RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (Full Version)

All Forums >> [General] >> Current Events

[Poll]

Gas Prices - How High Is Too High


$3.00
  46% (15)
$4.00
  9% (3)
$5.00
  15% (5)
$6.00
  3% (1)
$7.00
  3% (1)
$8.00
  0% (0)
$9.00
  3% (1)
$10.00 or more
  18% (6)


Total Votes : 32
(last vote on : 6/6/2008 12:19:29 AM)
(Poll will run till: -- )


Message

Pat-rebel_lady -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 11:22:56 AM)

I voted $3.00, because $3.99 isn't on the list --- here's one more reason why (I have a '50's' image attitude):

Here we go again; “you're either evolving or getting out”; more of the New accepted attitude of today’s world: "If you're just that kind of image of the '50s gas station where you have a conversation, fill up and have a cup of coffee, that's in the movies."

Old gas pumps can't handle ever-rising prices

REARDAN, Wash. - Mom-and-pop service stations are running into a problem as gasoline marches toward $4 a gallon: Thousands of old-fashioned pumps can't register more than $3.99 on their spinning mechanical dials.

The pumps, throwbacks to a bygone era on the American road, are difficult and expensive to upgrade, and replacing them is often out of the question for station owners who are still just scraping by. ….

For many station owners _ who, because of relatively small profit margin on gas, aren't raking in money even though gas prices are marching higher _ replacing the pumps altogether with electronic ones is just not an option.
"The new ones run between $10,000 and $15,000 apiece," Colville said. "It's an expense that's not worth it."
Mechanical meters can be retrofitted with higher numbers when pump prices climb another dollar. The last time that happened was in late 2005, when gas went over $3 a gallon, and owners of the older pumps installed kits that went to $3.999.
This time around, owners of the old pumps will need to install another kit that can handle prices up to $4.999, and possibly higher. Industry experts say those changes could cost as much as $650 per pump.
"The computer that they're upgrading was not designed to go any more than what it's going now, and if you do it, they don't last long enough," Turner said. "They run so fast that the gears are wearing out." …
"If gas is the profit driver and you are one of those guys with the old pumps, you're either evolving or getting out," ….

Full Story HERE



BlackCapnHarlock -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 11:27:37 AM)

3 bucks a gallon is too high for gas.

Today I paid four $4.09 a gallon for gasoline.



Pat-rebel_lady -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 11:34:55 AM)

quote:


Today I paid four $4.09 a gallon for gasoline.

[8|] [:(]



momma_bee -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 11:34:59 AM)

Garsy - as the school curtail activities we won't need to drive our students as much.



Sophie11 -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 11:38:00 AM)

Pat, I see your all broken up about the poor people who can't afford the gas prices. Must be nice to have more than enough income to afford it and then roll your eyes at the rest, hmmm?



davemiller7 -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 11:39:05 AM)

That was something else that was tried in the 70s. Some people obeyed the speed limit, most didn't. Truckers rebelled, some independents went on strike, there was general ill will in the whole industry. I guess there was a small reduction in traffic deaths, but nothing dramatic as was expected. Police trying to enforce the speed limits were generally disliked, and not just by the truckers. The CB radio craze grew as people discovered it was a great way to communicate the location of radar speed traps and patrolling police cars. It was a very effective means of avoiding getting tickets! [;)]

-Dave

quote:

ORIGINAL: blessedinnyc

What would people think of reducing the speed limit on all roads to 55?

It would save lives and reduce our consumption at the same time.



davemiller7 -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 11:43:12 AM)

It would also help if school systems didn't bus kids clear across the county for their politically correct agendas.
-Dave

quote:

ORIGINAL: momma_bee

Garsy - as the school curtail activities we won't need to drive our students as much.



Sophie11 -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 11:45:13 AM)

Aahhh.... Sorry to Pat for the snappy reply. I'm just worried about the whole gas price situation in my own household and so I tend to get upset easily when speaking on the matter. As far as I go, our monthly gasoline bill is nearing almost as much as our mortgage, so it is more than just worry I guess, it's downright fear!



Pat-rebel_lady -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 12:17:27 PM)

quote:

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sophie11

Pat, I see your all broken up about the poor people who can't afford the gas prices. Must be nice to have more than enough income to afford it and then roll your eyes at the rest, hmmm?

quote:

Aahhh.... Sorry to Pat for the snappy reply. I'm just worried about the whole gas price situation in my own household and so I tend to get upset easily when speaking on the matter. As far as I go, our monthly gasoline bill is nearing almost as much as our mortgage, so it is more than just worry I guess, it's downright fear!


I was not rolling my eyes, but looking up at the posted words, with tears of heart felt anguish.

I now have to give-up my little car, by the end of next month, because I can’t afford to pay the new renewal fee of $128.00 for registration and tags, plus the insurance to keep it on the road, on top of the high gas prices. I don’t drive my husband’s truck; so it really means I’m giving up driving altogether.



Sophie11 -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 12:31:59 PM)

Pat, my apologies again! I seriously misunderstood what you! Very sorry! I think maybe I've just come across a few too many people who act like these gas prices are nothing to complain about. Meanwhile they of course are making 20 times the amount of money that we are, so yeah I suppose it would be no big deal! But as I said in another thread, we live in the country miles from any shopping center and my husband drives 25 or 30 miles each way to work. And the problem is that for all of us just barely getting by when gas was $1.09 a gallon, how are we supposed to improve? If the extra few hundred a month in gas causes such financial issues, how would we ever afford to live in an expensive city house or take on a car payment to get a hybrid? It seems there is no way to get ahead! I am also very sorry for your situation, I know the feeling as well! We have not given up our vehicle but we have had to quit paying other bills some months in order to buy groceries and such, which obviously only makes it that much more difficult the next month and so it continues! I wish you well though and hope you accept my apologies for my provious post!



Pat-rebel_lady -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 1:01:31 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sophie11

Pat, my apologies again! I seriously misunderstood what you! Very sorry! I think maybe I've just come across a few too many people who act like these gas prices are nothing to complain about. Meanwhile they of course are making 20 times the amount of money that we are, so yeah I suppose it would be no big deal! But as I said in another thread, we live in the country miles from any shopping center and my husband drives 25 or 30 miles each way to work. And the problem is that for all of us just barely getting by when gas was $1.09 a gallon, how are we supposed to improve? If the extra few hundred a month in gas causes such financial issues, how would we ever afford to live in an expensive city house or take on a car payment to get a hybrid? It seems there is no way to get ahead! I am also very sorry for your situation, I know the feeling as well! We have not given up our vehicle but we have had to quit paying other bills some months in order to buy groceries and such, which obviously only makes it that much more difficult the next month and so it continues! I wish you well though and hope you accept my apologies for my provious post!

Apology accepted.
I guess I'm not too hip on what some of the smileys mean; I thought that one meant looking-up.

Anyway, I do understand. We are retired living on a fixed income of $2,076.00 a month, with a daughter (not working) and her 18 month old daughter living with us. Our savings is all but gone, and I'm not even sure if we're going to be able to meet the Property Taxes due come the end of July. All we have left is our faith that God will see us through.



WormHeart -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 1:25:31 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: inthysite

For me personally, $7.00 is to expensive. I drive an '93 Jeep that gets about 12-13mpg.


You’re joking?

That’s insane!

That’s… * calculating* … 5 km/l.

That’s one third of my old beaten up Hundai, which is not exactly fuel efficient.

Why would you drive something as broken as that?

Incedently, as for the topic – gas is currently 8,7 $ pr. Gallon in Denmark. And we are doing fine.

WormHeart



garsyt -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 1:43:02 PM)

quote:

Incedently, as for the topic – gas is currently 8,7 $ pr. Gallon in Denmark. And we are doing fine.

WormHeart


My questions then - #1 what kind of work do you do and what are you paid? #2 How close are your shopping and schooling options?


Sorry but I'm also fearful. downright fearful.

True if schools start curtailing activities we won't have to drive our children as much ---BUT as it stands here now - they aren't curtailing activities just TRANSPORTATION for those activiites. The next step it to curtail activities - then to eliminate bussing altogether or charging parents for it. So much for public education being free and accessible to everyone.

Not bussing kids clear across a county would help too. But that isn't done too much around here that I know about anyway. My kids attend the nearest public schools to our home. If we were attending a private school somewhere that provided bussing then I guess I would expect to pay for that. But I'm not.

Gas around here hit $3.95 today. That alone would put a DEFINTE damper on ANY and ALL travel this summer had not unempolyment done that already.

Blessings,

Garsy



WormHeart -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:01:32 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: garsyt

quote:

Incedently, as for the topic – gas is currently 8,7 $ pr. Gallon in Denmark. And we are doing fine.

WormHeart


My questions then - #1 what kind of work do you do and what are you paid? #2 How close are your shopping and schooling options?

[snip]

Blessings,

Garsy


I'm a teacher.

I make aprox. 5200 $ before taxes, which amounts to 3300 $ after taxes. I work fairly close to here and need to drive no more than 12 miles to get to and from work, while my girlfriend drives aprox. 8 miles afterwards to get to her work.

Sure it is a drag to pay so much, but compared to US-conditions I cant help but think to wonder. I mean, geez - get better cars. You are one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world - why are you driving those foul-guzzlers around?

WormHeart



stellaluna -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:14:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: WormHeart
Sure it is a drag to pay so much, but compared to US-conditions I cant help but think to wonder. I mean, geez - get better cars. You are one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world - why are you driving those foul-guzzlers around?

WormHeart

That's part of the debate here. Most cars don't get good gas mileage because the manufacturers simply don't make them so. The government is considering forcing the issue.

In most cases, you have to be a smart shopper to buy a vehicle with decent gas mileage. My little hatchback car gets 35-45 miles a gallon--even though it's 11 years old! I've had people making fun of it for years, while driving their SUVs and Hummers and trucks that get less that 20mpg. A lot of cars with good gas mileage aren't "cool." [8|] But people sure don't laugh at my car now.

Of course, I'm also the person that bikes and walks to work and to run errands, so I already had that conservation mindset when I bought the car. Just this past weekend I was running some errands and rode my bike by the Saturn dealership. Small four-door sedans were facing the street and I was close enough to read the stickers: 18mpg city, 24mpg highway. I was truly stunned that a car that size and brand-spanking new would have such poor gas mileage. And someone will come along and buy them, I'm sure. [8|]



momma_bee -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:15:36 PM)

Because I can't afford to buy a newer car. I can't afford higher insurance or a car payment.

I have heard the 'look at what you drive' argument too many times. Many times folks can save in gas but will spend more for insurance, a car payment and increased upkeep expenses (my DH can fix an older car, I'd have to hire a mechanic to fix a newer one)

I figured it out when we were in need of a vehicle, that we would be spending an extra $100 a month to save $50 in gas. As the price of gas has gone up, that changes of course.

I have a 15mph, 4wd, blazer sitting there and if we break down tomorrow, we will need to drive it. Why? Because I did the car payment thing already and can't swing another one. And, folks would assume I could afford it...

You can't sell a truck or large SUV for enough money to pay off loans and you can't afford to drive them. Folks around here are parking them, paying insurance and payments, and driving beaters to save gas money (so, extra insurance)

The question was what could I afford. If it hits $4.50 we are done and parked except work and school/scout functions and we will sleep over rather than make two trips. No band, no sports unless there is a carpool involved and no trips out of our tiny town except for groceries every other week. Between now ($3.65) and that point, we will fulfill our obligations and avoid those trips out of town. In other words, this fall will not be as busy.



WormHeart -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:28:27 PM)

Please understand, that I am not making fun of you.

I'm honestly curious.

I paid 700 $ for my Hundai (from my mother-in-law) and we dont expect it to last more than a year or two.
A friend of mine has a Lupo which has a milage of almost 70 mpg.
True, it doesn't look particulair hard-rock, but it really caught my eye.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Lupo

quote:

The Lupo 3L was a special-edition made with the intent of being the world's first car in series production consuming as little as 3 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (78 miles per US gallon or 94 miles per Imperial gallon). To achieve this the 3L was significantly changed from the standard Lupo to include:


[8D]

WormHeart



mapachito13 -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:34:49 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: WormHeart

You are one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world - why are you driving those foul-guzzlers around?

WormHeart


Because the oil and car companies have our government bought and paid for so they resist any time someone wants to bump up the minimum mpg ratings on the cars. They can't let down their "true" constituents!



WormHeart -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:43:34 PM)

So... why are you buying those defecient cars instead of better ones?

I assume you have a free market or at least not as draconian import-taxs as Denmark. Why not buy the better car?

WormHeart



stellaluna -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:46:11 PM)

Let me quote myself to answer that question:
quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna
A lot of cars with good gas mileage aren't "cool." [8|] But people sure don't laugh at my car now.


That Lupo looks a lot like my car. I think it's cute. [:)]



stellaluna -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:47:13 PM)

(Edited because I keep getting double posts today. [sm=angertalk.gif][sm=aside.gif])



davemiller7 -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 2:53:17 PM)

I'm sure our traffic conditions are much different here than in Denmark. Our roads, for the most part will accomodate much higher speeds, our vehicles (both private and commercial) are larger, heavier, and faster. For me, it becomes a matter of safety. If I'm driving a little "econobox" and I'm hit by a big full sized car, it's much more likely that I'll assume ambient temperature than if I'm driving a larger, heavier, better built car. It's a trade-off, but that's how I feel. I'm sure there are others who will disagree with me (there always are [;)]), but we really do have different conditions here, rightly or wrongly.

-Dave

quote:

ORIGINAL: WormHeart

Sure it is a drag to pay so much, but compared to US-conditions I cant help but think to wonder. I mean, geez - get better cars. You are one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world - why are you driving those foul-guzzlers around?

WormHeart



Consecrated2God -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/13/2008 5:42:57 PM)

I voted $6, but I don't really know. I mean, what happens when you hit the "breaking point"? Do you keel over and die? Do you say, "That's it--from now on I'm not going anywhere?" We still gotta eat! We still have to at least get to the grocery store.

In our current situation we could probably make do if gas hit $6 because we live in a parsonage and my husband walks to work ten feet from our front door. We also don't have to drive to go to church. If gas keeps rising, we would have to drop the kids' activities--baseball, 4-H, and homeschool co-op. We could still survive.

But...if gas prices keep rising, that's going to affect the people who go to our church. If their finances are negatively impacted, it's possible that tithes and offerings could drop, and that could possibly affect how much they could afford to pay us. I know God holds the future, so I don't dwell on that possibility, but that would be more where the breaking point would come from for us, if there is one.



garsyt -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/14/2008 8:38:44 AM)

quote:

Sure it is a drag to pay so much, but compared to US-conditions I cant help but think to wonder. I mean, geez - get better cars. You are one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world - why are you driving those foul-guzzlers around?


Because I don't really have a choice. IF we are to go ANYWHERE as a family that is not within walking distance (which isn't much) we pretty much have to take the van.

I'd love to be able to afford a more fuel efficient car - but like Momma-bee said the cost of the car payments on top of insurance would be more then we could manage, and we would also not be likely to find something that would seat all 6 of us.

Granted in days gone by it was possible to seat four kids in a back seat of a Honda and get by with it. But now days with seatbelt laws, carseat laws and insurance laws - that just isn't possible and with a teenager and the other three whom will soon be there too - Well let's just say SIZE does matter!

Blessings,

Garsy



garsyt -> RE: Gas Prices - How High Is Too High (5/14/2008 8:41:34 AM)

Oh and we might be a technolgically advanced nation - but to get companies to build these cars at affordable prices is pretty much impossible and to get them to pay decent wages to the folks that build them is even more difficult so it often gets shipped overseas.

Blessings,

Garsy



Page: <<   < prev  1 [2] 3 4   next >   >>



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI