What Price of Gasoline Will Change Your Habits?

[Mayberry]

On the news we keep hearing how gas prices continue to climb, and how people say they aren't letting the prices stop them from driving. $3.00 per gallon has all but put me back on a horse. My family and I have not taken a trip in 2 years (well not more than 60 miles anyway), and we have had to reduce our spending for eating out, movies, etc... What price will stop you in your tracks?

[Buck Laser]

When I needed another car a couple of years ago, I shelled out the $1200 or so extra for Honda Civic Hybrid. So far, I've had absolutely no reason to regret it. Long term gas mileage (17500 or so) is 43mpg. Summer mileage--town driving in Austin--is in the 36mpg range. I wish a practical hybrid minivan were available for when we need to accomodate the 5 grandchildren.

[bobbylien]

I'm looking to buy a toyota prius. 55mpg combined.. 60 in town. I don't know anybody who really needs these huge trucks and hummers out there. Smaller trucks like the ford ranger(35mpg i believe) would work just fine for the farmers around here but they insist on buying the dodge ram with the hemi. Higher gas prices are a good thing for our environment, I only wish the extra money wasn't going to the middle east.

[sbannon]

Mayberry, it seems a little funny to me that you're complaining about gas prices. It sounds as though your earned wages aren't keeping up with your needs for living. But in other threads where the discussion was on helping our fellow Americans who are in need aren't you the one who's said that if anyone wants a job that pays them livable wages they can get one?

So which is it? Is the cost of living growing faster than many American's salaries in an unbalanced and unfair manner--which leads to more people among the numbers of 'those in need of assistance'? Or, are you just too lazy to go get one of those better paying jobs you claim are so easy to be had and instead of accepting personal responsibility for that want to place blame on gas prices?

By your own standards in discussions on this forum, I'd say if you can't afford the gas or a family vacation then stop whining about it and get another job.

If you don't like hearing that, or find it even remotely offensive that I would take that position with you, think about that the next time you're participating in a discussion on social programs. Sometimes, through no fault of their own people can find themselves instantly fighting to just stay above water and a little more compassion is deserved.

[Buck Laser]

I'm looking to buy a toyota prius. 55mpg combined.. 60 in town. I don't know anybody who really needs these huge trucks and hummers out there. Smaller trucks like the ford ranger(35mpg i believe) would work just fine for the farmers around here but they insist on buying the dodge ram with the hemi. Higher gas prices are a good thing for our environment, I only wish the extra money wasn't going to the middle east.


I'm not talking the bullshit mileage figures posted on the price stickers of the cars. I'm talking real-world mileage, as measured by my odometer and my gas purchases. That's the mileage that counts. In the real world, the Prius seems to do about 5 mpg better than the Civic Hybrid. But I know that fast driving puts a HUGE dent in a hybrid's fuel efficiency.

[Mayberry]

It sounds as though your earned wages aren't keeping up with your needs for living. My wages are fine, I just hate putting them all in the gas tank instead of spending them on other things, or God forbid, SAVING some. Or, are you just too lazy to go get one of those better paying jobs you claim are so easy to be had and instead of accepting personal responsibility for that want to place blame on gas prices? Like I said, I have a decent paying job, I just don't want to spend it all on gas. I see no reason why the price of oil should have gone up 100% in the last 2 years. Nothing goes up that much. Sometimes, through no fault of their own people can find themselves instantly fighting to just stay above water and a little more compassion is deserved. I've been there. And I never took help from the government. I don't believe in it. I sink or swim on my own. I'd say if you can't afford the gas or a family vacation then stop whining about it and get another job. I have 2 jobs. I work for the state, and I do boat repair at my house. Unfortunately the boat repair business has been decimated by, you guessed it, high gas prices. So now I'm looking for something else to do on the side. My whole point is, that a lot of peoples lives have been affected by high fuel prices. Tell me you haven't been affected in some way. People have had to sacrifice some of the things they like, or like to do, because they can't afford to do them now. It's harming the economy.

[Nathan Brazil]

Ain't affected me much at all. I keep the sail boat about ten miles away, and it doesn't use much gas at all.

I'm hoping the high price of gas will push a bunch of those "interest-only" mortgage holders over the edge and bring housing prices down, so the higher the better.

[sbannon]

I can honestly say that other than paying more for certain things as a direct result of fuel prices (i.e. higher produce rates because trucking costs have increased and such) it hasn't affected nor bothered me at all. I haven't complained once about them being too high (in my mind they're not) and I haven't changed anything in my daily life because of them. I still drive 3 hours to camp every week, then 3 hours home. I haven't changed any vacation or travel plans. I still drive around town on my daily activities. No, it hasn't affected me at all. In fact, I almost hope they keep doubling every 2 years or sooner.

The higher they go and the longer they stay there, the more public support and demand for alternative energy sources I see. In the end, since I believe we need to take that path now instead of later anyway; I sort of view the high gas prices as a sad means to the eventual right end.

Sure there's a negative impact on parts of the economy, but an increase in alternative energy/fuels production will balance that. As some oil dependent jobs are lost some other jobs are created. It's how progress and social evolution works. Blacksmiths became Auto-Workers and so on.

Still, the impact now is far less than it will be in the future as the global population continues to grow and increase the dependence on fossil fuels. If this is what it takes to get some people looking at the benefits in alternatives then so be it as far as I'm concerned.

[dsanthony]

On the news we keep hearing how gas prices continue to climb, and how people say they aren't letting the prices stop them from driving. $3.00 per gallon has all but put me back on a horse. My family and I have not taken a trip in 2 years (well not more than 60 miles anyway), and we have had to reduce our spending for eating out, movies, etc... What price will stop you in your tracks?


As a former Dem, I'm well aware that the plans of enviro activists include tax hikes to raise the price of gas to $6 or more a gallon. That has been the case for years. They want to use taxes to force anyone making less that $100000 a year use public transportation. Of course, the academic and hollywood elite will not be likewise inconvenienced.

The Dems' outrage at the current spike in prices is a lie.

[Nathan Brazil]

The Dems' outrage at the current spike in prices is a lie.

No, it's not. Democrats are thoroughly indoctrinated in doublespeak. They truly do feel outrage that we have a Republican president, and right now they really do believe gas prices are his fault.

Once we get Al Gore in the White House, or Kerry, and they insist we add $3 tax to the price of a gallon, those same people will feel the outrage they've been told to feel at anyone who objects, and they'll also demand a surtax on any "gas hog" vehicles not owned by Mrs. Kerry.

[dsanthony]

The Dems' outrage at the current spike in prices is a lie.

No, it's not.Â*Â*Democrats are thoroughly indoctrinated in doublespeak.Â*Â*They truly do feel outrage that we have a Republican president, and right now they really do believe gas prices are his fault.

Once we get Al Gore in the White House, or Kerry, and they insist we add $3 tax to the price of a gallon, those same people will feel the outrage they've been told to feel at anyone who objects, and they'll also demand a surtax on any "gas hog" vehicles not owned by Mrs. Kerry.


You're kinder than I. I think the lib "intelligentsia" and pols do know they are lying. For the masses of Dems, of course, two legs good four legs bad is about as much thought as they can muster.

[lily]

The Dems' outrage at the current spike in prices is a lie.

No, it's not.Â*Â*Democrats are thoroughly indoctrinated in doublespeak.Â*Â*They truly do feel outrage that we have a Republican president, and right now they really do believe gas prices are his fault.

Once we get Al Gore in the White House, or Kerry, and they insist we add $3 tax to the price of a gallon, those same people will feel the outrage they've been told to feel at anyone who objects, and they'll also demand a surtax on any "gas hog" vehicles not owned by Mrs. Kerry.


You know.... posts like this is the reason I can't take you seriously, Nathan. You're so full of hate and venom, that you can't see the forrest for the trees.

You tell me one other product that has increased in price 100% in two years.

As for the rest of your post......plese provide a credible link to prove your statements about Kerry or Gore. Personally I don't like either man and wouldn't vote for them, but I'd still like to see proof that they insist we add $3.00 to the price of gas.

[Nathan Brazil]

Democrats should be hated. They're the ones that keep trying to put chains on Americans. Maybe if they stopped lying to promote their agenda they'd be more respected?

Name another product that is undergoing such an extraordinary increase in demand.

Read Earth in the Lurch, by Albore. He describes the need for a gasoline tax to reduce fuel consumption to OHMYGODWEGOTTASAVETHEEARTH!

Kerry has similarly advocated higher gas taxes for the same stupid reason.

Since they're goal in taxing gasoline is to reduce demand for it (funny, I wonder what they'll be spending the money on?), and since current increases haven't reduced demand on bit, clearly they'll have to dramatically increase the tax to achieve the goal.

Oh, and why are you requesting "credible" links? You don't think those people aren't credible, do you? Do you believe them?

[lily]

Nathan Brazil


Democrats should be hated.Â*Â*They're the ones that keep trying to put chains on Americans.Â*Â*Maybe if they stopped lying to promote their agenda they'd be more respected?
Who lied to get us into this mess we're in now?

Name another product that is undergoing such an extraordinary increase in demand.
Food, and the general cost of living. Now can you answer my question?



Since they're goal in taxing gasoline is to reduce demand for it (funny, I wonder what they'll be spending the money on?), and since current increases haven't reduced demand on bit, clearly they'll have to dramatically increase the tax to achieve the goal.
Ok....this one is just so good, I couldn't pass it up.......How about the defecit? How about social security, how about paying for this war? Things don't come free, you know. But I guess, when you're born rich and daddy gets you out of every disaster you've made, then you don't learn your lesson. Bush will go down in history as making China the new super power.

Oh, and why are you requesting "credible" links?Â*Â*You don't think those people aren't credible, do you?Â*Â*Do you believe them?Â*Â*
Why am I asking for links.........you've got to be joking. You say what ever comes to mind, or the Republican's latest talking point and then you wonder why I ask for links to back up your claims? It's obvious that you're talking out of your ass, just like all the other times I've asked you for links and you've ignored them. I believe them......I don't believe YOU.

[CockySOB]

Actually Lily, China was en route to being a full-blown superpower a couple of decades ago. And if we were to start playing the partisan politics game, might I inquire about Clinton's contribution to China's "adoption" of American military and scientific secrets? Of course we both know that trying to "blame" one POTUS for China's ascention is BS, so perhaps we should let this go?

[lily]

Well Cocky........you have me at a dis-advantage and you know it. I don't play the blame Clinton game. Bush has been in office now for over 6 years, it's time for him to take responsibility for what he put in play. Mainly mis-judging China. The didn't play the same way the Saudi's and Japan did, meaning instead of using our debt to buy USA property, they invested in their own country. Also, you don't want to get me started on the one thing Bush actually did right in the first place........saying that North Korea was Japan, China and Russia's problem, then having all three as allies, pissed off two of them.

[Nathan Brazil]

Who lied to get us into this mess we're in now?

Clinton. If he'd resigned, as any decent person could have, there was a very remote chance that Al Gore could have been killed by a meteor and then the Dennis Hastert, a Republican, could have been president in time to take care of the Al Queda gang.

As it was, we spent a year discussing the perjury and other felonies of a rapist, when the Senate had no intention of convicting him anyhow. So, while a Republican isn't much better than a Democrat, and change has to be an improvement.

You asked for it.

Name another product that is undergoing such an extraordinary increase in demand.

Food, and the general cost of living. Now can you answer my question?

Have you condisered Jenny Craig? What about a belly-stapling job?

Since they're goal in taxing gasoline is to reduce demand for it (funny, I wonder what they'll be spending the money on?), and since current increases haven't reduced demand on bit, clearly they'll have to dramatically increase the tax to achieve the goal.
Ok....this one is just so good, I couldn't pass it up.......How about the defecit? How about social security, how about paying for this war? Things don't come free, you know. But I guess, when you're born rich and daddy gets you out of every disaster you've made, then you don't learn your lesson. Bush will go down in history as making China the new super power.

? I'm not out in left field, so I can't field this one.

Oh, and why are you requesting "credible" links?Â*Â*You don't think those people aren't credible, do you?Â*Â*Do you believe them?Â*Â*
Why am I asking for links.........you've got to be joking. You say what ever comes to mind, or the Republican's latest talking point and then you wonder why I ask for links to back up your claims? It's obvious that you're talking out of your ass, just like all the other times I've asked you for links and you've ignored them. I believe them......I don't believe YOU.

Oh, so you've not read Albore's book because you know it's boring, too, or because it's third grade writing style is two grades above your level?

The damn Democrats have been pushing for a European-style gas tax because they want the United States to have a European-style basket-case economy, becuase economic collapse will induce even more people to be stupid and vote for the people that caused it.

Yeah, I ignore requests for links that you can find yourself. I'm not your librarian. And I'm a real staunch up-chucking Republican, all right.

[Mayberry]

They want to use taxes to force anyone making less that $100000 a year use public transportation. Over my dead body, we do have horses down here. What is it with liberals and this "collective" mentality? Are they not able to fend for themselves? Almost everything in their agenda pertains to grouping people. "It takes a village" and all that crap. I don't need your village.

[gurutoo]

I've already traded in my gorgeous albeit gas sucking F-150 stepside V8 dual exhaust, pearl white custom wheeled pickup truck. 14 mi per gal sucks at 3 bucks+ a gallon.

Now, 10 months later I'm trading in my new ford Ranger V6 because it only gets about 15.5 mi per gal in town.

Looking at a Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, and a Toyota Matrix I want at LEAST 22-25 mpg in town. I'll pass on the crappy Ford Focus...

[Buck Laser]

Clinton. If he'd resigned, as any decent person could have, there was a very remote chance that Al Gore could have been killed by a meteor and then the Dennis Hastert, a Republican, could have been president in time to take care of the Al Queda gang.

You're serious, aren't you? Denny Hastert couldn't pour piss out of a boot with the directions printed on the heel, yet you think he could "take care of the Al Qaeda gang?"

[Nathan Brazil]

You're serious, aren't you?Â*Â*Denny Hastert couldn't pour piss out of a boot with the directions printed on the heel, yet you think he could "take care of the Al Qaeda gang?"


You're serious, arent' you? I don't think Democrats could piss in a boot. Besides, we have evidence the Democrats not only couldn't do anything about al Queda (it was the Gorelick rule that stopped the FBI and the CIA from sharing intelligence on domestic terrorists activities that could have led to the arrest of the September 11th animals), they flatly refused to take possession of bin Laden when he was offered up. Clearly Democrats are worse at "running" the country that the alternative.

(Not that I don't agree with you about Hastert. It's just that on a scale from 0 to 1,000,000, the Dems rank 3, the Republicans rank 4, when 0 is as bad as it gets.)

[sbannon]

This is absolutely stunning. For 6 years we've had a former oil man republican President and a republican controlled congress yet somehow Clinton is still to blame for all our problems?

You all wanted an oil man in the White House and you got him. This is the epitome of having to lay in the bed you made.

It's like those obnoxious parents who take all the credit when their child makes honor roll but blames the music they listen to when they shoot their classmates. How do you twist yourselves into such pretzeled thinking?

[Nathan Brazil]

This is absolutely stunning. For 6 years we've had a former oil man republican President and a republican controlled congress yet somehow Clinton is still to blame for all our problems?

You all wanted an oil man in the White House and you got him. This is the epitome of having to lay in the bed you made.

It's like those obnoxious parents who take all the credit when their child makes honor roll but blames the music they listen to when they shoot their classmates. How do you twist yourselves into such pretzeled thinking?


Clinton's to blame for the terrorist issue, Carter, too.

Bush is a liberal, we expect him to be a failure. That's what liberals do.

[lily]

Who lied to get us into this mess we're in now?

Clinton.Â*Â*If he'd resigned, as any decent person could have, there was a very remote chance that Al Gore could have been killed by a meteor and then the Dennis Hastert, a Republican, could have been president in time to take care of the Al Queda gang.

As it was, we spent a year discussing the perjury and other felonies of a rapist, when the Senate had no intention of convicting him anyhow.Â*Â*So, while a Republican isn't much better than a Democrat, and change has to be an improvement.

You asked for it.

Name another product that is undergoing such an extraordinary increase in demand.

Food, and the general cost of living. Now can you answer my question?

Have you condisered Jenny Craig?Â*Â*What about a belly-stapling job?

Since they're goal in taxing gasoline is to reduce demand for it (funny, I wonder what they'll be spending the money on?), and since current increases haven't reduced demand on bit, clearly they'll have to dramatically increase the tax to achieve the goal.
Ok....this one is just so good, I couldn't pass it up.......How about the defecit? How about social security, how about paying for this war? Things don't come free, you know. But I guess, when you're born rich and daddy gets you out of every disaster you've made, then you don't learn your lesson. Bush will go down in history as making China the new super power.

?Â*Â*I'm not out in left field, so I can't field this one.

Oh, and why are you requesting "credible" links?Â*Â*You don't think those people aren't credible, do you?Â*Â*Do you believe them?Â*Â*
Why am I asking for links.........you've got to be joking. You say what ever comes to mind, or the Republican's latest talking point and then you wonder why I ask for links to back up your claims? It's obvious that you're talking out of your ass, just like all the other times I've asked you for links and you've ignored them. I believe them......I don't believe YOU.

Oh, so you've not read Albore's book because you know it's boring, too, or because it's third grade writing style is two grades above your level?

The damn Democrats have been pushing for a European-style gas tax because they want the United States to have a European-style basket-case economy, becuase economic collapse will induce even more people to be stupid and vote for the people that caused it.

Yeah, I ignore requests for links that you can find yourself.Â*Â*I'm not your librarian.Â*Â*And I'm a real staunch up-chucking Republican, all right.


Before I respond, Nathan, or can any one else help me out? I'm still a bit new here. Is Nathan considered the board joker? I can't tell if he's serious with this reply or just screwing around.

[AlonzoMourning23]

No, he's not considered the board joker. Though, while I think the base of his opinion is genuine, I'm not sure how much of his insanity is real or not. He continues to post even when you tell him you won't respond and proceed to ignore his posts, so much of it is just done for a response/attention it seems.

[lily]

Thanks for the heads up, Alonzo. I guess every board has one. It's hard to tell, with just words and no hand jestures. I seriously thought he was pulling my leg with that response. I won't bait him anymore. There are enough posters with intelligence here to reply to.

[Mayberry]

There are enough posters with intelligence here to reply to. Nathan is intelligent. He knows a skunk when he smells one, and he's got his priorities straight.

[kanyon40]

I don't have the luxury of being able to cut back on gas consumption due to prices. I live in the middle of no where in Kansas and the closest town is 30 miles away. I work one job that takes me to two different towns, plus my wife can have to drive as much as 200 miles in a day for her job. We have cars with about 25 mpg so it isn't bad. But there isn't much we can do about cutting back the driving. We don't do much recreational driving because we do too much of it for work as is.