Re: Gas Prices

From: Andy Levy (andylevy@bigfoot.com)
Date: Sat May 12 2001 - 13:13:52 EDT


Unfortunately, choices we make in the "good times" often preclude doing such
simple things to reduce the dependency upon gas. I can't change where I live
(cheaply, anyway) to get closer to work, I live too far from work to bicycle
unless the company puts in showers for employees, I'm in a line of work where a
carpool won't work out for me and public transportation is woefully inadequate
in most of the US, including where I live.

I'm trying to figure out what I can do but nothing's coming to me aside from
selling the Dak and getting a Neon, Eclipse or 3000 GT, which would cost me lots
more than simply dealing with the gas prices.

I'm not a fan of government interfering in business but this may be one of those
times. Right now a barrel of Light Arabian Crude Oil is CHEAPER than it was for
much of the last 3 months of 2000, yet today I'm paying 16 cents/gallon MORE for
gasoline. 2 specific data points:

9/28/00 - Crude at $29.00/barrel, Mobil 87 Octane at $1.579/gallon
5/10/01 - Crude at $24.82/barrel, Mobil 87 Octane at $1.739/gallon
(Crude data from http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/prices.html#Crude ,
Mobil data from my personal records)

I understand captialism, supply & demand, charging what the market will bear,
etc. but SOMETHING is going on here and it's not quite right.

Ronald Wong wrote:

> Exactly right. If you want to do something about it you have to find a way
> to stop using it. Whether it be cold fusion, bicycling, or walking people
> need to stop using as much as possible.
>
> Ron
> 00 PB SLT QC 4X2 5.9 46RE 3.92 LSD
> For modifications see my DML Profile (URL follows)
> http://www.twistedbits.net/WWWProfile/dakota/Kw9pV1EkFeOYY
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET]On Behalf Of Andy Levy
> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 7:35 AM
> To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
> Subject: Re: DML: Gas Prices
>
> And the profits will continue to soar. Some states are considering takign
> the
> approach of reducing, or even eliminating, the gas taxes to "save" their
> residents money. But it will only help the gas companies.
>
> Think about it. Assume gas is $1.75/gal (about what it is here), and of
> that,
> $0.25 is state & local taxes. Now, we have already demonstrated that when
> gas
> is $1.75/gal, taxes included, we'll still buy it up, no problem. Let's say
> the
> state & local taxes are cut out completely, bringing the price down to
> $1.50/gal. The gas companies will let this stand for about 5 minutes. They
> already know we'll buy at $1.75/gal, so it's a no-brainer to take the price
> back
> there themselves and reap that $0.25/gal extra profit.
>
> Jim wrote:
>
> > I don't relly understand why everyone complains about the gas prices it
> > makes no difference. As it was already mentioned all the stations get
> their
> > gas from one local location. Oil companys don't care how much we complain
> > because they are still making a huge profit. They know that no matter
> what
> > they do we need gas and were going to keep using it so that equals charge
> > what they want. The only thing the matters is the bottom line. And no
> > matter how many times people try to protest and get these no buy days
> going
> > it won't work because you'll never get enough people to do it. Granted I
> > hate the high prices but if I complain whos really listening that cares or
> > is going to make something happen about it. And my last thought on it is
> if
> > the gas is to much find a way to use less like car pooling. I for example
> > am using a motorcycle to get around more because it gets much better
> miliage
> > around 43mpg. So I guess thats my two cents and the only time I'll bring
> > this up.
> >
> > Jim Nolin



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