F'n gas prices!!!!!!!!!!

danger boy

the local utility company here where I live last year reported a $73 million dollar profit... and guess what? Next year they want to raise our rates 16%. WTF!!!!

JimBRICK

I'm my town today were paying 110 per litre and that's NUTS

petrym

Kwitchyou'rebellyachin'!

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Got $2,200? In this world, you're rich.
A global study reveals an overwhelming wealth gap, with the world's three richest people having more money than the poorest 48 nations combined.

You may believe you've heard this statistic before, but you haven't: For the first time, personal wealth -- not income -- has been measured around the world. The findings may be surprising, for what makes people "wealthy" across the world spectrum is a relatively low bar.

The research indicates that assets of just $2,200 per adult place a household in the top half of the world's wealthiest. To be among the richest 10% of adults in the world, just $61,000 in assets is needed. If you have more than $500,000, you're part of the richest 1%, the United Nations study says. Indeed, 37 million people now belong in that category.

---

snip

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The world's total wealth is valuated at $125 trillion. Although North America has only 6% of the world's adult population, it accounts for 34% of household wealth.
Article



I'd rather pay three, four, or even five dollars a gallon for gasoline than live in any of the terrible places of abject poverty I've seen in this world.

madmax

So by assets you mean money you have above and beyond what you owe? I'm in the minus 40K range all told... Certainly not one of the rich people. Man, what I would give to have $2200 to my name.
madmax

MacLeod

Dont forget the English price of gas. It translates into about $8/gallon! :eek:

McLoki

danger boy wrote: »

the local utility company here where I live last year reported a $73 million dollar profit... and guess what? Next year they want to raise our rates 16%. WTF!!!!

Our local utility made 547 million in fiscal year 06. They claimed they could not stay afloat with that kind of profit margin and said that they were raising prices by at least 30%.

Most peoples bills went up 50-80% and many people I know had bills double. that was just electricity rates that went up (rate increase started in January). We have not even turned the air on yet and our bills (with gas heat) are up over 60%.

friggin bullsh@t. They will not be happy until my polks are running in a grass hut just like the rest of the world. (the polks and amps are staying, the lights may have to go though... )

Michael

TennesseeOutlaw

Well, I suppose losing my license has many many downfalls; however, riding a scooter that gets 120+ miles to the gallon has several advantages as well.

markmarc

Oil companies profits are through the roof, and that is fine, we are using more fuel than ever before plus the with gas prices up that number is going to go up.
But as a citizen, it is high time that with these record profits it is only fair that any "special" tax breaks the industry gets should be removed. Fair is fair.
An even bigger issue is refining capacity. in the 1980's refineries were closed left and right. This was done because of age/refining over capacity at the time. Well guess what, now we have a shortage, and even though open plants have been expanded in the past 25 years, demand has outstripped supply.
Match that with the 20% per year increase in Chinese oil imports, 10% increase annually in India and you've got the makings of a series price increase.
hopefully, GWB will follow through with his promise of taking a fresh look at CAFE standards. Personally, a 1 mpg a year increase over the next 20 years could easily be accomplished. The technology exists, the question is does the gov't have the guts to pull the trigger?

RuSsMaN

We're considering selling the 2005 Ram 1500 Quad, and baggin' a Fit, Scion XB, or Yaris.

Early B.

RuSsMaN wrote: »

We're considering selling the 2005 Ram 1500 Quad, and baggin' a Fit, Scion XB, or Yaris.

Yeah, we've been considering selling the Jeep Grand Cherokee. That sucker drinks gas! If we did that, we've have to deal with car payments. But hell, since we're spending $100/week plus on gas already, monthly car payments and lower maintenance costs for a newer vehicle may be cheaper overall if gas prices keep going up.

Nisqually Dave

I aggree with most of you, but who makes the most profit off gas. All you have to do is look to your local, state and federal government, and not just in taxes but in the building of refineries and permits to do so.

hearingimpared

My '97 Taurus just clocked in 26 miles per gallon last fill up. That is mixed highway and stop and go.

madmax

RuSsMaN wrote: »

We're considering selling the 2005 Ram 1500 Quad, and baggin' a Fit, Scion XB, or Yaris.

I would never sell a car because of the gas mileage but did buy a more efficient one when the time came. BTW, been getting around 36 city in the Scion. Its only rated at 31 city. The difference is a peculiar one, I started using 91 gas instead of 87. It seems on the Scion the timing must have been being bumped way back with the 87... The extra mileage more than pays for the difference in cost. Mine is modified as well.
madmax

pmckeealaska

Oh yes. Poor Americans. We have the cheapest gas in the world and the minute it starts going up, we **** and wine about it. I got an idea. Stop buying gas guzzling vehicles. Higher gas prices are good for this country in the long run. It'll make it economcially neccessary to finally raise our fuel efficiency standards, which are woefully lacking. If we adopted the fuel standards that are coming on line in Europe, we would never have to import another drop of oil from all of those nuthouse countries in the middle east. Time for us to change......

Demiurge

You should start the charge with some new energy efficient audio gear. After all, you don't need any of it.

bobman1235

They pay something like 17 cents a gallon for gas in Venezuela. So we're not THE cheapest.

RuSsMaN

madmax wrote: »

I would never sell a car because of the gas mileage but did buy a more efficient one when the time came.

My thoughts exactly, but the Dodge is running us near $1000 / month in payment and gas alone. A Scion would save us at least 1/3rd of that, which is a substantial chunk for our household. The savings would pay the house utilities every month for sure.

Cheers,
Russ

jdhdiggs

Currently hold stocks in oil a gas so what I lose in my pocket I make back in dividends so no biggy.

Here's a novel idea:

Make it feasible to open new refineries or retrofit old ones.
Drill ANWR, eff the Caribou
Drill off Cali and Florida Coasts
Buy fuel efficient cars

Result:
Cheaper gas and a big FU to the middle east.


Wait, that's not worth making the caribou walk around a rig... Nevermind.

note: I can't type worth a damn today...

Willow

JimBRICK wrote: »

I'm my town today were paying 110 per litre and that's NUTS

We're @ 1.06$ per litre here which if my math is close is almost 4$ per gallon.

petrym

jdhdiggs wrote: »

Drill ANWR, eff the Caribou

Don't you know we're waiting till the Middle East starts running dry? Then we can start charging the hoohah for it.

danger boy

what say we all convert our cars to run on that used french fry oil? it's proved that it can be done... but then we'd have a shortage or french fry oil and Mickey D's would have to charge more for their stuff right??? :eek: :mad:

jdhdiggs

petrym wrote: »

Don't you know we're waiting till the Middle East starts running dry? Then we can start charging the hoohah for it.

Yeah, but we'll still only be paying ourselves...

bobman1235

danger boy wrote: »

what say we all convert our cars to run on that used french fry oil? it's proved that it can be done... but then we'd have a shortage or french fry oil and Mickey D's would have to charge more for their stuff right??? :eek: :mad:

Yeah, that whole "movement" is so ludicrous. People get all excited that someone figured out how to run their car on used fry oil... but how much of that is REALLY out there?? Not as much as we'd like to think. We could probably run two cars per TOWN.

treitz3

RuSsMaN wrote: »

My thoughts exactly, but the Dodge is running us near $1000 / month in payment and gas alone. A Scion would save us at least 1/3rd of that, which is a substantial chunk for our household. The savings would pay the house utilities every month for sure.

I'm in the same boat as you....would like to save $$$ on gas, but I can't haul 10,000lbs with a scooter. Must...............keep................paying.............

Charlotte checking in at 2.07/gal
Accross the border [SC] 1.84/gal 1.97 for Sup.

100 bills for a tank that lasts 2-4 days....OUCH!:eek:

The price of gas makes it REAL hard when the upgradititis hits. Makes the disease painful.

heiney9

madmax wrote: »

I would never sell a car because of the gas mileage but did buy a more efficient one when the time came. BTW, been getting around 36 city in the Scion. Its only rated at 31 city. The difference is a peculiar one, I started using 91 gas instead of 87. It seems on the Scion the timing must have been being bumped way back with the 87... The extra mileage more than pays for the difference in cost. Mine is modified as well.
madmax

My GTI (VR6) is the same way. Mods = 93 octane fuel. I get a bit less gas mileage with the lower grade gas. I'm running a pretty aggressive chip as well as cold air intake, Euro throttle body and larger free flowing exhaust. Best I can muster in stop-n-go traffic in the city is 19 mpg. If I want to have some fun it's closer to 16-18 mpg. I've stopped going home every single day for lunch and stick around the office for lunch, we'll see if that helps.

As of this morning in Illinois 93 octane $3.19/gal :eek:

H9

MillerLiteScott

I paid $3.07 for mid grade today. My truck does not like 87 octane. I usually get @ 11 mpg. But you can't tow a trailer with a Prius:D

Holydoc

Panhandle checking in today at $3.19/gallon for 93 Octane.

kn505

wingnut4772 wrote: »

I'm finding out just how expensive a Hummer really is.:

You must got the wrong one. My 2 wheels Hummer use zero gas.

dylan

Is anyone using credit cards that have pay-backs for using on gas? The best (?) I found was 5% back for gas purchases. I commute about 85 miles a day, and get about 26 mpg. Painful. Made me think there has to be a way to take advantage of credit card company greed, while it being practial to administer another card and credit implications.

MacLeod

RuSsMaN wrote: »

We're considering selling the 2005 Ram 1500 Quad, and baggin' a Fit, Scion XB, or Yaris.

You should get an Accord.

It takes a REAL man to sell his Ram and buy an Accord. You really have to be secure with your sexuality.