[Deuce]

Hey Paddy,
Play a song for me
I paid three bucks for a gallon of gas
It's highway robbery

Unreal!

[Temiken]

This is a good topic and I'd like to hear some folks opinions on this.
Granted, the fluctuation in gas prices is not something that I completely understand, but
I've still got some opinions on it and also, what I consider, a plan to calm the roller coaster prices.

Why can't the government, right now, just go ahead and set the price to be $3.50 a gallon and then
we can have a stable price for the next 3-5 years.

Although the price is pretty damn high compared to where we were at a year or two ago, I think it's
a manageable price.  As a society, we really don't need to be driving as much as we do and if we
make gas more expensive, perhaps we'll be more conservative with our energy.

As I previously mentioned, I have no expertise in this area and I don't particularily care about
the environment or have any motives for wanting less energy to be consumed.  All I want is stability
with the prices.

Can someone tell me why fixing a price can't / won't work?

For once (or maybe this is twice), I am actually interested in having a serious conversation.

What do all you all think?

[Mark Lippert]

Can someone tell me why fixing a price can't / won't work?

Because W's cronies wouldn't like it.

[Murf]

If you fix the price and Bush's pals aren't making enough profit in their minds they will reduce production.Asia will pay whatever it takes and we will run short.Those assholes in TX dont care where the money comes from.

[that Steve dude]

I suppose the communists in the EPA have nothing to do with gas prices.
 
When in doubt, blame the President.

Good thing Miller High Life Light is only $15 a 30 pack.

[Mark Lippert]

When in doubt, blame the President.

Hard not to when all his money comes from oil.

[Hatter]

Now granted our country was built around the I system however wouldn't it be prudent to whenever possible take alternate transportation.  For example my wife and I bike to work or use the city bus system.  I agree that price fixing would be a good solution however at some point the oil ain't gonna be there any more.  There are my two cents well maybe it is only a penny but there ist is.

[miche~]

I walk to work as well, but not everyone has that option, but if you do, I hope you are taking it!! 

I just think our culture is wasteful and have all these  hummers and suburbans and huge suv's that ppl have just bc they want to have that status symbol car (and it wouldnt even be so bad if they had them for a purpose, such as towing, but not for a regular driving car...),   and until we think oil is in danger of being gone (for real, still think ppl think there's this limitless supply out there) that's when ppl will start to care bc they'll be worried they won't be able to have their toys and take their trips. 

what makes me mad is that a lot of the car manufacuturers HAD the technology to make more fuel efficient vehicles MANY years ago, but bc the demand wasnt there or they werent being forced to implement it or develop it,  it was thrown on the backburner, until now we are finally seeing some of these cars coming out on the market (and I'm not talking about the little ugly prius or umm can't remember the other ugly one) but actual real looking cars that get decent gas mileage. 

I doubt our country/world/culture will ever learn.  oh wait, they will, but until it is too late, like we have with so many other things...

[The_Schizoid]

Hey Paddy,
Play a song for me
I paid three bucks for a gallon of gas
It's highway robbery

Unreal!

Do you have your answer now?

[Deuce]

Hey Paddy,
Play a song for me
I paid three bucks for a gallon of gas
It's highway robbery

Unreal!

Do you have your answer now?

Holy crap, Batman!

So now do we call it *interstate* robbery?

[St T]

I just think our culture is wasteful and have all these  hummers and suburbans and huge suv's that ppl have just bc they want to have that status symbol car

I'll take it a step further -- This is America, and if you want to do stupid things with your money, then go for it, but there comes a point when stupid choices shouldn't be subsidized by other people.  Heavy vehicles cause greater wear on roads, and longer commutes cause greater wear on roads.  There's also the probability that more emmissions are getting spewed, and, yes, more gas is being used, because people choose to drive a huge vehicle and/or live far away from populated areas.  End result? Expanding infrastructure and earlier fails of infrastructure are really stressing our ability to keep up.  One solution could be a use tax, either a toll system, or additional fees tacked on to high-density work space parking lots, or even somehow monitoring gas consumption per vehicle for residential use -- you use more than 10 gallons in a week, you pay additional fees.

Obviously, for now, gas and oil are necessary for transit of goods, and there are many drivers who minimize car use and choose safer, smaller, high mpg vehicles, and they shouldn't be penalized by ridiculous gas prices.

I bus it or carpool everywhere. It means my commute is three times longer than it should be, and I have to adjust my schedule whenever Scott Walker gets a bug up his butt.  By overallocating my time and convenience, *I* am subsidizing freaks who want to drive during rush hour, use up primo parking and spew emissions that screw up my asthma.  These drivers now need to subsidize their own (over)use *and* compensate people who aren't making traffic worse -- add on fees and improve funding for mass transit.

step off soapbox.

[I am Darvon]

I agree with a lot you're saying, St T, but it's a bit extreme.  You're putting a little too much blame on the consumer.  Sure, we're a wasteful country and sure most people have no need and shouldn't be driving their SUVs, but to say that anyone using more than 10 gallons a week is being wasteful...maybe you got lucky enough where you can actually use public transportation or carpool to work, but some people have no choice but to drive mass-miles to their jobs.  Maybe a little more blame needs to be thrown towards those companies that either don't allow for the 4-day workweek or the occasional work-from-home option.

Trust me, I'm not taking any blame away from the oil companies or our government on this one, either.  Plenty of alternative energy options out there...time for someone to step up and show us how to maximize that power!

[St T]

I agree with a lot you're saying, St T, but it's a bit extreme.  You're putting a little too much blame on the consumer. 

Here's my perspective:  We all set up our own priorities, and then we have to live with them.  If someone is living in the middle of nowhere because they feel entitled to a suburban lot, then they should be paying all the costs associated: high-volume commuter traffic, higher levels of emissions, PLUS development costs to the water table and floodplain effects, etc.  People who "choose" to live in the city -- and let's face it, by volume, most people do, especially people who have low incomes and few options -- if you've got land in your family you're staying on that, rurally --but people who "choose" to live in the city get to pay for it by higher taxes, lower security, higher stress from ambient noise & neighbors, and higher rates of pollution which affects health. 

It's not a popular opinion, but I'm sick of hearing people who choose to live in the middle of nowhere whine that they "can't" do mass transit and they "have to" pay gas prices; all the while people downstream are getting flooded out at increasing rates because the 'burbanites are getting more and more big box stores.  /end vicious rant part of this post.

That all said, now that the potential profit for gas and traditional car substitutes is improving, I hope more firms develop greater focus on R&D to improve our options; I also believe many of these innovations can come from the private sector, with the caveat that new developments must be publicized in the public domain before corporations buy them out and bury the plans in a strong box out under a parking lot.

Oh, and if Scott Walker wants to run a county that doesn't offer any services, he shouldn't be in Milwaukee.  We have a huge county budget because residents require services and because other people made bad decisions.  He has hacked away at the heart of our county, and we're going to pay for it long after he's out of office.

[I am Darvon]

I don't want to get off on a rant here, but when did Dennis Miller become a Pat-head? 

Sorry, you have some good stuff going there, St. T, but felt the need to lighten the mood a bit.

[Mark Lippert]

I don't want to get off on a rant here, but when did Dennis Miller become a Pat-head?

About 15.5 years ago.