Im seriously considering buying an older porsche 914 or other small lightweight aerodynamic car, gutting the engine, and building an electric car. Even with existing battery technology you can successfully go over 100mph and travel more than 100 miles per charge. The real shining light on the horizon is companies like Altair-Nano, with 52Kw batteries that can recharge in 15 minutes for well in excess of 30,000 recharge cycles (stick that in your bass boat and smoke it!).

E

[Marc Martyn]

The price of oil is in direct relation to the status of the Middle East. Compare iPod's chart with the following statistics. Any time there is a conflict in the middle east, the price of oil sky rockets. Perhaps, now we should invade Iran also, huh?

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0836844.html

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0825448.html

[kutthroatkilla]

we should invade Iran also.

I agree Marc...Iran has it coming. We should invade all the way! Take them down! Iran is up to no good anyways. Aim & Steady, Fire. Syria must go too...they can't be up to any good, can they?! :jocolor:

[Fisherman_max]

ehhhh the whole invading syria thing would really strain relationships in my household. my step brother is half syrian, and his dad lives in syria....

[Marc Martyn]

we should invade Iran also.

I agree Marc...Iran has it coming. We should invade all the way! Take them down! Iran is up to no good anyways. Aim & Steady, Fire. Syria must go too...they can't be up to any good, can they?! :jocolor:

That was a joke, Kutt. If we invade Iran, you will not be able to buy a gallon of gas!

[Marc Martyn]

Fisherman_max-

When are we going to see your videos?

[kutthroatkilla]

we should invade Iran also.

I agree Marc...Iran has it coming. We should invade all the way! Take them down! Iran is up to no good anyways. Aim & Steady, Fire. Syria must go too...they can't be up to any good, can they?! :jocolor:

That was a joke, Kutt. If we invade Iran, you will not be able to buy a gallon of gas!

LOL...I know Marc and MAX, I was just playing with ya guys and joking with the invasion thing of both Iran and Syria (I believe that would be the worst idea yet)!! I'm on the same side as you all here...

[bel83]

Call me a bike advocate but I say everyone should look into walking/biking to work. Saves on gas for you, keeps you from giving money to the oil companies, helps the environment, and helps to beat america's couch potato lisfestyle. Kill 4 birds with one stone!

more seriously though I think whoever said it earlier is right, these prices are not going to go back down by much. I saw a report on msnbc I think it was that oil has never gone this high before because the companies didn't think the infrastructure could support the cost (more shipping/long haul trucking etc more than private use) now that they see it is they will not want to lower those prices because of all the profits they would be loosing. It was an opinion piece backed up with market data but I am still not sure how accurate it will be. I just hope that prices drop in the next few years or no one will be boating and fishing!

[Marc Martyn]

Call me a bike advocate but I say everyone should look into walking/biking to work. Saves on gas for you, keeps you from giving money to the oil companies, helps the environment, and helps to beat america's couch potato lisfestyle. Kill 4 birds with one stone!

more seriously though I think whoever said it earlier is right, these prices are not going to go back down by much. I saw a report on msnbc I think it was that oil has never gone this high before because the companies didn't think the infrastructure could support the cost (more shipping/long haul trucking etc more than private use) now that they see it is they will not want to lower those prices because of all the profits they would be loosing. It was an opinion piece backed up with market data but I am still not sure how accurate it will be. I just hope that prices drop in the next few years or no one will be boating and fishing!

That is a very good point. If the price of diesel continues to rise, the fishing and boating stores will not be getting any merchandise because the trucking companies will have to shut down. The resorts are already taking a big hit from people not venturing out because of the cost of gas. Between the Iraq War and the banking investment mess, our country right now is in pretty tough shape. It will take a long time for it to stabilize. We owe our butt to China and the countries in the Middle East :farao: (along with many others) aren't terribly pleased with us right now. We can't continue to fund a war by charging it on a Mastercard issued by the Bank Of China!#-o
The administration knows that they couldn't fund this war by issuing war bonds like they did in WWII. Now one would buy them.

[kantill]

My issue is that since I am consultant I need to drive to my clients. I am personally looking into the hydrogen kits. Not really sure if they work but I can use my brothers van for testing.

[lskiles]

The administration knows that they couldn't fund this war by issuing war bonds like they did in WWII. Now one would buy them.

I would. I know a lot of other patriotic Americans who would too.

I guess it is a case of everyone thinking they are the norm. I know that I am surprised when I hear people talk so bad about President Bush and the war against terrorism.

[Marc Martyn]

There is a difference between being patriotic and not supporting an illegitimate military campaign based on lies and falsehoods. We should have concentrated on (which I am still in full support of) Afghanistan and finished what we originally started out doing, going after the terrorist Bin Laden and his band of thugs. Somehow, Iraq turned from eliminating WMD's into "spreading democracy throughout the Arab World".

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." -President Thomas Jefferson

[Gringo Pescador]

Call me a bike advocate but I say everyone should look into walking/biking to work. Saves on gas for you, keeps you from giving money to the oil companies, helps the environment, and helps to beat america's couch potato lisfestyle. Kill 4 birds with one stone!

... I just hope that prices drop in the next few years or no one will be boating and fishing!

I would bike to work, but then I would have to leave for work on Sunday to get to work on Monday. Sell my house and move closer? Can't afford the home prices. One thing is for sure, I will continue to boat/fish as long as I can row/cast:cheers:

[kutthroatkilla]

Somehow, Iraq turned from eliminating WMD's into "spreading democracy throughout the Arab World".

:thumright Spot on. It's just such a sad situation. -- As far as biking is concerned, I would do it in a heart-beat if I could do it physically. With my handicap I can't Oh well, at least I got a new Prius!=d&gt]Gringo[/b], lol, ... a little off topic, but I saw that you were interested in the Alpine Hike on 08/10/08...also I'll add you to the Alpine list hike. As of now it's me, you, samk, quad, & kevinb.

[A9]

My teacher for my senior year US Gov/History class was around when gas was $.25 cents. He said he swore he would never buy gas if it ever got over $1. I had this talk with him last spring when gas was around $3.30, and he said he's still paying for gas and hasn't reduced his consumption at all.....

I'll be buying a new car this summer. Would love to get something fast and what not, but can't afford to pay the gas for it....Gonna have to get the smallest engine available for whatever car I decide on....

[SPARKY101]

How about a nice new mustang you could choose one with 6cyl.or hold out till the new Dodge challenger comes out Bad A$$ car.Personally the best new addition to the formally classic car.Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

[A9]

How about a nice new mustang you could choose one with 6cyl.or hold out till the new Dodge challenger comes out Bad A$$ car.Personally the best new addition to the formally classic car.Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

I think I'm going the Japanese route on the next car...Maybe German, but that's a bit of a stretch....
Most likely a 4-banger or something small....Preferably no turbo either, those things suck up a bit of as....

[SPARKY101]

I figured you were gonna just pushing ya a bit

[Marc Martyn]

As far a getting from point A to point B in my line of work, I am in a bit of a quandary. Being a contractor, I need a full sized pickup. Most of the trucks on the market today have the shorter bed. My 1991 F-150 with an inline 6 cylinder is showing age. I have to go with a V-8 to get into a full sized bed with 4x4. I need the 4x4 now since the Spokane street dept. has gotten very slack in the winter for the last few years. This last winter I lost a week of work because I could not get into a south hill neighborhood I was working in.

I guess that the V-8's now get about the same mileage as the older six cylinders. Still, with that size of a truck, I will not be able to lower my miles/gal much at all.

I would love to buy American, like a new F150, but I don't know what the future holds.

[fishaholictaz]

I would love to buy American, like a new F150, but I don't know what the future holds.

Check this out:-" link